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Marvel Comics
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Marvel Comics is the common name and primary imprint of Marvel Worldwide Inc. formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, an American publisher of comic books and related media. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwides parent company, Marvel started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the early 1950s had generally become known as Atlas Comics. Marvels modern incarnation dates from 1961, the year that the company launched The Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and many others. Most of Marvels fictional characters operate in a reality known as the Marvel Universe. Martin Goodman founded the later known as Marvel Comics under the name Timely Publications in 1939. Martin Goodman, a magazine publisher who had started with a Western pulp in 1933, was expanding into the emerging—and by then already highly popular—new medium of comic books. The issue was a success, with it and a second printing the following month selling, combined. While its contents came from an outside packager, Funnies, Inc, Timely had its own staff in place by the following year. It, too, proved a hit, with sales of one million. Goodman formed Timely Comics, Inc. beginning with comics cover-dated April 1941 or Spring 1941, Goodman hired his wifes cousin, Stanley Lieber, as a general office assistant in 1939. Lee wrote extensively for Timely, contributing to a number of different titles, Goodmans business strategy involved having his various magazines and comic books published by a number of corporations all operating out of the same office and with the same staff. One of these companies through which Timely Comics was published was named Marvel Comics by at least Marvel Mystery Comics #55. As well, some covers, such as All Surprise Comics #12, were labeled A Marvel Magazine many years before Goodman would formally adopt the name in 1961. The post-war American comic market saw superheroes falling out of fashion and this globe branding united a line put out by the same publisher, staff and freelancers through 59 shell companies, from Animirth Comics to Zenith Publications. Atlas also published a plethora of childrens and teen humor titles, including Dan DeCarlos Homer the Happy Ghost, Atlas unsuccessfully attempted to revive superheroes from late 1953 to mid-1954, with the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and Captain America. Atlas did not achieve any hits and, according to Stan Lee, Atlas survived chiefly because it produced work quickly, cheaply. During this time, the Comic Code Authority made its debut in September 1954, Wertham published the book Seduction of the Innocent in order to force people to see that comics were impacting American youth. He believed violent comics were causing children to be reckless and were turning them into delinquents, in September 1954, comic book publishers got together to set up their own self-censorship organization—the Comics Magazine Association of America—in order to appease audiences
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Rob Liefeld
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Robert Rob Liefeld is an American comic book creator. A prominent writer/artist in the 1990s, he has since been called one of the most controversial figures in the comic industry, in the early 1990s, the self-taught artist became prominent due to his work on Marvel Comics The New Mutants and later X-Force. In 1992, he and several other popular Marvel illustrators left the company to found Image Comics, the first book published by Image Comics was Rob Liefelds Youngblood #1. Rob Liefeld was born October 3,1967, the youngest child of a Baptist minister and he and his sister, seven years his senior, grew up in Anaheim, California. Liefelds love of comics began as a child, which led early on to his decision to be a professional artist, Liefeld cites Pérez, along with John Byrne and Frank Miller, as major influences. At the convention, he showed editors his samples and offered a package, editor Dick Giordano, to whom Liefeld showed his samples at the DC booth, requested that Liefeld send him more samples. Though the published story was illustrated by another artist, Liefeld was later given character design work by the publisher. His first published story, however, was the five-issue miniseries Hawk and Dove for DC Comics and that same year, Liefeld drew a Bonus Book insert in Warlord #131, as well as Secret Origins #28. Liefelds layouts for Hawk and Dove #5, which place in a chaos dimension, were oriented sideways so that a reader would have to turn the comic book at a right angle to read them. Because this was done without editorial input, editor Mike Carlin cut and pasted the panels into the proper order, the letters column of Hawk and Dove #5 mentions that Liefeld showed something new to an editor who thought hed seen everything. Liefeld explained this was how the dimension had been portrayed the other time it had been featured in the book. Shortly thereafter, Liefeld began doing work for Marvel Comics as well, in 1989, Liefeld became the penciller for the Marvel series The New Mutants, starting with issue #86. He is generally credited for turning this lowest-selling title of the X-Men franchise into a financial success, with The New Mutants #98, Liefeld assumed full creative control over the series, penciling, inking, and plotting, with Fabian Nicieza writing dialog. The sales numbers were propelled by 1990s direct market sales strategies, Lees X-Men was published with five variant covers, and X-Force relied on multiple variant trading cards polybagged with the comic itself. Liefeld and several other young artists including Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Jim Valentino. Each co-founder formed his own studio under the Image banner, such as Liefelds Extreme Studios, Liefelds superhero team series Youngblood, which is loosely based on a 1991 Teen Titans series Liefeld had proposed to DC Comics, was the first comic Image published. He appeared on an episode of The Dennis Miller Show to promote the book and his other titles included Bloodstrike #1, which was released in April 1993. In an interview in Hero Illustrated #4, Liefeld conceded disappointment with the first four issues of Youngblood, in 1996, Liefelds and Lees studios signed with Marvel to re-envision several of the companys core series, an event called Heroes Reborn
3.
