SDCC 06: MARVEL TO PUBLISH "LOST" LEE/KIRBY FF ISSUE

[MattBrady]

<a href=http://www.newsarama.com/SDCC06/Marvel/FF/FF108001_original_pencils_t.jpg><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/SDCC06/Marvel/FF/FF108011_original_pencils_t.jpg" align="right" border=0></a>Imagine that you had a time machine, and could go back in time and ask two comic book creators to create just <i>one</i> more issue together. Which creators and series would you choose?

If you said Stan Lee and Jack Kirby on <b>Fantastic Four</b>, then this article is all about instant gratification for you.

Announced at Saturday’s <b>Cup ‘O Joe</b> Panel at the San Diego <i>Comic-Con</i>, Lee and Kirby are “reuniting” on last time on the team they made famous, as a “lost” issue of <b>Fantastic Four</b> has been found, and will be finished and published by Marvel in the coming months.

We spoke with Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort about this unique project.

<b>Newsarama</b>: Tom – let’s begin with the history. The existence of a "lost" issue of Stan and Jack's <b>FF</b> isn't really widely known by fans. How long did you know about this, and what was the motivation to get things rolling?

<b>Tom Brevoort</b>: I’ve known about the issue for a number of years—portions of it were cannibalized to form an extended flashback in <b>Fantastic Four #108</b>. But this really all started to come together a month or three back, when we started to assemble the last <b>Marvel Masterworks</b> edition of the Lee & Kirby <b>FF</b>. Masterworks Editor Cory Sedlmeier is always looking for cool extras to include in these volumes, and as this was a particular milestone, he really wanted to pull out all the stops. Some time earlier, John Morrow of the Jack Kirby Collector had run a piece in his magazine attempting to reconstruct the lost issue as best he could from the fragments of the pencils that had come to light. As Marvel had at that point begun to develop a relationship with Lisa Kirby through the <b>Jack Kirby’s Galactic Bounty Hunters</b> project, I suggested contacting Lisa and John to see if they might be amenable to us reprinting the piece in expanded form in that <b>Masterworks</b> volume. They were, and after we worked out the specifics of a payment for the work, we were on our way...

Click <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/SDCC06/Marvel/FF/LostFF.html>here</a> for the full interview...

<blockquote><I>Newsarama's Comic-Con International '06 Coverage is brought to you by Miramax Films’ <b>RENAISSANCE</b>. In theaters this fall.</i></blockquote><center><a href="http://www.renaissance-movie.com" target=blank><img src=http://www.newsarama.com/SDCC06/sponsor/300x250_b.jpg border=0></a></center>

[Goldenboy]

Wow.








P.S. First comment. Double wow.

P.P.S. Isanove definatly needs to colour this. Seeing one of Marvel's top colourists take on a Kirby...

[Adam Chapman]

Man, that's really, really cool. Sounds like a real treat!

[BillReed]

That sounds pretty cool.

[cyclopsfan]

Hmm... an Asterisk will have to be placed by the longest running creative team in comic's now. Looks like 1 more issue from Bendis and Bagely before this asterik ridden record can be broken :)

[Oeming]

Wow, looking at that splash page makes me realise how good he was and how much I suck:) Long live the king!

[TheLizard207]

I'll pick this up for sure. Nice little treat.

[Goldenboy]

Hmm... an Asterisk will have to be placed by the longest running creative team in comic's now. Looks like 1 more issue from Bendis and Bagely before this asterik ridden record can be broken :)

I was wondering that - Does that mean they'll be changing the solicts for #104 will have to be changed?

[KyleV]

I really, REALLY hope they can get Sinnot to ink this. Kirby is fantastic, but his work never looked as good as it did with Sinnot on inks. He really did set the FF apart from all of Kirby's other books.

[Kolimar]

An interesting piece of forgotten history. Tres cool. :D

The King still rules. Long live the King. :)

[Kolimar]

NRAMA: Who are you bringing on to ink and color it?

