This one Thor comic reveals Jack Kirby's hidden genius

This one Thor origin comic from Marvel reveals Jack Kirby's hidden genius, from NerdSync.
SUBSCRIBE and hit that bell! 👉🔔 nerdsyn.cc/_SUB...
Watch Next, “Why Fans Destroyed SUPERMAN's First Comic Book... on Purpose!”: • Why Fans Destroyed SUP...
Follow NerdSync!
Twitter: / nerdsync
Facebook: / nerdsyncproductions
Instagram: / nerdsync
Subreddit: / nerdsync
Get exclusive REWARDS by supporting us on PATREON!
❤️ / nerdsync ❤️
Watch More Nerdsync:
More MARVEL Comics: • MARVEL Comics & Superh...
Comic Book HISTORY: • Comic Book HISTORY! | ...
Latest Uploads: • Latest Uploads from Ne...
Popular Videos: • Where Was SABRETOOTH D...
NerdSync Sidekick - Our second channel!
Subscribe: / @nerdsyncsidekick
Hosted by Scott Niswander (@ScottNiswander)
Business Enquiries: [e-mail]
About NerdSync:
Comic books are an incredible medium filled with the amazing adventures of fantastic superheroes, but they are also much more than just stories on a page. We here at NerdSync see comics as a tool that can help teach us about the world we live in! Join us each week as we explore fascinating topics that range from science, history, philosophy, culture, and art, making complex ideas a little more accessible through the heroes and villains from Marvel, DC Comics, and more, you wonderful nerd!
-------SOURCES-------
Understanding Comics - Scott McCloud
goo.gl/QMESZb
Men of Tomorrow - Gerard Jones
goo.gl/WDW4yi

[@NerdSyncProductions]

*Couple of things:* 1) This video is a day late because we had errors with the export. Sorry about that. 2) Would you like to see more comic book breakdowns of how writers write or how artists draw? Let me know! 3) This was accidentally cut from the end, but remember to read between the panels and grow smarter through comics!

[@kentvolanski4316]

NerdSync As a fan who is an aspiring artist, I would love to see more episodes like this one. In most comic book shows like this the artwork is always the best part

[@harrykirkham220]

NerdSync I think you can please everyone with a concept as broad as story and art.

[@flying_rat]

NerdSync 1) it's okay, we still love you 2)YES!!! 3) Always.

[@Kiquecapo]

Jim Steranko next??

[@ziveisenstodt7419]

NerdSync WHAT HAPPENED TO SCOTTS HAIR?!? AND LANGUAGE?!?

[@Sacremas]

I have not seen 30 seconds of this video yet, but "Jack "F*ing" Kirby, or Jack "King" Kirby for short" got my thumbs up already.

[@Sacremas]

Rest of the video was of course fantastic as well, great work, and a good tribute.

[@EgyptianChiefKeef]

@@Sacremas I know

[@andten100]

person 1: jack kirby's is so underrated person 2: who's jack kirby? person 1: don't ever speak to me again

[@BaronKrool]

This might be my absolute favorite video by you now. As an artist, I will always appreciate when people give artists like Kirby their due respect. And smart analysis of his visual storytelling even more so. Artists shouldn't be the only people who understand Kirby's greatness. This video made my week.

[@rodney2x48]

Out of all the characters Kirby made, the New Gods are my favorite. Orion, Darkseid, Kalibak, Big Barda, Mr. Miracle, Desaad, Lightray, and many more are just very memorable and awesome characters and the story of The 4th World is one of my favorites in all of comics. I love it so freaking much. Kirby's artwork always feels dynamic and fun. There's never a dull moment in a comic he's drawn. I think that's the best thing about his art: it's never boring and always interesting.

[@sixdollarman1362]

I really need to read the New Gods. The Incredible Hulk is probably my favorite of his creations. I like that in that first issue, the Hulk was drawn big and strong, but not as muscular as later incarnations. There were bodybuilding competitions back then, but it was not the norm to see such extreme muscularity and maybe that is why he looks as he does in #1. After the Hulk, I have to go cosmic with my choice's of the Silver Surfer & Galactus.

[@sixdollarman1362]

Ike Rants, I am aware that the New Gods are DC. I have read a little of it. I will catch up on it one of these days. It's just so expensive to be a comic fan these days! We all have to pick and choose.

