What do you think?
Rate this book
Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution
Tales to Astonish relates the spectacular life and times of Jack Kirby, the legendary forefather of American comic books. In the 1960's, Kirby joined with Stan Lee to develop many of our best-known and most beloved superheroes, including the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, the Avengers, and the Silver Surfer. Ronin Ro chronicles Kirby's poverty-stricken origins in New York's Lower East Side, his early commercial triumphs and failures, his renowned partnership with Lee, and his revolutionary artistic innovations, tracing the comic book industry from its inauspicious beginnings to its sensational successes.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 8, 2017
This book appeared right before comic book movies upped the money involved in the superheroes created by Kirby over his long career in comics. But it still does plenty to reinforce what I already knew - the man was heavily responsible for the pop culture world we live in, and nowhere near rewarded enough for all his contributions. Ro doesn't really do much about any revolution in this book, but he does string together a lot of interesting stories about the countervailing forces of creativity and bizarre business decisions in the history of comic books. Ro seems to take the same position I do in the Kirby and Lee battles - each provided his own strengths, and neither did anything nearly as great without the other (well, Lee did equally well with Steve Ditko). This isn't the first book I've read on the human side of comic creators, but it continues to amaze me to read of the decisions behind the scenes which affected what I read all those years between 1966 and 1979, when comics were my first love. Oh, and Ro points out way more Kirby influences on Star Wars than I had ever noticed before, which is interesting.
June 29, 2008
Although I'm not a big Marvel fan by any stretch of the imagination I enjoyed this book because it serves as an excellent history of the comics industry.
Jack Kirby was a major player in both the Golden Age and Silver Age of comics, creating, writing and even editing many popular titles. When he was finished doing The Fantastic Four he would go to work on The Rawhide Kid (cowboys), True Romance, and Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos. I enjoyed a lot of the "behind the scenes" gossip of comics creation; there aren't a lot of books out there that accomplish that.
I actually enjoyed his work on Mister Miracle, The Demon and The Sandman for DC, so his departure from Marvel wasn't a big tear-jerker for me, but the New Gods with its impossible to follow mythology (even attempted to be explained in this book) was clearly the sign of an old man losing his marbles.
The book takes a sad turn towards the end when Jack Kirby tries to claim ownership of every comics character ever created, the true sign of senior dementia. That was a tale to astonish!
Jack Kirby was a major player in both the Golden Age and Silver Age of comics, creating, writing and even editing many popular titles. When he was finished doing The Fantastic Four he would go to work on The Rawhide Kid (cowboys), True Romance, and Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos. I enjoyed a lot of the "behind the scenes" gossip of comics creation; there aren't a lot of books out there that accomplish that.
I actually enjoyed his work on Mister Miracle, The Demon and The Sandman for DC, so his departure from Marvel wasn't a big tear-jerker for me, but the New Gods with its impossible to follow mythology (even attempted to be explained in this book) was clearly the sign of an old man losing his marbles.
The book takes a sad turn towards the end when Jack Kirby tries to claim ownership of every comics character ever created, the true sign of senior dementia. That was a tale to astonish!
July 2, 2025
This book tells the story about Jacob Kurtzberg (Jack Kirby) and Stanley Lieber (Stan Lee)'s involvement in the comic industry. During WWII, when the Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939, comic book writer Joe Simon was thinking of creating a character, a hero, who would fight the Nazis. Thus, he came up with the idea of Captain America and his sidekick, Bucky. Jack Kirby and Joe were working for Timely Comics at the time, founded by American publisher Martin Goodman. It was here that they also met Stan Lee who was doing various tasks at the company, running errands, and doing some proofreading and minor editing of the comics.
Kirby and Simon also worked on a comic starring a character named Captain Marvel for Fawcett Publications. Captain Marvel was a young boy, Billy, who was given supernatural powers by an ancient wizard. Whenever Billy yelled “Shazam,” he became a strong adult hero able to fly and successfully fight villains.