American comic book
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An American comic book is a thin periodical, typically 32-pages, containing primarily comics content. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of Action Comics and this was followed by a superhero boom that lasted until the end of World War II. After the war, while superheroes were marginalized, the book industry rapidly expanded, and genres such as horror, crime. The 1950s saw a decline, due to a shift away from print media in the wake of television. The late 1950s and the 1960s saw a revival. Since the later 20th century, comic books have gained note as collectable items, Comic shops cater to fans, and particularly valuable issues have fetched in excess of a million dollars. Systems of grading comic books have emerged with plastic sleeves and cardboard backing available to maintain the condition of comic books, standard comics are 6.625 inches ×10.25 inches and about 32 pages long. While comics can be the work of a creator, the labour of making them is frequently divided between a number of specialists. There may be a writer and artist, or there may be separate artists for the characters. The process begins with the coming up with an idea or concept, then working it into a plot and story. After the art production, letters are placed on the page, the creative team, the writers and artists, may work with a comic book publisher for help with marketing, advertising, and other logistics. A distributor like Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest in the U. S. helps to distribute the product to retailers. Another part of the involved in successful comics is the interaction between the readers/fans and the creator. Fan art and letters to the editor were printed in the back of the book until the early 21st century. Comic specialty stores did help encourage several waves of independently-produced comics, the development of the modern American comic book happened in stages. The G. W. Dillingham Company published the first known proto-comic-book magazine in the U. S, the Yellow Kid in McFaddens Flats, in 1897. The 196-page, square-bound, black-and-white publication, which also includes text by E. W. Townsend, measured 5×7 inches. The neologism comic book appears on the back cover, despite the publication of a series of related Hearst comics soon afterward, the first monthly proto-comic book, Embee Distributing Companys Comic Monthly, did not appear until 1922
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Toad (comics)
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Toad is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is most often depicted as an enemy of the X-Men and he was Magnetos sniveling servant in the 1960s line-up of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. He eventually led his own version of the Brotherhood, which was involved in petty crime than mutant liberation. Ray Park played a different version of Toad in 2000s X-Men film. He was cocky and sarcastic and his superhuman leaping ability, agility, toxic saliva, prehensile tongue, aspects of this Toad have since been implemented into the comic book version. Subsequently, most versions of Toad written or drawn after 2000 resemble the Ray Park version more closely than the original Toad, a younger Toad appears in the film X-Men, Days of Future Past, played by Evan Jonigkeit. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #4 and he was considered to be mentally inferior due to his extreme shyness and mild learning disabilities during his primary school years, though he was actually quite intelligent. He dropped out at an early age and decided to fend for himself. Based on years of abuse and knowing full well he was a freak, Mortimer developed an inferiority complex. Later, he was recruited into Magnetos original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Toad believed that Magneto loved him, while the mutant mastermind considered this henchman little more than a human shield. He also developed a crush on his teammate Scarlet Witch, but she did not return his feelings as she was repulsed by his appearance, mannerisms, as a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Toad aided Magneto in repeated clashes with the X-Men. Magneto tried to use him to infiltrate the X-Men, but they recognized his power, at one point, Magneto and Toad were captured by the alien Stranger as part of his collection, encased in cocoons, and taken on a journey through space. Magneto managed to escape by repairing a spaceship, but left Toad behind, Toad aided Magneto against the X-Men once more, but realized that Magneto didnt care at all for him and rebelled against Magneto, and fled his lair with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. However, he was captured by Sentinels, and then freed by the X-Men. He was later captured with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, some time later, Toad began to study the Strangers technology, becoming familiar with it. He used the Strangers alien technology to menace the Avengers and he even attempted to kill the Angel in a castle outfitted with traps by Arcade. However, he turned the castle into an amusement park. Toad was eventually ejected from the castle by Doctor Doom, and he became suicidal and he met and was befriended by Spider-Man, and teamed with Spider-Kid and Frog-Man as the superhero adventurer team, the Misfits
5.