[@lorddarkseid4009]

I know his work at Marvel was far more iconic, but the Fourth World saga is truly that: A saga. Very grand and sweeping with 200 things always happening at once, it is certainly one of the most grand comics undertakings ever known. Plus, we have him and the New Gods to thank for Darkseid, which, if done right, is one of DC's best villains. Tl;dr: You have good taste Mr. Robot.

[@jonryder7269]

Lord Darkseid Darkseid and allways will be the ultimate villain of the DC universe. A truly great legacy. :3

[@TheSefirosu200x]

Surprised Robot I'll always be thankful for Kirby creating Darkseid, my favorite supervillain ever.

[@matthewworthy4739]

Kirby created many of my favorite heroes and villains, but none compare to the magnificence of DOCTOR DOOM!!!!!!!!!

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Matthew Worthy Agreed...though I'd call Darkseid, the original galactic despot, a close second.

[@magneto9210]

The throne belongs to *me,* homosapien.

[@Dukqs]

DOOM

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Magneto Oh please...it took Chris Claremont to make you look cool.

[@magneto9210]

It took Chris Claremont to make *everyone* cool. The X-Men wouldn't even be relevant today if not for that beautiful bastard.

[@a.n.d7496]

Without Jack Kirby's genius, comic book fans(like myself) wouldn't have a artistic visual of each character's appearance and their emotions he drew/created. Great video scott, love these types of videos.

[@Estarfigam]

I was reading an Captain America anthology and I stopped at one part of the book and noticed Kirby's work on Captain America gripping some dirt, Kirby made it look three dimensional. I can tell his fingers went in deep, I can see the desperation in his face. Captain America was lucky to survive. Kirby is the King.

[@Frankenstein077]

Hail to the King Kirby. Even more amazing than how good his artwork is is the shear _volume_ of it. The man drew more comics in a year than most artists draw in a lifetime. How do you pick a favourite out of _all_ that?

[@Dargonhuman]

ikr? I was thinking "Only one? I can't pick just one, that's just sadistic to ask."

[@fidelsolis6070]

Thats so true. Old school people do that even in sports..New rookors don't. R.i.p Jack kirby your a Legend.

[@fidelsolis6070]

Both kirby and stan Lee where so knowledgable and very creative and they had so much passion for comics. Thats why they gave is the best Heroes and comics ever.

[@AliFareedMC]

@@fidelsolis6070 Stan Lee didn't Know what Mutation was

[@libraryquiet]

+Frankenstein077+ I wholeheartedly agree with you. When you stop and think about the sheer output from this man, and the quality, it's almost non-human..., or should I say inhuman.😉

[@harrykirkham220]

A writer and artist who was way ahead of his time

[@achanwahn]

harry Kirkham Dwan I don't really think he was ahead. that usually denotes someone who isn't appreciated. he was more like one of the founders of this art

[@allenglass3461]

surfitlive have to disagree. He was one of the best artists ever......however....he was a horrible writer for the most part. His writing was like HP Lovecraft when he started. The only difference is that Kirby didn't get better. Without Stans writing, Marvel wouldn't exist. Without Kirby art style, Marvel wouldn't exist.

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

He's out of any time

[@paulakroy2635]

Allen Glass Matter of taste but Kirby’s writing did launch marvel so

[@KTF0]

Jack is the most prolific comic artist of all time. He could tell a story, do an amazing cover, and can portray epic fights and keep in mind he was doing MULTIPLE books simultaneously. He could write, a lot of the FF and Thor stories had notes on what the characters were doing, his dialogue was admittedly, a bit choppy and the stories meanders at times. Stan didn't have a big creation after Jack left for DC, meanwhile Jack created Darkseid, New Gods, Big Barda, Kamandi, etc and even when he returned he created the Eternals, Devil Dinosaur etc.

[@PrivateEye10]

I think it is obvious that Kirbys artwork is what put the Marvel 1960s stories in the map... With his own unique way of portraying characters and the fact that he was in so many of the books back in the day meant that you got the same kind of action packed adventure from those books... It really is something... Even today people can learn, and probably still learn, something from him...