Jack Kirby and Joe Simon’s comics became successful. Their brand name became Simon & Kirby. They soon after took a job at DC. At DC, they came up with other characters such as Sandman, Manhunter, and The Boy Commandos. Stan Lee had become editor of Timely comics after Simon & Kirby left for DC.
By this time, the US was involved in WWII. Simon enlisted in the Coast Guard, and Kirby got drafted into the army. Stan Lee volunteered for the army, writing training films. After his military duty, when Stan Lee returned to Timely. Kirby also continued working at Timey when he returned from the Army. When Simon returned from the Coast Guard, he went to work for Harvey Comics, but also continued working with Kirby on some teen romance comics for Timely, which wanted to attract teenage female readers. Other popular comics put out by Timely at this time included war comics, westerns, science fiction and crime comics.
By the 1950s, New York psychiatrist, Fredric Wertham wrote a book, “Seduction of the Innocent” blaming comics for juvenile delinquency. Thus, comics were affected because of the attacks and sales went down. The comic industry got together and created the Comics Code to try and change the bad association comics had.
DC put together a group of superheroes fighting together as a team called “The Justice League of America.” This comic did well, so Stan Lee came out with a new team of characters for Timely Comics and called them “The Fantastic Four.” They included new characters: Reed Richards, whose talent was that he could stretch and his girlfriend Susan Storm, made herself invisible. Her brother Johnny Storm could turn himself into fire, and The Thing was a strong man who looked like a rock figure. Stan Lee wrote the stories and Jack Kirby drew them. Lee gave each of the characters a lot of personality, and egos which caused them to argue amongst themselves and bicker. By the fifth issue, a new villain Dr. Doom was introduced which gained popularity. The comics were selling well.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby also came up with a new character called “The Hulk.” Additionally, other new characters were developed for the comics, including Thor, and Iron Man. Peter Parker was a teenager who became powerful after being bitten by a radioactive spider and became Spider-Man. It was now the early 1960s, and Timely Comics, which was now known as Atlas Comics, started calling itself Marvel Comics due to these successful comic books.
By Spring 1963, the comic book covers introduced the new name, “Marvel Comics Group” under the Comics Code seal. Superheroes called the X-Men, who were young outcasts with powers were created under the Marvel name. The Avengers were also formed, made of various superheroes including Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and others. The superhero, Daredevil was introduced. But with all these new characters, DC was still number one in the industry.
Stan Lee would credit the artists in the comics and not keep them anonymous as other comic books were doing. He wanted his readers to familiarize themselves with the writers and artists. He added humor into his comics. The image Marvel fashioned was not as polished and clean-cut as it was with DC.
At DC, the writers wrote the scripts and the artists followed it to a tee. At Marvel, the artists were allowed more liberty with scripts. They could draft their own plots and Stan Lee would fill-in the dialogue. Some writers and artists joined Marvel with its less restrictions.
In 1966, when the successful campy TV show, “Batman” was on the air, DC’s “Batman” comics were in huge demand. They also earned huge profits from licensed “Batman” products, such as clothing, toys, pens, pencils, and other merchandise. Marvel Comics also gained in popularity by Stan Lee’s promotions, lecturing at colleges, and making television appearances. Marvel also put out merchandise.
Jack Kirby wanted credit for comic scripts he wrote, but Stan Lee refused, especially because he would often change the plots. So, their working relationship became strained. Kirby left New York and moved to California for the milder weather. Stan Lee was glad because of the conflicts in their relationship.
By the early 1970s, Kirby left Marvel and signed a three-year contract with DC and would continue to work out of the Los Angeles area.
Jack Kirby came up with the “New Gods” originating new characters. It was determined, however, that Kirby was a much better artist than he was a writer. But Kirby would not allow any other writers to rewrite, revise or work on any of his stories to improve upon them. DC only wanted Kirby to illustrate. Kirby did not want to illustrate other people’s stories. So, he did not renew his contract with DC and returned to Marvel. He did not really even want to return to Marvel, but only DC and Marvel could pay him the salary he could afford to live on.
