Writer/editor Stan Lee (1922-2018) made comic-book history together
with Jack Kirby in 1961 with Fantastic Four #1. The monumental
popularity of its new style inspired Lee to develop similarly
themed characters - including the Hulk and X-Men with Kirby,
Spider-Man and Doctor Strange with Steve Ditko, and Daredevil with
Bill Everett. After shepherding his creations through dozens of
issues - in some cases a hundred or more - Lee allowed other
writers to take over, but he maintained steady editorial control.
Eventually, he helped expand Marvel into a multimedia empire. In
recent years, his frequent cameo appearances in Marvel's films
established Lee as one of the world's most famous faces.
Born Jacob Kurtzberg in 1917 to Jewish-Austrian parents on New
York's Lower East Side, Jack Kirby came of age at the birth of the
American comic book industry. Beginning his career during the
rising tide of Nazism, Kirby and fellow artist Joe Simon created
the patriotic hero Captain America. Cap's exploits on the comic
book page entertained millions of American readers at home and
inspired U.S. troops fighting the enemy abroad. When World War II
ended, the public's interest in super heroes waned; Kirby turned
his artistic talents during the 1950s to other genres, such as
monsters, Westerns and crime - as well as the first-of-its-kind
Young Romance Comics. In 1961, Kirby returned to super heroes to
illustrate what would become the defining issue in Marvel Comics
history- Fantastic Four #1. Written by Stan Lee, the team's debut
revolutionized the industry overnight. In contrast to the staid
artwork of his predecessors, Kirby's illustrations seemed to leap
off the page with eye-popping action and drama. For the next
decade, Kirby and Lee would introduce a mind-boggling array of new
characters - including the Avengers, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the
Silver Surfer and the X-Men. Taken together, Kirby's groundbreaking
work with Lee formed the foundation of the Marvel Universe. In the
early 1970s, Kirby moved to DC Comics, where his boundless
creativity continued. He returned to Marvel in 1975, writing and
illustrating Captain America and introducing his final major
concept, the Eternals. With the explosion of TV animation during
the 1980s, Kirby's talents turned to the small screen. Comic fans
quickly recognized his work on such series as Thundarr the
Barbarian and Turbo Teen. Kirby died in 1994, but his influence on
the comic book industry is as strong as ever. His work has inspired
a generation of professional artists and modern writers who
continue to explore his vast universe of concepts and characters.
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