[@quacksackerthegreatstarfir6996]

Simply put Kirby was the greatest artist in comics and the true creator of at least half the Marvel Universe. I still remember those huge second and third pages filled with so much action

[@wiseguymaybe]

Two people that influenced me as an amateur cartoonist growing up. That was Disney artists and Jack Kirby. He was the Steven Spielberg of bringing a story to being bigger than life. Scott, you picked the biggest, no not just biggest but THE artist that influenced all comic book artists that followed him. You ask which story or character Kirby helped bring to life was my favorite.....that is the roughest question to ask because there are so many. I would buy a comic book just because Jack drew it. I loved the first issue of the Avengers with the Space Phantom. I loved the issue of the Hulk where the Leader was introduced. The fight between the Hulk and the Thing. I loved the Jimmy Olson comics he drew. I loved the golden Ironman suit issues that made Tony Stark look as mighty as the Hulk. I loved the action of Captain America. I loved the Mister Miracle comics. And if they were to make another Fantastic Four movie, they should follow the action that Kirby introduced to the first big success of the Marvel franchise. Begin it with the action of four mysterious super powered characters in New York and then flash back to their origin, just like in the comic drawn by Kirby. It's to boring to go through their origin step by step, do it the Kirby way. Kirby set the outline and that's what you should follow Hollywood. Anyway, I'm giving you a big thumbs up, you hit a subject I can't get enough of. Thanks Scott.😍👏👏👏👌

[@martinwakeling8987]

Jack Kirby, truly the King. wish all the hipster nerds who watch the marvel movies and saw Stan Lee's grinning mug understood the real history of marvel.

[@gbuddy]

Stan Lee was just as important to the history of Marvel as The King.

[@martinwakeling8987]

@@gbuddy Arguably, yes. But not MORE important. And that's how he's always been treated.

[@Redant751]

Any issue of Fantastic Four by the King is always killer.

[@thenerdmanual]

Pretty much enjoy everything you guys do, but these videos that focus on an artist's or writer's work within the context of the larger comic book world make me smile. Thank you.

[@NevermoreNeverAgain]

I've been with the channel for years. I'm not one to leave comments, especially not on old videos like this one, but something pushed me into nostalgia today... When I was a boy, the first-ever superhero I saw was... Superman, obviously. The Fleischer Studios adaptation. But the first comic book, the first drawn superhero I saw was Thor as drawn by Jack Kirby. I found my dad's stash of nerdy stuff from when he was young and there he was... The mighty Thor with that line art I'd recognise anywhere now. Ehhh... Changed my life forever.

[@noahhenson1669]

Outstanding analysis of Kirby's style! The visceral power of his poses, panels and pages was the result of a number of factors, including the fluid dynamism of his characters' movement, the dramatic "camera" angles he chose, the simplicity of his technique and designs, and his use of motion lines and radiating power lines to direct the eye. The master of comics storytelling.

[@RayfieldA]

Everything you say in this video underlines why I grew up a Marvel fan!! When I was a kid in the 70's, Mr. Kirby was winding down as a comic book artist and I didn't appreciate his art style back then but now that I'm a storyboard artist, how could I Not appreciate his storytelling genius?! Great video!

[@brothaantone8286]

This is why I love jack Kirby work so much, the way he draws the action scenes is amazing. 😉

[@nicoletaylor933]

I love the break down of how an artist conveys his toughts.

[@RK-ck6pl]

This is easily my favorite episode from your channel. Great work

[@ashurdrake6461]

I still remember seeing his art for the first time. I was born in 1999 so the art style for comics were slowly going into realistic(also just weird 90s art). My grandpa gave me a reprint of a Spiderman comic that was in the newspaper. It was basically a ad for spiderman 2(I think it's kinda blurry). I've never seen art style like his before and it probably got me drawing myself. I was too young to read(and having trouble reading) I understood the story and what was going on in the panel. It wasn't static. I'm still impressed to this day because he was the only one doing it at the time. Idk why I'm telling this, but it's a cool story about how I saw Kirby's artwork for the first time.

[@EmethMatthew]

Love this channel for the historical looks into how comics were made and the people behind them!

[@hiko082673]

You hit the spot for Jack Kirby drawing style, good job!!!

[@Jake_Tucker]

Kirby's art was truly something else, his art was as mighty as Thor was portrayed. It was always stunning, exciting, and breath taking. The way he single handedly changed the comics industry is still unmatched.

[@lastken13]

The Fourth World at Dc has to be one of the most influential contributions to pop culture and the fact that Kirby gave it his dynamic storytelling is amazing but his design work in that world is unbelievable. I'm really excited that Thor Ragnorok is taking influence on the way he drew machines and costumes because no one does it better.

