Jack Kirby discusses Captain America - 29 May 1988

On 29 May 1988 in Troy, Michigan at the Pure Imagination Fun Fair, Jack Kirby, with Greg Theakston, answers questions from the audience regarding Captain America.

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

I worked for a dealer (Comics Archives) at this convention. On Sunday, I finally got the chance to go and look at the artwork Jack brought with him, that he just got back from Marvel. I was looking at a Thor pin up when someone came up behind me and asked, "Do you think that is any good?" I turned around, about to rip the person a new one, and I see Jack Kirby. Got to talk to him, one on one, for about half an hour. Finally, people began to gather round, listening to us talk. The only other creator I ever talked to, who was as awesome as Jack, is Steranko. I was so caught up in the conversation I never asked for an autograph. The talk and shaking his hand was enough for a lifetime.

[@randalwung8715]

Dude...I am officially jealous. Steranko too? Dang. Saw Jack at my one and only San Diego Con back in the 80s, but couldn't get to him 'cause he was part of a panel with, if I recall, Frank Miller and Gary Groth, on the touchy, touchy subject of getting his artwork back from Marvel. God, if I had gotten some time with him, what a talk THAT would've been, lol.

[@KTF0]

Steranko is way cool, too. Me and my sis did a collage of his work, and I was a bit embarrassed about it, and Steranko was like "Kidding me? I love this!" He even remembered me when I surprisingly saw him pick up mail one time. I wish I met Kirby. He would've love this new era of fandom, no doubt in my mind. In my school we went through which dead artist/musician/entertainer would you like to meet, I was the only one to say Kirby, and it's still the same til this day. Just to pick his mind would be so entertaining.

[@comicbookguy6361]

Steranko is a charismatic guy. Super cool and funny.

[@Artisan1979]

Marvel and DC never treated Jack the way he deserves to be treated. This man saved the industry. Hell he'll pioneer the industry. Hearing Jack talk about Captain America and here is insight on the comic industry if a book does not serve the purpose of the company it's so deep man. RIP Jack. I sincerely hope that your son is right when he says that he would've loved the cinema treatment your character as much as Joe did. It's so unfair that you weren't here to see it happen.

[@lovleen]

marvel treated him with respect, they gave him the Disney Legend award and his plaque is in front of the marvel studios building in Burbank next to the biggest legends of all time

[@MarklovesAngels]

@@lovleen that's swell. Too bad he never worked for Disney except for the fact that they bought the company he used to freelance for and, in typical corporate fashion, they thought it meant buying the goodwill and energy created by their betters.

[@simoncomics8233]

I truly feel that Joe Simon does not get enough for the Creation of Captain America and his contribution to comics. In addition, for bringing Jack into the comic book industry and field.

[@comicbookguy6361]

And most of the Marvel fans give Stan Lee all the credit for the character, when he did not even create him. The irony of life.

[@nicolasfranciscomoraleshua3090]

@@comicbookguy6361 It's kinda stupid how those fans think that majority of the marvel characters were created by stan lee.

[@comicbookguy6361]

@@nicolasfranciscomoraleshua3090 I don't blame them, they are basically kids who grew up with the Marvel movies and also a lot of casual fanboys.

[@kiwiangeldust6912]

@@comicbookguy6361 Stan Lee does deserve credit for some of the characters. He does not deserve any disrespect from any ignorant people.

[@comicbookguy6361]

@@kiwiangeldust6912 Did I disrespect him ?

[@WCWit]

I feel like Jack would have really enjoyed the Captain America: The First Avenger movie, because it feels like it was made in the same mind that he created the character with.

[@guydavidknollcomedy]

Luckily at least Joe got to see it

[@matthewjrose7308]

Even if Jack would have been alive still, would've gotten the chance to do a cameo with Stan, even in Captain America: the first avenger.

[@joeofmacabre07]

@@matthewjrose7308 I feel like Jack would have a cameo as a tough dude who helped Steve from the bullying scene

[@notmyname5591]

Lol no

[@cha5]

⁠@@guydavidknollcomedyI wish Joe could have had a cameo in that film somewhere. It would have been fun IMHO if he could have been the man that Stan was talking to with that “I thought he was taller.” comment.

