Thursday 7th April 2011. 7pm. Free.
His work from the 40's through to his death in the early 90's, didnt just help shape the way in which comic art is seen today, but practically changed the whole world with his dynamic visionary style.
Kirby grew up in the, gangster run, jewish ghettoes of depression era new York. Obsessed by myth and legend, he drew epic scenes to escape the harsh reality of this situation.
Drawing every day, he soon found work in the emerging comic book scene.
His Captain America (movie out this summer) went to war against Hitler two years before the USA actually joined the conflict and Kirby himself was drafted.
He invented sometimes with his co-conspirator Stan Lee, the Fantastic Four, the original X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, the Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom, Galactus, Uatu the Watcher, Magneto, Ego the Living Planet, the Inhumans and their hidden city of Attilan, and the Black Panther — comics' first known black superhero — and his African nation of Wakanda.
Plus a whole other universe of colourful fantasy wonder like the New Gods, Mister Miracle, and The Forever People.
The list of iconic characters is endless and it's a real shame that the whole world knows them all by sight but may not know the genius who brought them to life.
Marvel Comics is known as 'the house that Jack built' because of his amazing legacy.
Sadly, though, however great Kirby was as an artist, he was certainly no businessman. His partner at Marvel Comics, The Barnum-esque Stan Lee made sure the company held the copyright to all of Kirby's creations.
His heirs are now engaged in a protracted legal battle with the Disney corporation (who recently bought Marvel Comics & their properties) for rights to their father's work.
With this in mind, we will be having an auction to help them in their struggle..
This show is our tribute to the king with several incredible internationally renowned artists showing how the king Kirby influenced their lives!
Feroze Alam
Jason Atomic
Anthony Ausgang
Angela Edwards
Espira
Dennis Franklin
Gothic Hangman
Part2ism
Vlad Quigley
Skot Reynolds
Carl Stimpson
Suckadelic
Mark Wigan
Find out more here:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151476881580124&ref=ts
http://jasonatomic.blogspot.com/
http://kirbymuseum.org/
http://www.resistancegallery.com/