[@buenahschoir]

Off topic, but I miss your "Tales From the Comments" videos. They remind me of the PBS Idea Channel. Speaking of, I can't believe the channel is ending!!! Please keep posting! I know it's a lot of work, and a lot of time, but your videos have seriously increased my passion for comics. I LOVE your channel, and there's a reason why people want to see you and nobody else: your personality is simply amazing! With that said, I respect what you are trying to do in regards to getting more people to help, but please keep posting!

[@tektoniks_architects]

Without the genius of Kirby, Lee would have never achieved the fame he did. Kirby co-created the Marvel universe, as much for his storytelling as for the magnificence of his artwork. The Silver Age of comics is dominated by Kirby's presence.

[@paulakroy2635]

Tektoniks Architects really created it

[@__Luke__]

Totally disagree. Stan was great with Ditko and others, but Jack was never great without Stan.

[@TeeyoDoubleDee]

As a seven year-old kid and avid artist, I couldn't stand looking at the square-fingered, blocky artwork of Jack Kirby! Why, I looked at it every day and decided anew just how much I couldn't stand it. I COULDN'T STOP LOOKING AT IT! Now, I love Jack Kirby's artwork and I still can't stop looking at it!

[@Saddaemon]

Wow! Never thought about that before. The panel with mjolnir crashing through the tree is incredible!

[@markthompson6040]

Another amazing video scott

[@JosSliv]

Jack's art was a big part of my childhood. I believe I bought FF #2 or #3 off a half price rack with the top half of the cover removed. I feel in love with Jack's style. He was and will always be the King. And yes, do more videos like this; very interesting.

[@rubensalvador9422]

Love this in-depth analysis of Kirby's artwork and style! Is there any chance that you might do similar vídeos of other artist and their storytelling styles like Ditko, Steranko, Everett, McFarlane, etc.

[@bjmccann1]

Way to go! That was your most impassioned episode yet. Keep up the good work!

[@PatrickRamseymusic]

I followed Kirby during the 60s at Marvel. I Watched his drawing style develop as he started using the Kirby crackle and the Kirby squiggles more and more.

[@jpflynn06]

The majority of readers can only enjoy him posthumously. That being said...since we have this knowledge of superheroes, most of the time before we even know who he is, it is absolutely mind boggling and unbelievable when we see “He created him? And her? ANS HIM? AND THEM?!!” His level of shaping the American mythos is simply...Mythic and doesn’t seem possible. But it certainly is and we are forever grateful.

[@AliFareedMC]

I am 27 year old When i was a kid i read Fantastic Four I didn't know who is who of comics I knew stan lee from the movies Fast forward in 2012 i found out about Jack Kirby when i decided to become Art Historian I jumped into the history of comics The Things i found it very heartbreaking

[@CrookerComic]

The pot shot to Action Comics #1 felt a bit unnecessary, seeing as it came out almost 20 something years before Thor's first comic. Probably should have used an example from the same era to really show how much kirby stood out among all artists at the time, really isn't fair lobbing 20 years of experience at somebody's FIRST issue from years prior. Still, great video! Long live the king!

[@ScooterinAB]

I think it's a perfectly valid comparison. Since Scott was talking about the trend to portray action as a static image, the comparison to Supes paints exactly that picture, and creates a create comparison of how to make more moving and dynamic artwork. The point was to show progression in the industry, and showing how comics went from static and unengaging images to the power of Thor being thrown right at you on every page shows that progression really well.

[@mercurywoodrose]

he wanted to spare sal buscema any more torment....

[@wk3820]

Shuster was never a great artist, but he could capture energetic images in a way similar to Kirby in the golden age. Compare early Superman with Kirby's early DC stuff like Manhunter or Boy Commandos. They share a certain energy, but Kirby is a more complete artist even in 1941. If I remember correctly they were DCs top two artists in terms of sales at that time. Action was #1, Detective was #2 and Boy Commandos was #3 (and Detective carried a S&K Boy Commandos strip each issue).

[@KTF0]

That's the point, to show the evolution. People bought Action Comics for that scene alone.

[@rodrigoarellano992]

Jack Kirby is truly the king, if you love comics you have something to thank him for

[@kuldipbinning1989]

Wow that was a an excellent explanation of Jack's use of fluid motion for Thor's first story in JIM 83. I never knew that my dad was born in the same year as Jack.

[@mercurywoodrose]

he had a fantastic, innate design sense. he did minimal work with panel layout, but laid out eat panel impeccably, and decorated everything with incredibly stile and creattivity. his costumes are amazing. look at black bolts underarm wings, and crystals hair bands. or the things rock panelled body. and his machine designs were astonishing, not just the shine lines, but the weird circuitry and doohickeys. i would compare him to Kurosawa.