Kirby’s contract with Marvel stated that no one could alter his work. Marvel felt that he was a fantastic illustrator, but his writing was poor. Changes were made to his stories and his dialogue without his approval and he would not even see them until the comics were on sale at the newsstands. Kirby resented these changes being made without his approval or consent. When it came time to renew his contract with Marvel, due to his frustration, he decided not to renew, and felt it was time for him to look for other opportunities for his creativity.
For two years, Kirby worked on an animation TV show called “Thundarr the Barbaran” until its cancellation in fall 1981. Kirby also worked on comic books with Pacific Comics, a comic book distributor and publisher.
In the mid-1980s, Kirby fought with Marvel to return his artwork. Marvel refused. Marvel had no legal obligation to return his artwork, but the news went out in the comic world about the conflict and most sided with Kirby. Therefore, Marvel was under a lot of pressure to return the artwork. Finally, however, Marvel did return 2,100 pages of original artwork that they still had in their possession after Kirby signed an agreement giving Marvel the copyrights.
Jack Kirby gave a lengthy interview to the “Comic Journal,” wherein he had no kind words for Stan Lee and accused him of not writing dialogue and not creating his own characters. After this was published, Stan Lee would not hear from Jack Kirby again. Except he saw him just one last time at the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1993, wherein Kirby said to Lee, “You have nothing to reproach yourself about, Stan.” They then got interrupted by others who walked up to them and did not get to talk more.
Kirby became a legend to the new generation of comic book creators. His health was bad at this time, but he tried to keep up with fans and family who would visit his home or want to talk to him on the phone. He would have diverse conversations, but did not want to talk about the beginning of Marvel Comics and things related to that. In early February 1994, Kirby passed away from a heart attack at his home at the age of 76 years old. Stan Lee attended the funeral.
Marvel reprinted many of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s earlier works in various volumes. Other artists have created comics based on the Lee-Kirby style. Lee and Kirby continue to influence others.
Kirby and Simon also worked on a comic starring a character named Captain Marvel for Fawcett Publications. Captain Marvel was a young boy, Billy, who was given supernatural powers by an ancient wizard. Whenever Billy yelled “Shazam,” he became a strong adult hero able to fly and successfully fight villains.
Jack Kirby and Joe Simon’s comics became successful. Their brand name became Simon & Kirby. They soon after took a job at DC. At DC, they came up with other characters such as Sandman, Manhunter, and The Boy Commandos. Stan Lee had become editor of Timely comics after Simon & Kirby left for DC.
By this time, the US was involved in WWII. Simon enlisted in the Coast Guard, and Kirby got drafted into the army. Stan Lee volunteered for the army, writing training films. After his military duty, when Stan Lee returned to Timely. Kirby also continued working at Timey when he returned from the Army. When Simon returned from the Coast Guard, he went to work for Harvey Comics, but also continued working with Kirby on some teen romance comics for Timely, which wanted to attract teenage female readers. Other popular comics put out by Timely at this time included war comics, westerns, science fiction and crime comics.
By the 1950s, New York psychiatrist, Fredric Wertham wrote a book, “Seduction of the Innocent” blaming comics for juvenile delinquency. Thus, comics were affected because of the attacks and sales went down. The comic industry got together and created the Comics Code to try and change the bad association comics had.
DC put together a group of superheroes fighting together as a team called “The Justice League of America.” This comic did well, so Stan Lee came out with a new team of characters for Timely Comics and called them “The Fantastic Four.” They included new characters: Reed Richards, whose talent was that he could stretch and his girlfriend Susan Storm, made herself invisible. Her brother Johnny Storm could turn himself into fire, and The Thing was a strong man who looked like a rock figure. Stan Lee wrote the stories and Jack Kirby drew them. Lee gave each of the characters a lot of personality, and egos which caused them to argue amongst themselves and bicker. By the fifth issue, a new villain Dr. Doom was introduced which gained popularity. The comics were selling well.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby also came up with a new character called “The Hulk.” Additionally, other new characters were developed for the comics, including Thor, and Iron Man. Peter Parker was a teenager who became powerful after being bitten by a radioactive spider and became Spider-Man. It was now the early 1960s, and Timely Comics, which was now known as Atlas Comics, started calling itself Marvel Comics due to these successful comic books.