Cable (comics)
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Cable is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with X-Force and the X-Men. The characters first appearance was in The New Mutants #86 and he does not appear anywhere in the issues story, but the next issue teaser includes a small drawing of the character. This was followed by an appearance in The New Mutants #87. Though the artist Rob Liefeld is responsible for his design, name. Liefeld explains the creation of the character, Cable is first seen in conflict with Stryfes Mutant Liberation Front, the United States government, the New Mutants intervened and he asked for their help against the Mutant Liberation Front. Cable saw them as soldiers in his war against Stryfe. He became their new teacher and leader, and outfitted them and he came into conflict with Wolverine, noting that the two had an old feud between them. Cable and the New Mutants teamed up with Wolverine and Sunfire against the MLF, Cable also led the New Mutants against the Genoshans. With the aid of Domino, Cable reorganized the New Mutants into X-Force, the New Mutants ended with issue #100, with Cable and other characters then appearing the following month in X-Force #1. Cable traveled between the 1990s and his future with his ship Graymalkin, which contained a sentient computer program called Professor, the series explored Cable and the villain Stryfes ongoing battle with one another, and its effect on the people that surround Cable. Shortly after Blood and Metal, Cable was given his own ongoing series titled Cable, the series ran for 107 issues from May 1993 until September 2002 before being relaunched as Soldier X, which lasted 12 more issues until Aug.2003. The 1994 miniseries The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix provided further information on the back story. In the future, Mother Askani, a time-displaced Rachel Summers, pulled the minds of Scott and Jean into the future where, as Slym and Redd, they raised Cable for twelve years. During their time together, the family prevented Apocalypse from transferring his essence into a new body and it is furthermore established that Mister Sinister created Cyclops son Nathan to destroy Apocalypse. After his solo series ended, he was paired with the mercenary Deadpool in a new ongoing series titled Cable & Deadpool, the series largely dealt with Cables efforts to change the world for the better, including turning his old spaceship Greymalkin into the floating utopian island of Providence. He gains a level similar to his Nate Grey counterpart from The Age of Apocalypse reality. Using his powers at this also means that he will die due to the vast power being too much for his body to continuously maintain. He tries to carry out his plans quickly, defeating the X-Men, Six Pack and they turn the tide of the battle on Cable by enlisting the aid of the Silver Surfer
6.
