Number 675


Jack's back


I read an article about Jack Kirby a few years ago. There was a part that especially impressed me: in the mid-'50s when comics were in the doldrums, and Jack was picking up jobs where he could, his wife, Roz, would sometimes help him with inking. According to the article Roz outlined the figures in pen, and Jack would go back and spot the blacks and do textures. There are places in these stories from 1957 and '58 that fit the description from that article.

The first story, "Master of the Unknown," from House of Secrets #4, 1957 was about a cultural phenomenon of the time. In those days we gathered around the TV and watched nighttime quiz shows, just like people today follow reality shows like Survivor. The quiz shows turned out to be fixed and the scandal damaged that industry for years, but I remember them well when they were popular.

The next three stories, from Tales Of the Unexpected #13, 18, and 23, from 1957 and '58, are more routine, if any Jack Kirby story could ever be said to be routine. Kirby could take any story, any genre, any subject, and make up for story deficiencies with his dynamic artwork. At the time I was a real fan of Kirby's Challengers Of the Unknown, and instantly recognized his style, buying any comics with his artwork.