Fantastic Four and More: Jack Kirby’s Life and Legacy

Artist Jack Kirby’s magic touch can be seen in every corner of modern comics. Already prolific in the late 1930s and early ’40s, a young man named Jack Kurtzberg found a job in the industry without a degree. Ambition guided him through newspapers, on-demand comic strips, and serialized adventures until he began collaborating with Timely Comics — now known as Marvel Comics. Then, in 1970, he switched to DC where he found even more recognition for his contributions. Years later, we have Jack Kirby to thank for the creation and co-creation of over 200 beloved characters and countless astounding art panels, as well as fan-favorite stories, that continuously define the super hero genre.

In honor of his legendary career — which spanned no fewer than six decades — the Skirball Cultural Center in Southern California has installed a temporary exhibit from May 2025 – March 2026. “Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity” features original illustrations, fine and commercial art, and biographical information about the “king” himself.

And today, on August 28, we celebrate Jack Kirby’s birthday. Learn more about his life and legacy below, including his cosmic comics influence as well as that iconic Kirby Krackle.

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Eternals, Fantastic Four, Inhumans, X-Men, and New Gods

Ultimately, Jack Kirby is most famous for his role in designing and bringing the Fantastic Four to pop culture. Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, and The Thing are Marvel’s First Family — an amalgamation of passion, creativity, and imagination that is truly awe-inspiring. Kirby also made many of the characters who would eventually group into the Avengers, Eternals, Inhumans, and X-Men. He even helped envision villains like Galactus and Doctor Doom.

For DC, Kirby created the New Gods. This team of extraordinary extraterrestrial individuals fought against Darkseid, Apokolips, and Steppenwolf. Described as a “blurring of the living and technological” (Charles Hatfield), the characters include Big Barda, Mister Miracle, Highfather, Metron, and Orion, among others.

Besides these popular teams and their villains, Kirby had a hand in making so many more characters. Here are a few from Marvel Comics. However, this is by no means the full or exhaustive list:

• Ant-Man
• Black Panther
• Bucky Barnes
• Captain America
• Jean Grey
• Hulk
• Iron Man
• Loki
• Magneto
• M.O.D.O.K.
• Scarlet Witch

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Cosmic Influence

“He created a new grammar of storytelling and a cinematic style of motion. Once-wooden characters cascaded from one frame to another — or even from page to page — threatening to fall right out of the book into the reader’s lap.” – Brent Staples

Often dubbed the “King of Comics,” Kirby brought comics to a cosmic scale. Previously, writers generally kept their stories grounded upon planet Earth. Kirby, alongside Joe Simon and Stan Lee, looked further. The most famous story, and one that is considered Lee and Kirby’s “finest achievement,” is The Galactus Trilogy from Fantastic Four #48 — 50. Published in 1966, the arc chronicles Galactus and the Silver Surfer’s arrival on Earth. While it revolves around Earth’s endangerment, reaching for the stars and finding new dangers there garnered mass appeal, particularly from younger audiences and college campuses.

Imaginations soared. Stories grew past their previous parameters. Described as a fertile period for Marvel Comics, the years after Fantastic Four wrapped only ramped up the “mystical and metaphysical elements” which excited readers of these immense intergalactic sagas. Notably, the cosmic scales gave Kirby a chance to develop a new drawing technique that is named after him.

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Kirby Krackle

The “Kirby Krackle” refers to a specific visual that was developed during Kirby’s time at Marvel. In order to showcase things like energy fields, Kirby used a field of dark black to represent negative space around light. This artistic convention went on to be used in illustrations depicting explosions, smoke, ray gun blasts, and various outer space phenomena. Amazingly, Kirby fine-tuned the perfect way of expressing any sort of radiation or crystallization effects. His representations of energy were not stagnant, but pulsating, glowing spreads that felt like they could burst from the confines of a page or panel in an instant. And often, his dynamic art did just that, overlapping or extending into the gutter beyond panels.

Undoubtedly, you can recognize the Kirby Krackle. You probably have a favorite instance of it. Additionally, you can find this effect in future projects both in and outside of Marvel’s influence. The transformation sequences in the Cartoon Network animated Ben 10 franchise use Kirby Krackle. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur features the famous fractal art form. Plus, an attraction in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure utilizes the Kirby Krackle: Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission Breakout!.

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“Julius Caesar” Costume Designs

Did you know that Kirby’s work extends beyond the realm of comic books? And we don’t mean his early freelance projects or humor features. In 1969, the University Theatre Company at Santa Cruz requested a Marvel artist to help them design costumes for their “Julius Caesar” production.

At no cost to the students, Kirby added his futuristic flair to William Shakespeare’s history. Kirby also drew promotional material for their play, including drawings for posters, handbills, and programs. Discerning fans may notice some similarities between this royal garb and the clothing worn by citizens and court officials in the fictional Golden City of Wakanda or even the spires of New Genesis.

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It’s difficult to convey just how truly vital Jack Kirby is to everything we love today, especially in the realms of the MCU and DCU. But know that none of the big-screen blockbusters that we collect, cosplay, et cetera, would exist without him. That’s a massive legacy to leave behind. So remember his name. And wish him a happy birthday, wherever you may be, as a small token of appreciation and celebration.

What are your favorite Kirby characters or artworks? Share your picks at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!