[@adamxbeck]

Thanks for posting this. I attended this convention as a kid and got to meet Jack Kirby and got his autograph. We also bumped into him, his wife Roz and their grandson after the event and hung out with them for awhile. Jack was so cool that he even gave us his home address in California with an open invitation to stop by and check out his studio.

[@ihategoogle6066]

Jack Kirby looks like the kind of guy who took no shit

[@karimzaid9726]

marvel gave him shit nevertheless, i like at 2:49 when he starts the sentence "marvel has every right..." he just scratches his face, laughing on the inside from the fact that he is defending the company that screwed him royally

[@aristottlesdeathwish]

jack kirby was all business. I respect that.

[@simoncomics8233]

Jack actually wasn't a great business man. Joe was actaully the business side of Simon & Kirby

[@michellesanctuary9089]

Jack Kirby! Amazing talent.

[@mapleavenue77]

This guy is absolutely amazing.

[@nichtsschlagteinenastronau7782]

I love Cap, and I love Jack and Joe, of course. Greetings from Germany!

[@dhartist]

Captain America is a timeless hero - Thank you for sharing these!

[@EricAllenJett]

The KING speaks.

[@brandonquenneville7330]

I love u and yur work . Rest ol pal. Your legacy is with me and everyone for ever

[@dougbrowne9890]

I worked for Comics Archives at this convention. On Sunday, I got away from the table, to go look at the original art displayed in the lobby, that Jack just got back from Marvel. While drooling over a Thor pin up, someone came up from behind me and asked, "Do you think that is any good?" I turned to give this yahoo a piece of my mind. It was Jack Kirby. I was dumbfounded and said, "Uh, yeah." I then got to talk with Jack for about half an hour. And while we were talking, a small crowd developed around us. I finally noticed the crowd and thanked Jack for his time, shook his hand and walked away. Got back to the table and the owner looked at me funny. I asked what was up. He said that I got to talk to Jack Kirby for over half an hour. And the smile on my face, he said, was priceless. At that point I realized I didn't ask for an autograph. But my chance was gone. I eventually got Jack's autograph, when I purchased two limited prints that he signed (one FF and one Dr. Doom). Talking with Jack is one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened to me. I really wish I could remember all we talked about. Well, the memory is still in my head. I hope it never goes away. Thanks Jack for the memories. And thanks to Greg Theakston for setting the show up. RIP to both.

[@morganmosley5136]

Thank you, Jack.

[@56postoffice]

Genius. F***ing genius. RIP

[@wesmo_]

That is the mind that created Marvel, Stan Lee is just a mouth.

[@badfoody]

Stan Lee was a master marketer but is an unrepentant liar

[@kiwiangeldust6912]

@@badfoody Oh how ignorant you are. Stop disrespecting him. You have no right

[@navylaks2]

Look's like todays Marvel should pay atention to this old interview

[@bmadejczyk]

A message for norseleage: Amen, brothers.

[@badfoody]

X years later some fker named Stan Lee decided to say he invented Captain America and the whole world believes him. Ffs

[@toyhunter2903]

Stupid cameos !

[@toyhunter2903]

@Always watching I watched a video where Stan Lee claimed this ...We created Red Skull. That's a lie! Jack Kirby and Joe Simon created him. Stan Lee had nothing to do in the creation of that character? Bad memory? I dont think.

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

He never claimed that dumbass, he always credited people when he was asked, stop hating for no reason

[@kiwiangeldust6912]

@@scottcrosby-art5490 Exactly. They have no right to disrespect such an icon

[@gerudokupo2225]

Late response, but he definitely has claimed that. Although I believe he later recanted that as slip of the tongue, just saying the first name that popped into his head. I don't believe he was actually trying to take credit for Cap though, because Stan wasn't stupid - And he was just a kid when Cap was created.

[@Comedyteamz]

Are y'all not hearing what he saying? Basically said captain america was some bullshit him and his boy made up to get some bread. Then dogged the shit outta next question.

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

That's how shit worked back then, no ones complaining now

[@owenmadden7577]

He understood what he was hired for. He was paid a fee to create a product and was under no illusion that he had any kind of ownership of the character. Cap was nothing more than a portfolio piece.

[@MarklovesAngels]

He also had the character punching Hitler on the jaw which was a risk then. He needed protection soon after. Takes guts. The same guts that put him on the front lines in the real world in the real war shortly afterwards.