Cannonball (comics)
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Cannonball is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod, Cannonball first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4, Cannonball is a mutant who uses the ability to fly at jet speeds while encased in an impenetrable force field. Several of his siblings are also mutants and have joined X-Men-related teams, including his sisters, Paige and Melody, other siblings include a brother named Lewis, and four more sisters, Joelle, Elizabeth, Cissie and another unnamed sister. Cannonball was a member of the X-Mens junior team The New Mutants. He joined The New Mutants later incarnation X-Force, serving as second-in-command and he joined the X-Men, becoming the first member of a secondary team to graduate. His tenure was complicated by clashes with superiors and he eventually rejoined X-Force, created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod, Cannonball first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4, The New Mutants. Cannonball briefly became a member of the X-Men team in the volume of the X-Men series. He is a member of the Avengers in the 2012 relaunch of the Avengers title, Sam Guthrie was born in Cumberland, Kentucky. As a young boy, he attempted to help out his family by working in the mine in which his father had worked before he died. One day, Sam finds himself trapped in a mine shaft. This incident leads Donald Pierce to find Sam and hire him as a mercenary for the Hellfire Club, however, when Pierce orders him to kill the defeated New Mutants, Sam rebels against him. Professor Charles Xavier sees the good qualities inside Sam and, after saving him from Pierce, Cannonball leaves his large farming family in Kentucky to join the team. As part of the New Mutants, Sam forms a friendship with his teammate, Sunspot. Sam develops an affection for Rahne, oblivious for some time that Rahne harbors romantic feelings for him. Sam and Danielle Moonstar act as the teams co-leaders and he also supervises other teammates, including Magik, Karma, Cypher, Magma, and Warlock. Early on in his career with the team, Cannonball visits Nova Roma and meets Magma, on whom he develops a long-standing, Sam also meets and shares his first kiss with the young mutant Firestar, then a student of the Massachusetts Academy. The machinations of the headmistress, Emma Frost, however, force them apart before they can develop their relationship. Cannonball later on saves the life of rock star Lila Cheney
7.
Spider-Man
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Spider-Man is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko, when Spider-Man first appeared in the early 1960s, teenagers in superhero comic books were usually relegated to the role of sidekick to the protagonist. Marvel has featured Spider-Man in several book series, the first. In the 2010s, he joins the Avengers, Marvels flagship superhero team, Spider-Mans nemesis Doctor Octopus also took on the identity for a story arc spanning 2012–2014, following a body swap plot in which Peter appears to die. Spider-Man is one of the most popular and commercially successful superheroes, the character was first portrayed in live action by Nicholas Hammond in the 1977 television movie Spider-Man. Reeve Carney starred as Spider-Man in the 2010 Broadway musical Spider-Man, in 1962, with the success of the Fantastic Four, Marvel Comics editor and head writer Stan Lee was casting about for a new superhero idea. He said the idea for Spider-Man arose from a surge in demand for comic books. At that time Lee had to get only the consent of Marvel publisher Martin Goodman for the characters approval, in a 1986 interview, Lee described in detail his arguments to overcome Goodmans objections. In particular, Lee stated that the fact that it had already decided that Amazing Fantasy would be cancelled after issue #15 was the only reason Goodman allowed him to use Spider-Man. While this was indeed the issue, its editorial page anticipated the comic continuing. Will appear every month in Amazing, regardless, Lee received Goodmans approval for the name Spider-Man and the ordinary teen concept, and approached artist Jack Kirby. Lee and Kirby immediately sat down for a conference, Theakston writes. Steve Ditko would be the inker, when Kirby showed Lee the first six pages, Lee recalled, I hated the way he was doing it. Not that he did it badly—it just wasnt the character I wanted, Lee turned to Ditko, who developed a visual style Lee found satisfactory. Ditko recalled, One of the first things I did was to work up a costume, a vital, visual part of the character. I had to know how he looked, for example, A clinging power so he wouldnt have hard shoes or boots, a hidden wrist-shooter versus a web gun and holster, etc. I wasnt sure Stan would like the idea of covering the characters face and it would also add mystery to the character. Although the interior artwork was by Ditko alone, Lee rejected Ditkos cover art, as Lee explained in 2010, I think I had Jack sketch out a cover for it because I always had a lot of confidence in Jacks covers
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X-Men
