JACK KIRBY

In celebration of artist Jack Kirby's birthday this week, we spotlight a few great images from his work on Marvel's spy character, Nick Fury (Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D). Stan Lee was inspired by The Man From U.N.C.L.E. to rebrand war-character Fury for the spy boom. Lee created the name S.H.I.E.L.D. and prompted artist Jack Kirby to bring the idea to life. Kirby added some cool devices like Fury's Helicarrier, hover car, and the use of replicant decoys. Fury-as-spy was unveiled in a short feature in Strange Tales #135, and then alternated with Doctor Strange until Fury got his own title release. Comic master (and escape artist!) Jim Steranko would later bring the character fully into the swinging sixties by Strange Tales #151. With his masterful use of depth, blocking, and dynamic action, Kirby remains one of the most influential artists in comics. He got his start in the 1930s drawing strips and panel cartoons, but it was for his role in the creation of America's superhero canon that he is most revered. Kirby created, co-created, or had a hand in establishing many of the most famous comic properties, including characters such as Captain America, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, Thor, The Inhumans, Iron Man, Black Panther, New Gods, Entrigan the Demon, Kamandi, Magneto, Doctor Doom, and Groot. He passed away in 1994 at the age of 76. Learn more at the Jack Kirby Museum, ComicBookDB, and TwoMorrows (publishers of Kirby books and art magazines). Check out the Fab collection of Kirby's extensive  S.H.I.E.L.D. gadgets (including jet-packs, hat periscope, pneumatic car tunnels, drone weapons) at Panel Gallery. Enjoy!

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