Byrne Robotics: Kirby in the 1970’s

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Topic: Kirby in the 1970’s

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Scott Wagahoff
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Posted: 13 February 2023 at 5:49pm \| IP Logged \| 1	post reply

Brief drift to say how much I always loved the way Thor looked in that corner box.

Back to regular programming

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James Johnson
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Posted: 13 February 2023 at 8:04pm \| IP Logged \| 2	post reply

Loved those THOR covers during that time.

Also, looking at those INVADERS covers reminded me that I don't have the full collection. Just went to Amazon to order the trade paperback.

Good reading over the upcoming holiday weekend.

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Doug Centers
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 12:10am \| IP Logged \| 3	post reply

Thanks for posting those incredible covers Eric!

I must've had about 80% of them, filled in my Captain America gaps with a couple of TPB's that covered Kirby's run.

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Eric Jansen
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 2:51am \| IP Logged \| 4	post reply

I was going to skip the series that Kirby did the interior writing & drawing for, but I love his CAPTAIN AMERICA run too much! One interesting feature of a lot of these covers is his emphasis on the Falcon, a character he didn't create, but Kirby recognized his value as an equal partner to Cap and utilized him to great effect. Kirby's version of Falcon's face and costume are great.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #193 by Jack Kirby & John Romita

Look at that! So good! Possibly Cap's most iconic image--certainly used a lot for posters & other products!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #194 by Jack Kirby & John Verpoorten

A powerful image, well laid out. The giant is drawn the same size as Cap, but the presence of the Falcon make his largeness clear at a glance.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #195 by Jack Kirby & Frank Giacoia

Kirby's CAP run had a heavy sci fi feel in the plotting, as shown by the reference to "1984" (still 8 years in the future!) here.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #196 by Jack Kirby & Frank Giacoia

The sci fi movie ROLLERBALL must have inspired this issue.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #197 by Jack Kirby & John Verpoorten

Falcon's absence is certainly felt in this "Alone!" cover.

I don't know if anyone has any inside info, but, in contrast to previous covers posted, I find it hard to believe anyone else did the layouts for these--they seem like Kirby right down to the layout and even initial idea stage.

Edited by Eric Jansen on 14 February 2023 at 2:57am

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Jose Zulueta
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 3:01am \| IP Logged \| 5	post reply

These are great covers, Eric, thanks for posting these! These make me want to re-read the '70s Kirby Captain Americas.

Don't know who did the layout for these covers, but 194 and 197 look very Kirby to me, start-to-finish.

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Jason Czeskleba
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 4:13am \| IP Logged \| 6	post reply

Kirby designed his own covers on the series for which he was doing the interior stories and art. Remember, he was writer, artist and editor on those books. So yeah, all those Cap covers are pure Kirby.

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Mark Haslett
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 6:35am \| IP Logged \| 7	post reply

I can't imagine anyone buying those particular Thor comics and being glad Kirby didn't draw the interiors. They really show Kirby's affinity with the character, I think.

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Eric Jansen
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 9:04am \| IP Logged \| 8	post reply

"Kirby designed his own covers on the series for which he was doing the interior stories and art. Remember, he was writer, artist and editor on those books. So yeah, all those Cap covers are pure Kirby."

Good point! I forgot the editor part!

"I can't imagine anyone buying those particular Thor comics and being glad Kirby didn't draw the interiors. They really show Kirby's affinity with the character, I think."

I agree! He really shined on Thor! And Captain America too, I would say.

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Robert Bradley
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 10:11am \| IP Logged \| 9	post reply

I can't imagine anyone buying those particular Thor comics and being glad Kirby didn't draw the interiors. They really show Kirby's affinity with the character, I think.

In most of those issues the interior art was done by John Buscema, who, believe it or not, was quite popular at the time.

I don't think I was ever disappointed that he drew a book.

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Rebecca Jansen
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 5:28pm \| IP Logged \| 10	post reply

I think I have all of those Thors and even with limited exposure to the '60s Kirby Thors they often feel like re-runs (the return of syndrome), only this time around Buscema is the artist, so not a total re-run. I guess like Europe America could have just kept earlier stories in print, or something like how the X-Men comic became reprints from #67-93. Post Kirby Fantastic Four with Buscema also seems like re-runs much of the time, but with Buscema it would feel new... if this makes any sense? I had a lot more '60s FF than I managed to find of Thor.

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Mark Haslett
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 8:35pm \| IP Logged \| 11	post reply

Robert: In most of those issues the interior art was done by John Buscema, who, believe it or not, was quite popular at the time.

I don't think I was ever disappointed that he drew a book.

**

I don't intend a slam on Buscema by preferring Kirby, but I do prefer Kirby.

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Daniel Gillotte
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Posted: 14 February 2023 at 10:43pm \| IP Logged \| 12	post reply

I can see why a lot of people love Kirby and I do love his imagination and dynamism but DAMN if John Buscema isn't my platonic ideal of the Marvel style. (JB, George Perez getting place 2,3 in that pantheon) Buscema (and Byrne and Perez) stood on the shoulders of giants (Kirby, Ditko, Romita) but they stood TALL on their own.

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