Was Jack Kirby overated as far as his influence on comics?

Question

Was Jack Kirby the God of Marvel Comics and the industry, or would have things been just as good without him?

Answer 1

To answer the first part, probably. "Was he overated as far as his influence on comics?" is a stated in such a way that I'd have to say yes. Kirby was a very creative guy not afraid to throw out stories with huge concepts. He was an average writer and a very stylized artist that wasn't everyone's cup of tea. I would argue that while almost all comic creators have warm feelings and a world of respect for Kirby, very few of them actually studied his style as an artist or a writer, so as posed, I'd say his influence over the industry is overrated.

I am from the Stan Lee Camp. Kirby was a workhorse, but Lee made it cool to be a Marvel Zombie. Lee is the reason Marvel became the #1 comic company, even if you want to say Kirby had more to do with the creation of the monthly FF books. Kirby fans have to realize that Lee is generally acknowledged as the best or second best comic writer of all time (w/ Alan Moore). Just letting Kirby write for his Marvel books would not have been an improvement.

Concerning whether or not they'd be better or worse, who can say? I will say it is not a slam dunk that things would have been worse without Kirby at Marvel. Remember that practically the entire creative staff at Fawcett comics was blackballed. Fawcett was producing the #1 selling comic in the country in the 1950s. You can't do that without major talents. Without Kirby maybe some other artist might be called "The God of Marvel comics".

Answer 2

Jack Kirby was one of the top comic book creators in history. His best work was either solo DC's Forth World (New God and Darksied) or with Joe Simion (Captian America many DC 1940's characters). Simion and Kirby even started at least one ganra of comic that helped keep the industry alive during the 1950's the Romance comic I know that romance comics are considered a joke today but in the 50's they were one of the few ganras that were not challenged as being harmful to kids. When Kirby was with marvel in the 60's he was constrained to much and Stan Lee took credit for more than he should have (at least that is what many Kirby fans think).

Answer 3

No Kirby is not overated. Kirby could sometimes get to for out and thats where Stan Lee came in. Kirbys influence started in the early 40's and continued into the early 70's, It was his work at marvel in the 60's that turned the comic book world around. Kirbys work with persepctive and majestic figures could not be toped. All artists after Kirby have built on the fondation that he laid almost singely handley. Many fans don't know thisa but Kirby had a mild heart/stroke attack in the mid 70's and thats why his work after that was not up to usual standards.

Answer 4

I think the team of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee was what made it special. One without the other just would not have got the same result.