By Spring 1963, the comic book covers introduced the new name, “Marvel Comics Group” under the Comics Code seal. Superheroes called the X-Men, who were young outcasts with powers were created under the Marvel name. The Avengers were also formed, made of various superheroes including Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and others. The superhero, Daredevil was introduced. But with all these new characters, DC was still number one in the industry.
Stan Lee would credit the artists in the comics and not keep them anonymous as other comic books were doing. He wanted his readers to familiarize themselves with the writers and artists. He added humor into his comics. The image Marvel fashioned was not as polished and clean-cut as it was with DC.
At DC, the writers wrote the scripts and the artists followed it to a tee. At Marvel, the artists were allowed more liberty with scripts. They could draft their own plots and Stan Lee would fill-in the dialogue. Some writers and artists joined Marvel with its less restrictions.
In 1966, when the successful campy TV show, “Batman” was on the air, DC’s “Batman” comics were in huge demand. They also earned huge profits from licensed “Batman” products, such as clothing, toys, pens, pencils, and other merchandise. Marvel Comics also gained in popularity by Stan Lee’s promotions, lecturing at colleges, and making television appearances. Marvel also put out merchandise.
Jack Kirby wanted credit for comic scripts he wrote, but Stan Lee refused, especially because he would often change the plots. So, their working relationship became strained. Kirby left New York and moved to California for the milder weather. Stan Lee was glad because of the conflicts in their relationship.
By the early 1970s, Kirby left Marvel and signed a three-year contract with DC and would continue to work out of the Los Angeles area.
Jack Kirby came up with the “New Gods” originating new characters. It was determined, however, that Kirby was a much better artist than he was a writer. But Kirby would not allow any other writers to rewrite, revise or work on any of his stories to improve upon them. DC only wanted Kirby to illustrate. Kirby did not want to illustrate other people’s stories. So, he did not renew his contract with DC and returned to Marvel. He did not really even want to return to Marvel, but only DC and Marvel could pay him the salary he could afford to live on.
Kirby’s contract with Marvel stated that no one could alter his work. Marvel felt that he was a fantastic illustrator, but his writing was poor. Changes were made to his stories and his dialogue without his approval and he would not even see them until the comics were on sale at the newsstands. Kirby resented these changes being made without his approval or consent. When it came time to renew his contract with Marvel, due to his frustration, he decided not to renew, and felt it was time for him to look for other opportunities for his creativity.
For two years, Kirby worked on an animation TV show called “Thundarr the Barbaran” until its cancellation in fall 1981. Kirby also worked on comic books with Pacific Comics, a comic book distributor and publisher.
In the mid-1980s, Kirby fought with Marvel to return his artwork. Marvel refused. Marvel had no legal obligation to return his artwork, but the news went out in the comic world about the conflict and most sided with Kirby. Therefore, Marvel was under a lot of pressure to return the artwork. Finally, however, Marvel did return 2,100 pages of original artwork that they still had in their possession after Kirby signed an agreement giving Marvel the copyrights.
Jack Kirby gave a lengthy interview to the “Comic Journal,” wherein he had no kind words for Stan Lee and accused him of not writing dialogue and not creating his own characters. After this was published, Stan Lee would not hear from Jack Kirby again. Except he saw him just one last time at the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1993, wherein Kirby said to Lee, “You have nothing to reproach yourself about, Stan.” They then got interrupted by others who walked up to them and did not get to talk more.
Kirby became a legend to the new generation of comic book creators. His health was bad at this time, but he tried to keep up with fans and family who would visit his home or want to talk to him on the phone. He would have diverse conversations, but did not want to talk about the beginning of Marvel Comics and things related to that. In early February 1994, Kirby passed away from a heart attack at his home at the age of 76 years old. Stan Lee attended the funeral.
