Comic Rack Jack #51: February 1969 (what it was like buying Jack Kirby comics 55 years ago)

Fantastic Four #86 and Thor #163.

[@bio1656]

Kirby's Art until this day is like "WOW "

[@razorw5472]

Man, those were the days I would take my allowance and ride my bicycle with baseball cards clipped to the frame and sticking into the spokes to sound like a motor bike, up to the drugstore slash soda fountain and buy some comics off the spinner racks and a RC cola , sit on the side the building look through the comics and drink my soda . 😊

[@FredFlix]

There was only a brief time in human history when a person could do that.

[@tonysantiago255]

@razorw5472 - yeah, somehow I think most of us understood how good we had it too. Similar memories. So glad we were blessed to experience childhood during such simpler times.

[@rundoetx]

What a great month and year. Thanks for posting.

[@kirbycontinuum5700]

You're welcome, rundoetx.

[@JayWoods483]

Thanks again for another reminder of this artist's genius. Given a foe (which some say had been Stan's single request) Kirby presented panel upon panel of comic book art around some unbelievable plots. Otherwise the only other contribution to be said is that by 1969, the King's imagination had splashed on about 8 years worth of comics in the Marvel Universe. A significant contributor to that universe's maturity for 8 years. Thanks again for the reminder KC.

[@FredFlix]

Sure thing, Jay. Nice comment.

[@dougbrowne9890]

Having had the FF's in my collection for a time, waiting for the next installment isn't rough. But not having the Thor's, nor never having read them, man waiting is gonna kill me. It will be worth it. Thanks again Fred!😁

[@FredFlix]

Now you know I I felt in 1969, Doug.

[@isajoha9962]

We had black & white translated to Swedish issues of Marvel comics, when I saw these comics a couple of years later. Still have those FF comics, Spider-man & Daredevil. Daredevil was called "Demonen" (Demon) in Sweden. 😀 Back from the days when he was yellow and black.

[@kirbycontinuum5700]

That's interesting, Isabella.

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

Wow! Don't think I ever knew exactly what year Boris Karloff died. This story was possibly the last great Lee/Kirby FF arc. (I know the Skrull/Torgo arc is coming, but aside from the introduction of Torgo, I always thought that arc pretty lackluster. JMO.) The plot holes you point out are indicative of the rushed plotting/writing at this point. Now the THOR stories, on the other hand, were still going pretty strong, IMO. In fact, we have yet for Thor to encounter HIM. The THOR splash pages here are bold and in-your-face posters.

[@FredFlix]

I think Jack was more "into" Thor at the time.

[@99Michael]

I, too, remember reading these books bought off the spinner rack, and there was nothing else like a good Marvel story found elsewhere. However, a few sci shows on television, such as The Land of the Giants or Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, didn't match the originality or energy found in comics. I know there is a constant narrative that Stan Lee stole everything from Jack Kirby and Steve Diko; I feel this is not valid and, in many ways, a naive argument as any creative collaboration in comedy; music always requires a lead man to steer the ship and more often there is a parting of the ways along the lines of the career. My point is that these stories were great and written without a political or social agenda that has ruined today's comics and the legacy of many past creators. Damn, but if the page and panel were drawn with the heart and soul of the creators committed to their craft.

[@kirbycontinuum5700]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment, 99Michael. I also don't think of Stan as a thief, but rather a creative businessman who expertly juggled and made successful an entire line of comics.

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

I like your comment. I also do not believe that Lee outright "stole" from Kirby, but I do believe he was credited with a LOT that he did not solely do. I believe that Jack made several contributions that were mistakenly credited to Lee. Silver Surfer is probably the best example. If I'm not mistaken, didn't Lee himself admit at some point that he had no idea what the Silver Surfer was when he first saw him? Then he ends up liking the character so much he initially doesn't allow anyone else at Marvel to write him. My point is that Kirby contributed many ideas and concepts to his collaborations with Lee, and for many years, most of the creative credit was given solely to Lee.

[@MtHockey]

Star Trek in the 60's seemed to have a few parallel stories with Marvel stories, I don't know if Stan or Jack borrowed ideas from Star Trek or vice versa.

[@tonysantiago255]

@ MtHockey - Stan admitted that he knew very little hard science and that he reused ideas and was influenced by pretty much everything and everyone he had been exposed to, especially movies. Which he loved. So... pretty much like every creative person ever. Sophocles, Aristotle, Einstein, you name it. We are all a culmination of our experiences. Nuff Said.

[@1971thedoctor]

Great Kirby artwork as always

[@matthewdunham1689]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@BlackAdam1231]

So are you going to continue when Jack Moved to DC?😊

[@FredFlix]

That's my plan.

[@tonysantiago255]

Interesting to note that in these two issues, the F.F. remained earthbound. The epic scale of visuals are constrained, while in Thor, Jack's compositions, Kirbytech designs, and sense of scale are unbridled. And Man! does it look glorious. I suppose those closeups of Doom almost split the difference. Almost. I can't speak to the numerous animated features, but all of the film adaptations have had Doom's mask as a 'mask'. Inflexible and unable to convey the many moods of Victor Van Doom. Good observation there, Fred. I only wish, especially with that Thor issue, the colorist, had been credited. Do you know if the 'Inker' was responsible for all the inking? That title may have been a catch-all term. And saved Stan and especially Martin from paying two, no make that three artists. Pencils, inks, color inks. Any thoughts?

[@FredFlix]

I can't say for sure, Tony, but I've never heard of an inker doing any coloring, at least in those days, although as a kid I thought the inker WAS the colorist, until I could tell the distinctive inkers apart. Then, in the '70s, when Marvel started to list the colorists, I began to take note of the better colorists, such as Glynnis Wynn. As for Doom's mask, I have a separate video called The Many Masks of Doom, in which I examine Kirby's different approaches to Doom's haunting visage through the years. It should keep you riveted. (Ouch!)