TB: Some of that's still up in the air at this point. Assuming he's up for it, my first choice would be to get Joe Sinnott to finish the job, as he was a key component to the success of the Lee/Kirby FF, and the FF beyond Lee and Kirby, for so many years. But I haven't yet been able to speak to him about it, so it'll depend on his availability. Failing that, there's another way you could go, which is to treat this more like a modern story, and get a great inker like Danny Miki to take a shot at the book-combined with modern coloring by somebody like Richard Isanove, you might be able to show just how well Kirby's work could stand alongside the artistic greats of today if he'd had the same technological tools to work with in his time. But all of this is still up in the air at this point.

No matter the decision it will be interesting to see the results.

[Broo715]

Hmm... an Asterisk will have to be placed by the longest running creative team in comic's now. Looks like 1 more issue from Bendis and Bagely before this asterik ridden record can be broken :)

Didn't Aragones and Evanier produce a longer run with Groo?

[The Shadow]

I really, REALLY hope they can get Sinnot to ink this. Kirby is fantastic, but his work never looked as good as it did with Sinnot on inks. He really did set the FF apart from all of Kirby's other books.
I agree... it would also seem more special if they could reunite the entire team.

I'll get this for sure!

[Krypto]

This sounds superb but forget double sized, make it triple so we can have Joe Sinnott and classic style inking and colouring, and a version with inks by some trendy tyro and computer colours and letters. I bet I know which version would look best.

[CitC]

It would be interesting to see, instead of 108 being reprinted, a "classic" looking version using a more traditional penciling and colouring along side of a more modern inking and colouring.

I would also like to see it in a prestige/trade format. Something that could go on the bookshelf.

[Wade Wilson]

I would really like to see Kirby teamed with Miki just to see how the King would stack up against todays workers. I would really like to see Two versions of this story with Isovane and Miki and the old crew just for art's sake.

[Jeremy Williams]

They HAVE to get Sinnott.

[DCindebt]

Wow, looking at that splash page makes me realise how good he was and how much I suck:) Long live the king!

I wish someone could tell me what this means. I mean that respectfully of course. To tell the truth, I have no eye for art. Along the same lines, HDTV is wasted on me, CDs and tapes sound exactly the same to me, you get the idea.

So in looking at these pages, yeah, they look cool, but a lot of comic art does. What is it that I should be seeing here? What am I missing that an artist can appreciate? Is it the art itself, the shading, perspective, what? And could someone maybe point these things out specifically in one of these pictures?

This is a sincere request from someone who blows through comics quickly because I tend to read the words while only getting a sense of the picture before moving on to the next panel.

Help me slow down and appreciate the art more. Thanks.

[jrio]

"Apparently, Kirby was insisting that Stan provide him with an actual written plot if he was going to be listed as the writer."

'Nuff said. Whereas if they were working today it would be "Script by Stan Lee" and "Plot and Pencils by Jack Kirby"

[Frankie Thirteen]

I am so there.

[Michael K. Willis]

Sweet :) I REALLY hope that they can get Joe Sinnott to ink the pages...if you're going to put the "band" back together you should try to get everyone who was an important part of the enterprise to take another bow.

[BriGuy]

Fantastic! (no pun intended) Count me in!

They should get Sinnott if they can and then select a couple pages to redo "modernized" for the back showing how Kirby's work holds up.

[Nick Wyche]

And no modern inks either! Danny Miki, who I'm sure is a competent professional, or any other modern inker should be kept as far away from these pages as possible. IMO, only Joe Sinnot or, failing that, Mike Royer should be allowed to ink this book.

Additionally, I'm sure Richard Isanove is very talented and has a lot of fans, but the coloring he did over Mike Wieringo's FF covers made me nauseous. This book deserves to be put out the way it's creators would have done originally. Get a Laura Allred or her son Han on it. Get Paul Hornshceimer, the alternative cartoonist who colors the golden age "Escapist" stories for Dark Horse. Hell, if he could be talked into laying down his movie work for a month or two get Dan Clowes to color it. His work on the last 2 issues of EIGHTBALL have been masterful recreations of classic comics coloring.

