The Never-Ending Influence of King Kirby

Jack Kirby's influence will reverberate across the Marvel Universe forever.

A defining pillar of the formative years of Marvel Comics, Kirby's work will serve as a touchstone of creativity, vision, and imagination for as long as the magnificent Marvel Multiverse exists.

Here are a few Marvel creators with their thoughts on the King's everlasting impact.

Matthew Rosenberg:

"There is just something so alien and yet so accessible about his work. It draws you in because you’ve never seen anything like it before, and yet it feels like it’s something you’ve always wanted. The human aspect: the family, the outsiders, the angry rebel, the lost soul—all of these archetypal characters felt familiar. You saw a piece of yourself in Johnny Storm, Jean Grey, T’Challa or even Norrin Radd, Victor Von Doom, or Harvey Elder. But then that piece of you was whisked away to worlds beyond your wildest imagination. It’s mind blowing for me now to look at Kirby’s work and try to process it. I can’t even imagine what it was like at the time.

"I think every comic creator working today is still trying to catch up to Jack Kirby's imagination."

Robbie Thompson:

"Jack Kirby's art is timeless not only because of his unparalleled skill, but because of the empathy he expressed for the characters and worlds he created. You didn't just see the characters he brought to life, you felt them. They resonate. And he pushed and stretched the medium in ways only he could, building an epic foundation for Marvel comics that endures to this day. Whenever I need inspiration, I look through the metric tonnage of work he gifted us and I'm always left blown away and invigorated. He will forever be the King."