[@christopherzapata4970]

Glad to see your old style of video again. This was why I subbed, you, Scott are why I stayed, and I'm loving the new bald look!

[@suga9470]

Thanks for such a incredible video. This is exactly what I was looking for. ! And please add links to Jack's classic comic books if available .👍

[@eyesofthefox]

jack kirby was cranking out like 5 pages a day, he had an uncanny mastery of perspective, and pushed comics into a more cinematic direction even back then.

[@wJeffG1966]

Thanks for this. I've heard forever that KIRBY IS A GENIUS but because he influenced everyone who followed him, it's hard to appreciate just what his contributions to comics really were. I'm sure this only scratches surface, and I would love to see more vids like this breaking down his art.

[@IntheClutch75]

"'King' for short..." Excellent. I'd have to say Thor was my favorite character that Kirby drew followed by the Thing followed by Cap. I can see what made him great easier than describing it. His blocky style always seemed EPIC, and then his commitment to actually drawing kinetic energy on the page was always exciting.

[@jamesedwards8387]

This is why my Jack Kirby's Mighty Thor - Artist Edition book is one of my prize possessions. He changed the game and this book has large copies of his Thor drawings before they were colored. And a few of them actually have his notes next to the drawings Its an awesome book that looks great on display. Originally my wife wanted it for a coffee table book but it fills up the entire table and she was worried it was going to get ruined being by drinks and food.

[@destripvlogger]

Excellent video, Scot! I enjoyed it a lot. And once again you inspire me to make improvements in my own video's!

[@JonathanNichollstechandsuch8]

Personally, I really love Kirby’s work on the a Fantastic Four. I got the Marvel Epic Collections of the Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) around a month ago and I love the art style. Something which is definitely lacking in the modern comics is the colour, variety and fun that you get from Kirby’s work. I don’t know if the style is exclusive to him, but I do know I love it.

[@pikainu9762]

I had no idea that the creator of so many amazing characters also stylized motion lines. Very interesting :)

[@randalwung8715]

Something I've realized in the past few years-mainly due to observations made by Jack's good friend, former assistant, and all-around historian, Mark Evanier-is how much of the man himself is in his artwork. One of the few people I think is worthy of comparison in talent, output, and power is Conan creator, Robert E. Howard. His pen pal HP Lovecraft said something like this: "His secret was that he was in everything he wrote. He truly lived every word he put down on the page." The same is true for Kirby who wrote and drew in every comic genre there was from war books to westerns to romance, and in virtually all of them, even if he was just cranking something out with no inspiration other than a paycheck-which, by the way, almost NEVER happened-there was "emotional content" (to quote Bruce Lee, the OTHER person worthy of comparison) that he simply couldn't avoid. Jack was one of those rare artists whose brain and hand were totally connected; what was pictured in his mind transferred directly onto the drawing board-hence, the stories of him looking like he was literally tracing a picture as he drew, with no need for thumbnails or sketching. Whatever emotions he was feeling when he was drawing, whatever might be going on in the news or his personal life or something he was reading at the time, whatever events or people or information from his past he could consciously or unconsciously connect to the tale he was telling, it ALL came out in his artwork and them some. As I get older and reread Jack's comics, there's an energy and urgency and immediacy and sheer aliveness that I don't think I get from any other artist because he was IN those pages, in each and every line. And although I heard him speak briefly at a convention once but never got to meet him, in a way I feel like I DID meet him...through his stories. And y'know what? They were DAMN GOOD. All hail the King!

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Randal Wung I would only add that such genius didn't occur in a vacuum. One thing that always struck me was how he plugged into the pop culture of his day for inspiration. He was an early fan of Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner, which he used as the basis for the FF being trapped in Latveria story. Professor X's look came from Yul Bryner. The basis of Metron of the New Gods was Leonard Nimoy as Spock in the original Star Trek. There are numerous other examples.

[@randalwung8715]

Yeah, film and TV were big inspirations for him. King Kong was in Kamandi, the FF met the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Edward G. Robinson was in that gangster storyline with the Thing, Lainie Kazan was the inspiration for Big Barda, and I think Sidney Poitier was the basis for T'challa. Then there's the weird use of John Lennon as the Swine in Captain America--wonder what THAT was all about? I was recently reading those giant MONSTERS collections with all the Atlas era stories and, man, was Jack borrowing from pop culture all over the place. Oh, and let us not forget the unpublished SOUL LOVE series from the 70s, where it was clear The King was looking at Ebony Magazine and whatever else he could for face and fashion references!