This book should go classic all the way or put it back on the shelf!

[astronato]

Wow is right. This is an event.

TB: We're going to be going this as a double-sized special, which will include the newly reconstructed version of the story, John Morrow's article about the lost issue illustrated with the unlinked Kirby pencils to the story, and a reprint of FF #108, so people can see how some of the material wound up being used.


If you had a Joe Sinnott inking one version AND a version inked with the modern technology/style Marvel could make it a triple sized version and I would pay even more for this book. I never buy variants or mutliples but this is special.

And the payment deal with the Kirby Estate is pretty classy.

Is it too late for Mega Man and or Nega Man show up in Annihilation? :) whoo hoo!

Bring on the Galactic Bounter Hunters too.

I'm gonna go do a little jig now and stage dive off my coffee table onto the sofa.

[George986]

Didn't Aragones and Evanier produce a longer run with Groo?

Dave Sim did 300 issues of Cerebus. And if you only want to talk about a team, Dave Sim and Gerhard did 233 issues. While the 104 issues Lee-Kirby did were a historical milestone, they haven't been a record in a long, long time.

[Frankfurt]

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!

This sounds superb but forget double sized, make it triple so we can have Joe Sinnott and classic style inking and colouring, and a version with inks by some trendy tyro and computer colours and letters. I bet I know which version would look best.

I would really like to see Kirby teamed with Miki just to see how the King would stack up against todays workers. I would really like to see Two versions of this story with Isovane and Miki and the old crew just for art's sake.


If you had a Joe Sinnott inking one version AND a version inked with the modern technology/style Marvel could make it a triple sized version and I would pay even more for this book. I never buy variants or mutliples but this is special.


It would be interesting to see, instead of 108 being reprinted, a "classic" looking version using a more traditional penciling and colouring along side of a more modern inking and colouring.

I would also like to see it in a prestige/trade format. Something that could go on the bookshelf.

I agree 100%! Make this a hardcover trade, with both versions plus pencilled pages and a little background info section!

I wish someone could tell me what this means. I mean that respectfully of course. To tell the truth, I have no eye for art. Along the same lines, HDTV is wasted on me, CDs and tapes sound exactly the same to me, you get the idea.

So in looking at these pages, yeah, they look cool, but a lot of comic art does. What is it that I should be seeing here? What am I missing that an artist can appreciate? Is it the art itself, the shading, perspective, what? And could someone maybe point these things out specifically in one of these pictures?

This is a sincere request from someone who blows through comics quickly because I tend to read the words while only getting a sense of the picture before moving on to the next panel.

Help me slow down and appreciate the art more. Thanks.

Kirby is basically responsible for the "look" of modern comics. See how he fills each panel so it won't look boring. Even people talking have this bold, strong look. He makes things easy to read (it's not messy or confusing - even the pencils are easy to follow), he makes it look fun. The poses are not dull, everything is dramatic and almost in-your-face, but it doesn't seem gratuitous. There's also the matter of all the textures and volume he gives everything. The way metal, rock and so many things are drawn in comics today are thanks to him (which may fade away with all the computer effects, but i digress).

On a more general level, his narrative is just really good, too. The splash page and most panels have a lot of information even without text. I'm sure you can think of artists or comics where you need the captions to even vaguely understand what's happening - people just stand there. Look at the characters in those pages, each has his own personality, own body language. You can guess what their personalities are like just from the way they're posed.

For a final comparison, grab a comic by someone like Greg Land (or other tracer/photo-realistic artist) and compare to Kirby pages. Try to match similar scenes (dialogue, action, etc), and you should get some perspective.

Here's a small Kirby gallery with more art and sequentials:

http://www.comicartcommunity.com/gallery/categories.php?cat_id=55&sessionid=10966e9e44c3143145aed9b0b0ea2f f1

[JoeMaggio]

Hmm... an Asterisk will have to be placed by the longest running creative team in comic's now. Looks like 1 more issue from Bendis and Bagely before this asterik ridden record can be broken :)

Doesn't Dam Sim's (& Gerhard's?) run on Cerebus count?