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The X-Men is a fictional team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, the characters first appeared in The X-Men #1 and they are among the most recognizable and successful intellectual properties of Marvel Comics, appearing in numerous books, television shows, films, and video games. The X-Men are mutants, a subspecies of humans who are born with superhuman abilities, the X-Men fight for peace and equality between normal humans and mutants in a world where antimutant bigotry is fierce and widespread. They are led by Charles Xavier, also known as Professor X and their archenemy is Magneto, a powerful mutant with the ability to generate and control magnetic fields. Professor X and Magneto have opposing views and philosophies regarding the relationship between mutants and humans, Professor X is the founder of Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters at a location commonly called the X-Mansion, which recruits mutants from around the world. Located in Westchester County, New York, the X-Mansion is the home and training site of the X-Men. The founding five members of the X-Men who appear in The X-Men #1 are Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, since then, dozens of mutants from various countries and diverse backgrounds have held membership as X-Men. In 2004, Stan Lee recalled, I couldnt have everybody bitten by a spider or exposed to a gamma ray explosion. And I took the way out. I said to myself, Why dont I just say theyre mutants, in a 1987 interview, Jack Kirby said, The X-Men, I did the natural thing there. What would you do with mutants who were just plain boys and girls, so I gave them a teacher, Professor X. Of course, it was the thing to do, instead of disorienting or alienating people who were different from us, I made the X-Men part of the human race. Possibly, radiation, if it is beneficial, may create mutants that’ll save us instead of doing us harm. I felt that if we train the mutants our way, they’ll help us - and not only help us, and so, we could all live together. Lee devised the title after Marvel publisher Martin Goodman turned down the initial name, The Mutants. Within the Marvel Universe, the X-Men are widely regarded to have named after Professor Xavier himself. Xavier however claims that the name X-Men was never chosen as a tribute to himself, the name is also linked to the X-Gene, an unknown gene that causes the mutant evolution. The original explanation for the name, as provided by Xavier in The X-Men #1, is that mutants possess an extra power, one which ordinary humans do not
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Psylocke
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Psylocke is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Herb Trimpe in 1976, Psylockes codename, coined by the X-Men villains Mojo and Spiral, debuted during her introduction to the X-Men stories post–Captain Britain. Later, Psylocke acquired the power of telekinesis, many alternative versions of Psylocke have also appeared in several comics series of Marvel Multiverse, as well as in various other media and merchandise, notably in numerous video games. She briefly appeared in the 2006 film X-Men, The Last Stand, Olivia Munn portrays her in the 2016 film X-Men, Apocalypse. Created by writer Chris Claremont, Elizabeth Betsy Braddock first appeared in Captain Britain #8, the original spelling of the characters name was Elizabeth, though relettering of the UK versions for American reprints would occasionally misspell it as Elisabeth. This led to spelling inconsistencies throughout future publications, the inconsistency was resolved by Claremont 32 years later in 2008 in the series New Exiles, which reasserted the particular spelling of her name as Elizabeth. In the Captain Britain series, Claremont introduced her as a character, the sister of Brian Braddock, the eponymous Captain Britain. He also established that she had psychic abilities, the extent of which were unknown. In Marvel UKs Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain #243, Betsy Braddock is presented as a professional model, in Marvel UKs Daredevils #3, Alan Moore established that the character has begun to work for the fictional governmental organization S. T. R. I. K. E. Who are making use of her psychic abilities and her lover Tom Lennox is also a S. T. R. I. K. E operative and is later murdered. The story also presents the character as having dyed her hair purple after being originally blonde, in New Mutants Annual #2, Claremont integrated Braddock into the X-Men franchise. The story sees her abducted to the Mojoverse, where she is subjected to brainwashing, fitted with bionic eyes, after being rescued by the New Mutants, she takes up residence at their mutant-training academy, run by Magneto at the time in the absence of Professor Charles Xavier. After aiding the team unofficially, Braddock proves herself by distracting the attentions of the murderous supervillain Sabretooth, afterward, Braddock is formally invited to join the X-Men and officially adopts the codename Psylocke. Initially written as a telepath with few fighting skills, Psylocke later adopts body armor. In Uncanny X-Men #251, the X-Men flee from the terrorists, the Reavers, through the Siege Perilous. The now-amnesiac Braddock is taken in by the Hand, who brainwash, Braddock now believes herself to be Lady Mandarin, the Hands supreme assassin. With the launch of the volume of X-Men in 1991. In Jim Lee-written issues, the character becomes flirtatious with Cyclops, in 1994, writer Scott Lobdell set up a relationship between Braddock and her teammate Archangel
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S.H.I.E.L.D.