Marvel reprinted many of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s earlier works in various volumes. Other artists have created comics based on the Lee-Kirby style. Lee and Kirby continue to influence others.
July 10, 2011
I just finished reading this book. Now as anyone that has had an even passing conversation with me knows, I am a rabid comics fan. So, I read this book over the last two days and simply marvelled, (pun intended), over how the industry got started and how it treated its creators.
In the end, I feel this book was very fair to both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But, you just can't help but see how awful big business can be. I feel bad for people like Jim Shooter, who admittedly made Marvel a juggernaut, get the bum rush. Of course, to make Marvel big he had to screw over some people.
Bob Kane (Batman), Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster (Superman) are famous for being screwed out of their rights over their characters. But, they flat out sold their creations. Jack Kirby created Captain America (with Joe Simon), Spider-Man (with Stan Lee and Steve Ditko), The X-men/Thor/Hulk/Iron Man/Black Panther/Silver Surfer...well the list is too long to mention, but all with Stan Lee. Jack had to fight to get anything more than his base salary for these creations. Marvel dealt him a crappy hand and only with the support of a lot of help from 100s of big named creators did he even get some of his original work back (1900 pieces out of 9000 or so).
Now as a guy born in the mid 70s. I loved and still love Stan Lee. His was the voice I heard and words I read in comics and cartoons. Jack was never a wordsmith and stayed in the background. It was only later in life that I even realized how amazing he was. My biggest regret in life to this point is never having met the man.
Jack created the Marvel Universe. Jack created the New Gods. Jack influenced the design and creation of comic books for 70 years, and he will always be the King of Comics.
In the end, I feel this book was very fair to both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But, you just can't help but see how awful big business can be. I feel bad for people like Jim Shooter, who admittedly made Marvel a juggernaut, get the bum rush. Of course, to make Marvel big he had to screw over some people.
Bob Kane (Batman), Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster (Superman) are famous for being screwed out of their rights over their characters. But, they flat out sold their creations. Jack Kirby created Captain America (with Joe Simon), Spider-Man (with Stan Lee and Steve Ditko), The X-men/Thor/Hulk/Iron Man/Black Panther/Silver Surfer...well the list is too long to mention, but all with Stan Lee. Jack had to fight to get anything more than his base salary for these creations. Marvel dealt him a crappy hand and only with the support of a lot of help from 100s of big named creators did he even get some of his original work back (1900 pieces out of 9000 or so).
Now as a guy born in the mid 70s. I loved and still love Stan Lee. His was the voice I heard and words I read in comics and cartoons. Jack was never a wordsmith and stayed in the background. It was only later in life that I even realized how amazing he was. My biggest regret in life to this point is never having met the man.
Jack created the Marvel Universe. Jack created the New Gods. Jack influenced the design and creation of comic books for 70 years, and he will always be the King of Comics.
April 24, 2012
Quite an interesting history of the early history of Marvel seen though Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
The starts off with Jack Kirby, his childhood, he meeting and marriage to Roz and his time in the Army during World War Two. We are given a history of Marvel before it became Marvel. We see the creation of the first Marvel hero, Captain America. During this time we meet a young Stan Lee who worked with Kirby. We move into the 60's Stan is given a bit of free reign and between Stan and Kirby they create some of the heroes we know Marvel for today. The Biggest of which is The Fantastic Four. With Kirby's hand in most of the early work at Marvel the company kept most of his original artwork. While he watched his artwork on sale at conventions for high prices he couldn't get them from Marvel.
This book was kinda uneven, Stan Lee and Kirby are painted sometimes and nice guys and on the other hand as asses. Stan Lee especially. The story was a bit too broad. We get bits of this history but most was a quick gloss over. I actually liked the book very much.
The starts off with Jack Kirby, his childhood, he meeting and marriage to Roz and his time in the Army during World War Two. We are given a history of Marvel before it became Marvel. We see the creation of the first Marvel hero, Captain America. During this time we meet a young Stan Lee who worked with Kirby. We move into the 60's Stan is given a bit of free reign and between Stan and Kirby they create some of the heroes we know Marvel for today. The Biggest of which is The Fantastic Four. With Kirby's hand in most of the early work at Marvel the company kept most of his original artwork. While he watched his artwork on sale at conventions for high prices he couldn't get them from Marvel.
