Happy 97th Birthday Jack Kirby! The Marvel story.

Jack Kirby (August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994), born Jacob Kurtzberg, was one of the greatest comic creators ever. Not only did he create important comics and heroes of the Golden Age like Captain America but he revitalized the whole industry with his Marvel Comics creations of the 60's and influenced all the succeeding artist for decades afterwards.

Self portrait of Jack Kirby with many of his creations.

Women's Lib comes to Marvel!

 "Come on in, the revolution is fine!"
calls out Valkyrie to her Lady Liberators.




Art by John Buscema

Marvel was very progressive when it came to race as demonstrated by Black Panther's July 1966 appearance in the Fantastic Four and Bill Foster's September 1966 appearance in the Avengers but as good as they were with blacks, they were a little slow when it came to the women's liberation movement. The first we see of it is in Avengers #83, Dec. 1970. Valkyrie was created specially for it, an empowered woman warrior out of Norris mythology.

Warlock from New Mutants #21 by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz

Continuing with our robot theme I'd like to explore Warlock from Marvel Comics' New Mutants created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.

When Bill Sienkiewicz jumped onto the New Mutants with issue 18, it was a huge shock for New Mutant fans. As the advertisement said, "They aren't X babies any more." Of the New Mutants, Warlock was the one character that Bill most made his own, and every comic artists since has struggled to depict him.

Wolverine's top 5 moments!

Wolverine has been a fan favorite since his creation in Hulk #181 in 1976. He is the tough guy who "is the best at what he does, though what he does isn't very nice." He embodies the raw power and callousness that many of us wish we had. I've put together a list of the 5 best moments of Wolverine that show him at his most callous, raw, and vicious. Check it out.

Chris Claremont and Frank Miller fanned the flames of his popularity with this classic 1982 portrayal of him.

John Bolton's Wolverine

In the early 80's the American comic industry was looking to our British brothers for new talent.
One of those brought over was John Bolton.

The Great Comic Book Heroes

This blog is about just what it says, the great comic book heroes, all of them.