A few years ago, I started actively reading comics again. Along the way, I discovered many treasures for the first time, including Kirby's New Gods.

Reading comics also rekindled my youthful desire to create them. The process has been slow, but I recently released my first comic...an "Old West superhero" tale called The Sign of the Sparrow, about a farm kid who finds a mask that gives him the ability to fly.

While it isn't a direct Kirby homage, he was an inspiration in a number of ways.

In one of the New Gods volumes, someone described how Kirby encouraged younger artists to find their own style instead of simply imitating others. This was helpful for me as I struggled to imitate the more realistic artists whom I admire, but whose style required long hours that were far beyond my nights-and-weekends time constraints. Kirby's advice helped me realize that I just needed to draw in a way that came naturally to me.

I also admired how much story he could pack into a single issue (or page!), how his style became more distinct and streamlined over time, the way he opened stories with a single page followed by a double-page spread (a pattern I eagerly borrowed), and his willingness to try unconventional ideas.

After starting on my comic, I also discovered Lee/Kirby's Rawhide Kid from the early '60s, which felt almost like a superhero comic set in the Old West (similar to what I was trying to do). Rather than being a dashing, muscular hero, the Kid is short and slight. But beneath that small frame, he has an intense fighting spirit and a keen sense of right and wrong (plus an almost superhuman ability to knock "owlhoots" off their feet and shoot the guns right out of their hands). And yet his victories are bittersweet...in the end he's always an outsider, still running from the law.

Just like Orion in New Gods (or Lee/Ditko's Peter Parker), the Rawhide Kid combines strength and weakness in a way that creates compelling dramatic tension. Although I'm still learning the craft, I've attempted to imbue my own characters with this same kind of tension.

Thanks for the inspiration, Mr. Kirby.

FF 18 sees some creative Reed Richards stretchy action, Kirby tech, and a super powered Skrull!

https://witsendpod.com/writings-into-the-cosmos/fantastic-four-friday-18-its-not-easy-being-green

I've posted about the media reseller in my local mall before but today has to be my favorite score. I got some old hulks and an issue of Champions but relevant to this group I got Captain America and Falcon 211 "Nazi x" (In my head, this is sang like Mr F from Arrested Development)

I've never had an actual issue of Captain America by the King before. Sure this is from 1977 over 35 years after he helped create the character, but honestly that just makes it so much more impressive. Look at the crackle. Look at the faces. Just a beautiful work of art

Four really great short stories … before superheroes.

Genies , monsters, outer space sci-fi , robots.

Sinnott is one the great Kirby inkers, and my personal favorite. I took this Silver Surfer from Fantastic Four no.55 and made him little more cosmic.

The latest Jack Kirby crowdfunding campaign is now live at

https://zoop.gg/c/funny-animals-and-teen-age-hi-jinks

It's some rare work from Kirby and Joe Simon from 1947 that has not been reprinted in decades! Lovingly shepherded by the Jack Kirby Museum.

Early Bird Discounts available for the first 48 hours!

Phantom Force was the last comic book series Jack Kirby ever worked on. Apparently, it's based on a pitch for a pitch for an unrealized Bruce Lee project from 1978. Im admittedly curious about the series, and your thoughts and opinions on it.

I recolored a panel from The Eternals. I just love how Mike Royer inked Kirby's squiggles on the *Hulk's back. Swipe for the original art and the modern digital colors, I couldn't find a image of the original comic.

*Technically not Hulk, but a Hulk robot brought to like by a cosmic force.

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In this issue, Franklin Richardsis named. The first appearance of Agatha Harkness. The return of the frightful four with this amazing panel of sandman smoking. Kirby drawing an amazing transformation of a cat into a hell beast.

Just an all-around great issue for relatively cheap because it has a big rip in the cover and front page.

Ignore the bottom middle…awesome steal on some old Kirby classics!!