This book was kinda uneven, Stan Lee and Kirby are painted sometimes and nice guys and on the other hand as asses. Stan Lee especially. The story was a bit too broad. We get bits of this history but most was a quick gloss over. I actually liked the book very much.
January 22, 2010
A good overview of Kirby and Lee's life and of the industry at the time, but you go through this book and never have any idea what Kirby's style actually looked like; Ro refuses to describe it, focusing on what the characters are doing (eg. punching six men at once.) If you came to this book without any knowledge of Kirby's art, you would have no idea why Lee was telling artists to draw like Kirby, no specific dread at DC erasing Kirby's Superman heads and replacing them with standard ones, as if DC was Archie or something. It just turns into a list of shitty demands an employer can toss onto a talented freelancer. It also gets pretty vague on Kirby's Hanna-Barbara years, which I guess were not stressful enough to remember
January 8, 2020
This book is primarily concerned with Kirby and Lee and honestly it vilifies Lee as having made a deal with the devil (it seems) and screwing over Kirby in the process.
I am not inclined to disagree with that because Marvel very much did just that to Kirby, singling him out because if anyone had a claim to the characters it was him. The book also touches a bit on Ditko's experience as it is similar to the dealings with Lee.
If you read Mark Evanier's "Kirby: The King of Comics," that is a better piece.
One drawback is that for a biography mostly about an artist there isn't a lot of art in the book as Marvel probably wouldn't approve it.
I am not inclined to disagree with that because Marvel very much did just that to Kirby, singling him out because if anyone had a claim to the characters it was him. The book also touches a bit on Ditko's experience as it is similar to the dealings with Lee.
If you read Mark Evanier's "Kirby: The King of Comics," that is a better piece.
One drawback is that for a biography mostly about an artist there isn't a lot of art in the book as Marvel probably wouldn't approve it.
September 22, 2017
This was a very good book! So much information on the start and rise of Marvel comics! It's also pretty inspirational for those who are interested in working in the creative fields. Some things I didn't like were the constant bias towards Jack Kirby (making Stan Lee look bad). And I felt that the author constantly made the same points over and over again. Like he would keep repeating that Kirby was upset, or mad or not speaking to Stan. In all if they took out these redundant details it would've been a shorter and better book.
September 9, 2008
It's not so much about the growth of the comic book or the silver age of comics as it's a love letter to Jack Kirby. That could've derailed the book, but Ro did enough reporting and used enough quotes to push the book forward.
Plus, I'm a geek. I was gonna enjoy this book no matter what.
Plus, I'm a geek. I was gonna enjoy this book no matter what.
September 9, 2019
An extremely detailed look at Jack Kirby's experiences, positive and negative, in the comics industry. The sheer amount of detail present for each comic series, lawsuit, etc., tends to make the story plod along.
July 17, 2018
This book is a balanced recounting of the grievances from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby both towards each other and the comic book companies for which they worked throughout their lifetimes (although it would have been better with an index and bibliography). The title Tales to Astonish is taken from the comic series in which Ant-Man first appeared in 1962. Ant-Man, of course, is one of the many heroes created by Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics, and that Marvel Comics and parent company Disney currently own outright because reasons. Like many Marvel characters, the appeal of Kirby's creation is strong enough to have supported multiple feature films about the character. The most recent, Ant-Man & The Wasp, features a cameo from Stan Lee, whose name always came first in collaborations with Kirby, also because reasons. In that movie, Lee's car is shrunken to the size of a Hot Wheels toy, prompting Lee to remark, "The 60s were fun, but now I'm paying for it." Many people might interpret that as a typical LSD joke, but me, a conspiracy intellectual, hears it as a reference to the business practices that first allowed for the successful publishing efforts of Kirby & Lee at Marvel in the 1960s, but that also led to Kirby's exit from the company and the inevitable backlash Lee faced in subsequent decades for any perceived culpability in Kirby's treatment by Marvel. As genial as Lee is and remains, even at the age of 95, it's a bit of a shame that his personal success and presence in the public eye has largely been predicated on a sort of self-aggrandizement that minimizes the role of Kirby to ant-like proportions. And that's the real tale to astonish, which surprisingly is not a line in this book. If Kirby were alive today, it is likely that he would be more respectfully regarded within the industry he helped to create and popularize – and publishers like Topps and Image Comics released comics by Kirby in his final days that did provide much larger financial remuneration than any of his 60s Marvel work did – but that Kirby was not consistently credited appropriately for his work nor paid the lion's share for the revenues generated by that work will always be a particularly loathsome black spot on an industry with no shortage of black spots.