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S. H. I. E. L. D. is a fictional espionage, law-enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135, it deals with paranormal. The acronym originally stood for Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division and it was changed in 1991 to Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate. S. H. I. E. L. D. s introduction in the Strange Tales feature Nick Fury, Agent of S. H. I. E. L. D. Occurred during a trend for action series about secret international intelligence agencies with catchy acronyms, which Stan Lee stated in a 2014 interview, was the basis for him to create the organization. Colonel Fury was reimagined as an older character with an eyepatch. Fury series reappeared as agents of S. H. I. E. L. D, most notably Timothy Dum-Dum Dugan, Furys bowler hat–wearing aide-de-camp. Its most persistent enemy is Hydra, an organization founded by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. Much was revealed over the years to fill in its labyrinthine organizational history, Stan Lee wrote each story, abetted by artist Kirbys co-plotting or full plotting, through Strange Tales #152, except for two issues, one scripted by Kirby himself and one by Dennis ONeil. Steranko quickly established the feature as one of historys most groundbreaking, innovative. Ron Goulart wrote, ven the dullest of readers could sense that something new was happening, … Which each passing issue Sterankos efforts became more and more innovative. Entire pages would be devoted to photocollages of drawings ignored panel boundaries, the first pages … became incredible production numbers similar in design to the San Francisco rock concert poster of the period. Larry Hama said Steranko combined the figurative dynamism of Jack Kirby with modern design concepts. The graphic influences of Peter Max, Op Art and Andy Warhol were embedded into the design of the pages —, all this, executed in a crisp, hard-edged style, seething with drama and anatomical tension. The series won 1967 and 1968 Alley Awards, and was inducted in the year to the awards Hall of Fame. Steranko himself was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2006, the 12-page feature ran through Strange Tales #168, after which it was spun off onto its own series of the same title, running 15 issues, followed by three all-reprint issues beginning a year later. Steranko wrote and drew issues #1–3 and #5, and drew the covers of #1–7, stories would not appear for nearly two decades after the first solo title. A six-issue miniseries, Nick Fury vs. S. H. I. E. L. D. was followed by Nick Fury, Agent of S. H. I. E. L. D
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Stan Lee
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Stan Lee is an American comic-book writer, editor, publisher, media producer, television host, actor, and former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. In addition, he challenged the comics industrys censorship organization, the Comics Code Authority, Lee subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation. He was inducted into the book industrys Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994. Lee received a National Medal of Arts in 2008 and his father, trained as a dress cutter, worked only sporadically after the Great Depression, and the family moved further uptown to Fort Washington Avenue, in Washington Heights, Manhattan. When Lee was nearly 9, his sibling, brother Larry Lieber, was born. He said in 2006 that as a child he was influenced by books and movies, by the time Lee was in his teens, the family was living in a one-bedroom apartment at 1720 University Avenue in The Bronx. Lee has described it as an apartment facing out back, with he and his brother sharing a bedroom. Lee attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, in his youth, Lee enjoyed writing, and entertained dreams of one day writing the Great American Novel. He graduated from school early, aged 16½ in 1939. With the help of his uncle Robbie Solomon, Lee became an assistant in 1939 at the new Timely Comics division of pulp magazine, Timely, by the 1960s, would evolve into Marvel Comics. Lee, whose cousin Jean was Goodmans wife, was hired by Timely editor Joe Simon. His duties were prosaic at first, in those days dipped the pen in ink, I had to make sure the inkwells were filled, Lee recalled in 2009. I went down and got them their lunch, I did proofreading, Lee later explained in his autobiography and numerous other sources that he had intended to save his given name for more literary work. This initial story also introduced Captain Americas trademark ricocheting shield-toss, which became one of the characters signatures. He graduated from writing filler to actual comics with a feature, Headline Hunter, Foreign Correspondent. Lees first superhero co-creation was the Destroyer, in Mystic Comics #6, other characters he created during this period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comics include Jack Frost, debuting in USA Comics #1, and Father Time, debuting in Captain America Comics #6. When Simon and his creative partner Jack Kirby left late in 1941, following a dispute with Goodman, Lee entered the United States Army in early 1942 and served in the US in the Signal Corps, repairing telegraph poles and other communications equipment. He was later transferred to the Training Film Division, where he worked writing manuals, training films, and slogans and his military classification, he says, was playwright, he adds that only nine men in the US Army were given that title
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Jack Kirby
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Jack Kirby, born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer, and editor, widely regarded as one of the mediums major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. Kirby grew up in New York City, and learned to draw cartoon figures by tracing characters from comic strips and he entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s, drawing various comics features under different pen names, including Jack Curtiss, before ultimately settling on Jack Kirby. In 1940, he and writer-editor Joe Simon created the highly successful superhero character Captain America for Timely Comics, during the 1940s, Kirby, generally teamed with Simon, created numerous characters for that company and for National Comics Publications, later to become DC Comics. After serving in World War II, Kirby produced work for a number of publishers, including DC, Harvey Comics, at Crestwood Publications he and Simon created the genre of romance comics and later founded their own short-lived comic company, Mainline Publications. Ultimately, Kirby found himself at Timelys 1950s iteration, Atlas Comics, there, in the 1960s, Kirby and writer-editor Stan Lee co-created many of the companys major characters, including the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the Hulk. The Lee-Kirby titles garnered high sales and critical acclaim, but in 1970, feeling he had been treated unfairly, at DC, Kirby created his Fourth World saga, which spanned several comics titles. While these series proved unsuccessful and were canceled, the Fourth Worlds New Gods have continued as a significant part of the DC Universe. Kirby returned to Marvel briefly in the mid-to-late 1970s, then ventured into television animation, Kirby was married to Rosalind Roz Goldstein in 1942. They had four children, and remained married until his death from heart failure in 1994, the Jack Kirby Awards and Jack Kirby Hall of Fame were named in his honor. Jack Kirby was born Jacob Kurtzberg on August 28,1917, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City and his parents, Rose and Benjamin Kurtzberg, were Austrian Jewish immigrants, and his father earned a living as a garment factory worker. In his youth, Kirby desired to escape his neighborhood and he liked to draw, and sought out places he could learn more about art. He was rejected by the Educational Alliance because he drew too fast with charcoal and he later found an outlet for his skills by drawing cartoons for the newspaper of the Boys Brotherhood Republic, a miniature city on East 3rd Street where street kids ran their own government. At age 14, Kirby enrolled at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, I wasnt the kind of student that Pratt was looking for. They wanted people who would work on something forever, I didnt want to work on any project forever. I intended to get things done, Kirby joined the Lincoln Newspaper Syndicate in 1936, working there on newspaper comic strips and on single-panel advice cartoons such as Your Health Comes First. He remained until late 1939, when he began working for the animation company Fleischer Studios as an inbetweener on Popeye cartoons. I went from Lincoln to Fleischer, he recalled, from Fleischer I had to get out in a hurry because I couldnt take that kind of thing, describing it as a factory in a sense, like my fathers factory. Around that time, the American comic book industry was booming, Kirby began writing and drawing for the comic-book packager Eisner & Iger, one of a handful of firms creating comics on demand for publishers