[@iandalziel7405]

The Two-Fisted literati - Howard's early output is luckily largely all on the web - my old books and mags are falling apart.

[@inexfan89]

Kirby was simply a visionary artist. My favorite character he helped bring to life is Cyclops. He is in fact my favorite comic book character of all time.

[@groovymovies390]

You know, at first I thought this video might be a joke and would just be Scott just listing off every character Kirby helped create. Ironically enough, I actually would have enjoyed that too. Great video Scott!

[@brucekent4865]

Scott your are back, please continue like this! I have been following since you have started, and yes, you, Scott, are back

[@johnathonhaney8291]

For me, the essence of Kirby is motion. Even in his romance comics (FYI, he invented those too), all his characters just stay on the go, punching, leaping, running, dodging. Even his extreme close-ups carry some of the kinetic force of his action panels. Favorite Kirby work is a dark horse, The Demon #1 for DC.

[@iandalziel7405]

And let's not forget all those great Monster stories - with names such as 'KRAKADOOM!" and the like... see: www.cbr.com/monsters-unleashed-jack-kirbys-15-craziest-marvel-monsters/

[@benjaminkellog7311]

Jack Kirby was one of the first comics artists I ever knew by name and style (the second being Osamu Tezuka; thank God for affordable masterpieces!), and I absolutely love how he can make even the dullest story more exciting through the sheer force of his expert action sequences. I recently had the opportunity to reexamine Avengers #1 and #2 (in the second issue of Marvel Comics Digest; awesome publication I highly recommend to anyone looking for a sampling of good comics from all eras in convenient travel size), two stories which have, I feel, very pedestrian and lazy genre tropes, but which are made up for by Kirby's dynamic visuals. "The Coming of the Avengers" is basically one long fight between Hulk and the rest of the team, but I feel engaged throughout because Kirby clearly illustrates the shifts in momentum between Hulk and the other heroes, every big meaty punch lands with the force of a wrecking ball and I bet seeing all of the heroes' powers being used en masses would have been quite impressive back when this story was first printed. Also, I get a hoot out of seeing Hulk painted like a clown; the signature Kirby Hulk frown peering out through happy clown makeup is visually arresting and makes me wonder if he wants to murder the guy who put him in such an ironic circus role. "The Space Phantom" is a more engaging take on the "Avengers fight each other" idea, but I particularly want to bring up two iconic panels from near the middle. On page 9, the Phantom has just used his power of transformation/limbo-banishment to bring Hulk back to Earth. The middle panel shows a shocked and dazed Hulk framed by a concerned Rick Jones and a shifty-looking Phantom against a yellow background. The bottom panel shifts to a red background and Hulk disappearing in s flash of white light; Rick on the left reaches out to his friend a bit too late to do anything terribly important, while the Phantom on the right begins turning into the Hulk, the big green shape silloughetted against his slight, gaunt form. That's followed up on page 10 with a shot of Phantom-Hulk dynamically leaping toward the reader, away from a worried Rick. Great visual storytelling, and the rest of the issue is similarly amazing.

[@BearCubster]

He will not be forgotten in the comic book world.

[@williambaldridge1203]

I grew up on Kirby's artwork in the early Marvel Comics. To this day he still my favorite artist over all the modern greats. And there are many great artists today. But I believe most of them were influenced by Kirby. There's no one is artwork is like Jack King Kirby's

[@bankyokojoe8537]

Thor is one of the best characters in all comics, and it's all because of Jack "King" Kirby and Stan "The Man" Lee. Seriously, this art is genuinely beautiful.

[@Moodboard39]

Pfft lol 🤣 u smoking crack ! Nothing interesting about Thor ! Batman had better story and Spiderman

[@SAM999XXX]

@@Moodboard39 you mean you just don't read about Thor

[@bryce1014]

But its August 29th so exactly one hundred years and a day ago

[@NerdSyncProductions]

We were planning on releasing this on the 28th, but had some errors with the export that took an additional day to fix.

[@davidterry4952]

The King could have pages of a battle without either side landing a punch. He could also take seemingly mismatched opponents and make it an even fight. The Sandman vs the Thing in FF#63 comes to mind.