July 18, 2022
To be entirely honest, my main thought, having finished this, is that it wasn't quite what I expected. I thought it'd be more about the creation of the characters and the Marvel Universe itself, and so I was a bit disappointed that it didn't center on that. But it was still interesting, if sometimes a little confusing, and I was wholly absorbed by the end. It took a while to really pick up its pace, but it's not like it was boring or anything. Do I feel a little bittersweet after finishing it? Yes, totally. I can't deny that-- it does paint a wonderful image of some remarkable people in comic history, and it definitely left me with an even stronger desire to learn more about them.
September 19, 2019
A biography of the King himself, Jack Kirby. While it contains all the key dates the book suffers from two things: one, it endlessly drifts back to Stan Lee’s story and while Stan is a huge part of Jack’s life this is meant to be Jack’s story. Two, we never get to see Jack the man, the husband, the father. It totally omits Jack’s time in the Boy’s Republic, and never goes into the details of his war years that it should. As a taster this is fine, but it never gets below the surface. A missed opportunity.
January 28, 2020
Really enjoyed reading about Jack and his wife; his involvement in so many of the Marvel characters I grew up with during the 70s and early 80s. Just like other books about comics and Marvel/DC, it's amazing the level of back-stabbing, ups and downs, hirings, defections and firings that happened throughout the past 70 years.
I hope that the families of some of these artists are receiving royalties for the work that was done.
I hope that the families of some of these artists are receiving royalties for the work that was done.
May 4, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. Just as good if not better than Sean Howe's "Marvel Comics - The Untold Story". Learned lots of new things about Jack "King" Kirby as well as what it was like making comics in the 1940s, 50s (pre Marvel era).
January 3, 2022
This is an informative look at the history of comics with a large focus on Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. The primary subject is the life of Kirby and his experience in the business and dealings with Marvel and other companies (for better and for worse).
Want to read
April 26, 20242024-04-26
oh, the life of writers paid by the word to write extended ads. so it's ”the american comic book revolution”, but it's only marvel, or mostly marvel. although the superhero comeback was started by the other guys, the dc people.
oh, the life of writers paid by the word to write extended ads. so it's ”the american comic book revolution”, but it's only marvel, or mostly marvel. although the superhero comeback was started by the other guys, the dc people.
December 5, 2019
A nice history of Marvel with an emphasis on the life of Jack Kirby.
September 25, 2024
This book is a compelling history of the comic book industry and offers compelling insights into the personality and creative process of perhaps the most important figure in comics: Jack Kirby. Though the author does a great job of explaining the tension between Jack and Stan, as well as Jack and the comic book companies he worked for, I feel like it treats Stan fairly and acknowledges his strengths and sizable contributions to the Marvel Universe. I have a substantial knowledge of comics, but I learned a lot. Jack Kirby was a visionary and the father of many, many beloved characters, some unexpected, and there’s a certain melancholy that comes from reading about the unethical treatment he received. Over and over again, this book made me say, “Jack created that? I didn’t realize.” It’s a real page turner and a perfect recommendation for anyone who is a fan of Marvel or seeking creative inspiration from one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
April 4, 2015
A good book that covers a pivotal period of the industry.
