Stan Lee on Jack Kirby

Stan explains why he thinks Jack Kirby quit Marvel Comics in 1970.

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[fakestanlee]

Stan has always done two things very, very well: sign his name and take excellent care of Stan Lee.

[BlakeVII]

Stans story does not ring true.

And I find it astonishing that Stan Lee, despite the decades of working with Kirby, up until the time Kirby left MARVEL for DC, why was he still treating Kirby as a 'checkbook' artist after all those years? Clearly he was much more than that. And, as a supposed 'friend', wouldn't Stan Lee have helped elevate Kirby long before his 'suggestion' that they should be partners?

I'm not satisfied with Stan's explanation or Stan/Marvel's treatment of Jack.

[jackdexx]

misleading title

[torchwoody58]

@sabinoson Totally agreed. In his book "Son of Origins of Marvel Comics", Stan gave all credit for the Surfer's creation to Kirby. A few years later in a magazine interview, Lee said he came up with the idea. Again, years later in the paperback anthology, "The Ultimate Silver Surfer", Lee gave credit back to Kirby. Can you trust ANYTHING this man says?

[torchwoody58]

I've met Kirby on two occasions. He was all smiles until I brought up Marvel. Then he only spoke of it in generalities. He was the creator that the media gives Lee credit for being. What did Stan 'create' after Jack left Marvel? And what did Jack do BUT create after he left Marvel. The raw deal lives on. Stan Lee, oxygen thief!

[djcorbijn]

Both knew the business well. Kirby's main reason to leave Marvel probably had more to do with creative freedom than anything else. People make Lee out to be some kind of villain but Kirby signed contracts and was a freelance artist for a reason. People read too much into this and act like these two are characters out of the comics they wrote.

[anvilofcrom]

I can't stand this old crook, he should give half his fortune to the Kirby family since he wouldn't even be where he is with Jacks talent and imagination. Kirby got paid less for a years worth of work than some artist today make on an issue...total disgrace!

[Ztrigg]

Yeah Jack Kirby left to go to DC 'cause he wasn't getting paid enough or recognition. But he came back to Marvel after DC 'cause he got the same ol' "ballgame". I got that out of the Jack Kirby documentary. If only Stan took the time to watch it, or pay attention to Jack in the first place.

[blank557]

Jack never got royalties for all his creations. Stan Lee often took a shade too much credit for creating comic characters that wer at the very least 50% co-authored by the likes of Steve Diko, Jack Kirby, etc. More often than not, they were 100% created by the artists, but Stan tend to make them seem like he was the originator becasue he was Marvel's Mouthpiece.

[BlakeVII]

Stan the 'MAN' Lee can say whatever he likes. Jack Kirby is no longer around to defend himself but I hope Stan Lee never gets peace and feel the need to explain himself concerning Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and others for the rest of his days.

[BlakeVII]

@fakestanlee I couldn't have said it better.

[DemiathDoomhammer]

@sabinoson - the reason they did so was to honor Jack Kirby.. you see, they didn't wanna spoil such a beloved character in the last few minutes of a Fantastic Four movie, by showing him off to a confused audience and then just push the button and start the end credits, they felt Galactus deserved to be fully introduced and developed in a much more respectable way, like that of a potential Silver Surfer origin movie..