[@raggarharry9765]

Jack Kirby is a legend. I am not even going to complain about how unfaithful the comics are to my beloves norse mytholgy.

[@iandalziel7405]

And arguably Kirby's work has brought more people to look at the Norse Gods (and others) - I know I went out and got a book on them after my first brush with Thor as a kid.

[@ProjektTaku]

tbh marvel's thor and his mythology are pretty much the new, revived and definitive norse mythology

[@JefiKnight]

Those were the days they could fit as much story into one comic book page as about half a modern comic book.

[@dougg1075]

I hated his art as a kid but now as an adult and artist I stand amazed at his shear genius. Same goes for Gene Colan but Kirby is on another level.

[@Ninth_Penumbra]

Apart from that incredible dynamism his characters have (even in simple movements), when I try to recall the artwork oof Jack Kirby, it's his extraordinary technological machinery from series like the Fantastic Four that stands out to me. Look at when Galactus first appears & starts to assemble his world eating tech, it looks bizarre but is composed of recognizable (Earth-like) elements: metal pipes, glowing tubes, etc., all seeming to coherently assemble into a realistic & super-advanced (for the 1960s) mechanism. Looking at the sheer volume (& consistent quality) of his work, you'd have to believe that the man's imagination was boundless...

[@FRISHR]

I want a Jack Kirby cameo in Marvel movies.

[@DocZom]

He has been dead for 20 years.

[@FRISHR]

DocZom it can be a picture cameo like Stan Lee in Daredevil. A statue or hologram anything really, he deserves mainstream recognition.

[@senojor]

Yes! A cameo! Perhaps when DC makes Mister Miracle or New Gods! They'll figure something out. Maybe a ringer could portray Oberon....

[@yaddar]

Do more non-marvel/dc stuff like Image, or Dark horse, stuff like Johny the homicidal maniac or battle chasers or even polandball

[@gonk4509]

yaddar Polan can into comic?

[@1bytesnack369]

Great and gorgeous vid! That was a superb way to pay homage to the King. Thanks and more of these, please. =]

[@afonsolucas2219]

Today is my Birthday, so thanks Scott! This is a great Birthday present for one of my favourite artists!

[@elijahblechman8633]

possibly my favorite comic artist, one thing i dislike about comics today is the art style, there needs to be more like him today.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Elijah Blechman No, they need to forge their own path, just like he did.

[@elijahblechman8633]

whatever man i'm not here to start fights.

[@krsj5124]

Tom Scioli, Mike Allred, and Michael Avon Oeming have some very obvious Kirby inspiration.

[@nuerboi]

Hey Scott! For a long time, this was my favorite channel by far. But at some point I just stopped for some reason. KZbin stopped showing me your videos and I just wasn't watching. But I watched your Defenders review yesterday and have started watching consistently. Notifications are on now so...keep it up.

[@pious83]

I was never fond of the art style myself but, the sheer creativity on display in every panel and his body of work demands respect. You know, the kind of respect that DC have been showing Kirby's legacy in the last few weeks whereas Marvel are showing zero.

[@TwippyTwilight]

I am so happy I got to meet Jack Kirby before he died

[@riptorn1667]

Favourite story (complete in one issue) is probably X-Men 10 introducing Ka Zar and the Hidden Land. Not as cosmic as later stuff ( favourite: Thor &Ego)but just a perfect package of excitement and storytelling. Best action: Iron Man V Sub Mariner in Tales to Astonish. AND THAT was a fill-in rush job...!

[@farmandoart5850]

Im majoring on illustration in college. In my introduction to illustration class, every week we spend the last 30 minutes going through illustrators from every time period, going back to even the 19th century. The teacher has a folder with hundreds of artists and there are around 5-20 pics from each one. One week ago, Kirby popped up. The teacher said, "just a comic artist from the 50s" and flashed through the pics. Then he said: "very repetitive". I died inside.

[@farmandoart5850]

Johnathon Haney Yeah that’s a good point. But what bothered me was how little importance he gave to him. He is at least in the top 3 most important people in the history of comics.

[@ericfellner2689]

Thor is my favorite, by far. His original stories really dwelled in the bizarre. That triumphant frame is amazing. Welcome to the bald club, man. It works for you!

[@discounthoody]

"Oh I haven't watched NerdSync in a while. I'll check em out." BALD! BALD! BALD!