The writing is a little dry here, and it seems to rely on interviews with only some of the players. The book frankly makes Jack Kirby look like an angry bitter man and does little to dispute Stan Lee's claims that he wrote much of the material, even though the book seems to point the reader to a conclusion that Kirby was wronged and Lee was as manipulated by the Marvel press machine and reporters' bias' anything.
This is history and it's not as colourful as the industry it covers. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay could be seen as a fictional version of the early years of this tale, and it extremely entertaining--but a parable, and not actual history.
The writing is a little dry here, and it seems to rely on interviews with only some of the players. The book frankly makes Jack Kirby look like an angry bitter man and does little to dispute Stan Lee's claims that he wrote much of the material, even though the book seems to point the reader to a conclusion that Kirby was wronged and Lee was as manipulated by the Marvel press machine and reporters' bias' anything.
This is history and it's not as colourful as the industry it covers. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay could be seen as a fictional version of the early years of this tale, and it extremely entertaining--but a parable, and not actual history.
June 20, 2008
I need to offer a disclaimer about why I gave this book two stars instead of three. The content of this book was a downer for me. I love the Silver Age comics by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, and this book shows how their creation was the end result of a lot of years of slogging with no remunerative result followed by wild success coupled with relative exploitation. Lee and Kirby are revealed to have possessed -- gasp! -- character flaws. Damn you Ronin Ro for showing me that the men who made my favorite superheroes were not superheroes themselves.
May 10, 2010
A wonderful book telling the history of the Kirby/Lee comic book revolution. It is well written and has lots of behind the scenes stories and conflicts. I was a little heartbroken when I read of all of the bickering and backstabbing that went on between many of my childhood heroes. It made me realize (like many other biographies) that all of my real life heroes are flesh and blood not just characters in some book! The only thing that could have made this book better would have been pictures. You can’t have a book about comic books and the people behind them without “color pictures!”
March 14, 2016
This book does a great Deal to deepen and cast light on the controversy on exactly how much Jack Kirby had a hand in the creation of all the characters either attributed to Stan Lee or to both of them. Well researched with lots of interviews involving the people involved except the two people truly involved in the controversy. Kirby of course died long before the book was published and Lee has told the same stories regarding his collaboration with Kirby with no variations. A good read for anyone who is curious about Marvel Comics and the birth of the Silver Age.
November 26, 2007
Tales is about the early history of comic books in America with the emphasis on Marvel, Stan Lee and especially the career of Jack Kirby. As a Marvel monkey during the '70s I found this book both enlightening and sad. Apparently Lee was an unctuous showman and Kirby was chronically frustrated with the sleazy shenanigans perpetuated by Marvel - and to a lesser extent, DC. Tales is also filled with trivia only a comic geek could love.
Read
July 27, 2011I really wanted to go smack someone at points in this book. Jack was an amazing talent and a sweet man who was often screwed over because he didn't like conflicts. By the end of the book though, I was nearly crying because of the genuine love and admiration so many had for Jack and his wife Roz - not the least of which is the writer. A "warts and all" look at the inside of the industry from its beginnings until Jack's death in 1994 and Roz' in 1996.
April 21, 2009
An interesting look at the world of comoic books. The book focuses on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the creators of the Marvel Universe.
As a big fan of early Marvel comics through the early 80's, I enjoyed the look behind the scenes.
As a big fan of early Marvel comics through the early 80's, I enjoyed the look behind the scenes.
March 6, 2013
The story was awesome read it during this past weekend. I was surprised to find no picks. Mark Evanier's on the same subject (Comic artist great Jack Kirby) had more pics and had more of a comic book feel.
October 20, 2007
An entertaining look at the Silver Age of comics. Stan Lee is just as insane as you think he is, and the book only gets better from there.
October 22, 2007
You might be tempted, but don't do it! Not only is this book full of inaccuracies, but it is poorly written. A big disappointment. Avoid it and wait for the Evanier bio.
June 17, 2011
After reading this book I have a whole lot less respect for Stan Lee.
Kirby is King.Long live the King !
Kirby is King.Long live the King !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews