Showing posts with label Steve Ditko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Ditko. Show all posts
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Recently Read: Kirby & Lee: Stuf' Said, by John Morrow
Publisher, editor and author John Morrow's chronological compendium of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's publicly spoken words concerning their decade-long collaborations is a handy document. It's liberally illustrated with examples of the art processes discussed. It's also a good reference guide for what was said when, even when the later pronouncements become (very) repetitive as both comics creator's memories calcified. Especially insightful (and surprising to me in their depth) was the prodigious number of examples of Lee either passively/aggressively - or just aggressively - denigrating Kirby, Steve Ditko and Wally Wood in the letters pages of Marvel comics. One might believe Lee was, at heart, insecure in his writing skills.
I believe the book does come with some prejudices and presumptions. For example, Ditko is described by Morrow as a "talented artist", disregarding the fact that Ditko was a writer for most of the last fifty years (at least), personally authoring his most important published work during that time. When pages from the Disney Legends program book are reproduced, no mention is made of Kirby being a writer (before, during or after his work at Marvel) - an outrageous designation that gets no pushback from Morrow. Little to no mention is made in Stuf' Said of the plethora of comics Kirby wrote before the Marvel age. Likewise, the same Disney book states that Lee "dreamed up an endless number of new characters and worlds", a boast that is demonstrably untrue. The best evidence to decide the verdict Morrow could have presented (but didn't) is Dr. Michael J. Vassallo's definitive essay detailing everything Lee wrote before he teamed up with Kirby (and Ditko): "Stan Lee (1922-2018) - The Timely Years". It's a damning document that makes clear Lee did not create the cosmic concepts Kirby had already been creating since the early '40s (if not earlier). https://timely-atlas-comics.blogspot.com/2018/12/stan-lee-1922-2018-timely-years.html
Lastly, the book's cover, with psychedelic Captain Victory art blown up out of context and covered with large digital fonts, is ugly. While conveying some of the anger expressed by Kirby, the cover could have looked more welcoming and it's noteworthy that nowhere is the book's designer listed.
Monday, June 12, 2023
Monday, November 22, 2021
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Recently Read: According to Jack Kirby, by Michael Hill
Michael Hill has done comics historians a service in compiling and publishing this collection of cartoonist Jack Kirby's memories and thoughts on his career. While the longer living and outgoing spokesman Stan Lee's interpretation of events has held sway in the general public's mind, in-depth comics readers and historians have long been able to differentiate the two creator's distinctive voices and contributions. Despite what any creator might say, the proof is in the published work (and the photocopied original art, with Kirby's story notes in the margins). What Kirby relates in the book's compiled quotes jibes with the historical evidence and shores up his contention that he wrote the stories in Marvel's seminal '60s work and created the initial characters. In short, Lee claiming he was the writer of the work insured more money for him and less money for Kirby (and other cartoonists who were also creating stories on the series they worked on, like Steve Ditko and John Romita, Sr.). This was an injustice perpetuated by later owners of Marvel.
Loaded with copious footnotes, the book covers decades of Kirby being outspoken on his contributions. Because the scope of the book mainly covers what Kirby said, some evidence which would help confirm his beliefs isn't covered: Dr. Michael Vassallo's extensively researched chronological analysis of Stan Lee scripts, for example, shows conclusively that Lee's "creativity" began when Kirby rejoined Marvel in the late '50s, and mysteriously left Lee when Kirby quit Marvel for DC in 1970. Conversely, the book deals little with Lee's distinctive 1960s voice which, whether one enjoys it or not, was highly instrumental in creating a new jovial and audience-connecting informality in comics (compared to DC's straight-laced and patronizing editorial voice), but which is, again, outside the scope of this book.
The incident of Lee rejecting a Kirby Hulk story and the resultant output of Kirby in the month of March, 1963, is a fascinating connection and a new avenue to explore in the complex story of these two creators.
There are ways According to Jack Kirby could be bettered. Some commentators are quoted with no context or explanation of who they are or why their opinion is of importance. Some reproduced art could be of higher resolution quality. And, the book uses some quotes too repetitively. I'm hoping a future edition can correct these attributes. Still, the book is an essential addition, and appreciators of Kirby's work have Michael Hill to thank for the hard work and initiative to put together what is, ultimately, a damning and important document.
Monday, June 14, 2021
The Bottle Works Presents the Hometown Heroes - Steve Ditko Exhibit
Located at The Bottle Works' main Art Works Gallery (in Johnstown, PA) this retrospective exhibit of the legendary Steve Ditko’s career, will contain original works, production art, prints, memorabilia, a living wall of Ditko inspiration, and a wall of Ditko’s infamous fan mail responses. Cartoonist Javier Hernandez will also have copies available for sale of his You Don't Know Ditko zine! More information about the show, which starts July 15th, here: Hometown Heroes- Steve Ditko Exhibit – bottleworksartson3rdavenue
Friday, March 20, 2020
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Monday, December 31, 2018
Thursday, December 13, 2018
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