[@mbiukimicheni9906]

Hair looking clean... I mean forehead looking clean

[@ralphwilliams2396]

Thanks for giving me a different perspective on comics

[@capnmo6718]

Good grief... Hidden genius? There was was nothing hidden about it. Kirby's genius was out in the open. That's way, ya know, he's a legend.

[@DanteYewToob]

The way I see it, a lot of other comic art looked like poses. Especially that Superman page.. separate poses, with no real weight or cohesion. Kirby drew actions, movement. You could tell the flow from one still to the next, and they looked more like a frozen moment of action, than someone just striking a pose. They had weight, and an understandable flow that made his action and combat easy and fun to follow. That is the major difference, I think, in Kirbys work.

[@shoresean1237]

I'll nominate Thor #'s 168 and 169, where in Odin compelled Thor to seek out the origins of Galactus. It was not long before Kirby left the book, and his art was at its peak in that era.

[@igg20]

pleeeease do more videos on Jack Kirby! like hundreds of them. Tons. This one was great!

[@aftacomics5865]

One of many explanations..and a good one. But trying to explain his art method is like trying to explain life itself..It just can't be done. Kirby just...was.

[@crystalvega7594]

Got to see the Jack Kirby museum today in New York City with my dad. It was awesome!!!

[@davidalbee5039]

Thanks for this explanation!! Such a genius!! 🙌🏻

[@NerdSyncProductions]

Thanks for watching!

[@davidalbee5039]

NerdSync thanks for all the fantastic and interesting content! 👌🏼💛

[@ll7868]

My cousin had custom Jack Kirby Doc Doom, Silver Surfer and Magneto art airbrushed on his bass guitars and they look pretty damn cool.

[@buenahschoir]

It would be interesting to see how his style changed/developed over time.

[@VictorShephard]

My favorite Kirby character is the great King T'Challa. His first appearance was one for the ages. Kirby knew how to get you into a character. I hate that he isn't here to see the movies.

[@fig-lordreviews5238]

My favorite Kirby creations are the FF by far

[@vpaulbartilucci8544]

My favorite Kirby creation is also my favorite Marvel hero - The Black Panther. Kirby's design of that character is brilliant. It's sleek, elegant, and mysterious. IMHO the second best costume design in comics.

[@KairuHakubi]

it's funny how Kirby's influence on Bruce Timm is so clear, yet in a lot of cases when he tried to adapt new characters he kinda went... full Kirby, and you got the weirdos from the Justice League Metamorpho episode.

[@douglasrice7524]

I feel that Jack Kirby's real genius was not drawing 'reality', but somehow bending reality to his own cosmic will. The results speak for themselves.

[@hahahahaha288]

One of the most influential comic book creator

[@alldatcoolstuff3642]

R.I.P. jack Kirby

[@kingmuizz708]

Loving that bold look Scott(both literally and figuratively)

[@roddyalcivar]

Cool video. Can't say enough on how important visual story telling is as a comic book artist. (Not that I am one myself...)

[@WilliamShillinglaw]

He is up there with the greats

[@NerdSyncProductions]

The greats wish they were up there with him. Haha

[@DocZom]

Who else do you consider "the greats"? Ditko? Then who? Guys like Romita, Steranko, Adams, and Windsor-Smith were great, but are they among "the greats"? OK, maybe Steranko.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

DocZom Yes to all the above. Saying so does nothing to detract from Kirby's greatness.

[@iandalziel7405]

@@DocZom Steranko's History of Comics is also a great resource - that's where I first read about Kirby's approach - apparently he'd start in the top corner and fill the page up to the bottom, in seemingly no time at all!' The recent History of Marvel is such a sad read - seeing how all these comics that gave us such pleasure as kids were created by bullied and burnt out artists who were shafted at every turn it seems.

[@DocZom]

@@iandalziel7405 @Ian Dalziel Yes, there was quite a bit of exploitation of talent at Marvel... (and at DC). It appears to have been the business model. But for all that, I just cannot bring myself to hate Stan Lee. Stan was the Man. I was a kid in my early teens back at the beginning, a True Believer. Stan made it all happen. The knowledge of the business practices now makes the memories bittersweet, but I still treasure them. Interested in buying some vintage mags? :)

[@josuecarneiro9924]

to me JK is a genius! he created movement , perspective ,gave power for comics.The best drawing ever.

[@strangesightsinthesky]

THOR was my favorite from Kirby and he was the only person who could draw him in his full power-over 100 issues of greatness by the King but i wish he'd done more thor annuals-only two.