[buji]

i've only (relatively) recently started figuring out what Kirby is about and his influence on the entire medium of comics, but the more i see of his work, the more i stand in awe. (*thank you Marvel & Neil Gaiman for jump-starting this interest with your recent take on the Eternals) Kirby really is the king. what an amazing opportunity Marvel is providing us by facilitating the presentation of more of his work. personally, i just can't get enough. this is fantastic news.

[DCindebt]

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!









I agree 100%! Make this a hardcover trade, with both versions plus pencilled pages and a little background info section!



Kirby is basically responsible for the "look" of modern comics. See how he fills each panel so it won't look boring. Even people talking have this bold, strong look. He makes things easy to read (it's not messy or confusing - even the pencils are easy to follow), he makes it look fun. The poses are not dull, everything is dramatic and almost in-your-face, but it doesn't seem gratuitous. There's also the matter of all the textures and volume he gives everything. The way metal, rock and so many things are drawn in comics today are thanks to him (which may fade away with all the computer effects, but i digress).

On a more general level, his narrative is just really good, too. The splash page and most panels have a lot of information even without text. I'm sure you can think of artists or comics where you need the captions to even vaguely understand what's happening - people just stand there. Look at the characters in those pages, each has his own personality, own body language. You can guess what their personalities are like just from the way they're posed.

For a final comparison, grab a comic by someone like Greg Land (or other tracer/photo-realistic artist) and compare to Kirby pages. Try to match similar scenes (dialogue, action, etc), and you should get some perspective.

Here's a small Kirby gallery with more art and sequentials:

http://www.comicartcommunity.com/gallery/categories.php?cat_id=55&sessionid=10966e9e44c3143145aed9b0b0ea2f f1

Thank you very much. That is clearly a well thought out response and it helps me know a bit more what to look for. Thanks again.

[Jack Burton]

This is to me the coolest news of SDCC so far! Wow I am really looking forward to this.

[spiderrob8]

"Apparently, Kirby was insisting that Stan provide him with an actual written plot if he was going to be listed as the writer."

'Nuff said. Whereas if they were working today it would be "Script by Stan Lee" and "Plot and Pencils by Jack Kirby"

It depends. Early on Stan provided more of a written plot. He also tended to talk on the phone with people and give brief plots and if they were in the office, lots of times they'd plot it out together, giving the artist a lot of leeway of course under that mehtod, and sometimes the artist would be given something very brief if Stan was interrupted. And with guys he trusted, like Kirby, lots of leeway. Most likely they would get a co-plotting credit today, it being impossible to break down who was responsible for what in the various issues. When Claremont and Byrne worked together, Byrne lots of time did the bulk of or a large part of the plots-according to Byrne-and they'd also work together.

Ditko had a plotting credit for later issues of his Spider-man run with Stan. He was also someone Stan relied on and could rely on, while he worked on shoring up everything, as editor, art director, and and general guy in charge (editor in chief).

[Predabot1]

This is beyond belief..! 0_0 UNLEASH THE POWER COSMIC ONCE MORE!

My preference for the handling of this would be to have Tom Scioli on reconstruction of pencils, and then Sinnot on inks, and then top it off with Isanove or Granov on colours. :)

I know there's some hateing on the modern way of colouring, but look at Intergalactic Bounty-hunters, and look at the covers to the Forth World TPB's. Can't you see that it works, that it fits incredibly well? A colourist can adapt his style yet retain the extras that comes with modern colouring to get a retro-feel. ^^

[Frankfurt]

Thank you very much. That is clearly a well thought out response and it helps me know a bit more what to look for. Thanks again.

No problem. Anyone that shows a genuine interest in Kirby (actually, anyone that wants to learn something new) deserves a compliment and all the help necessary.

[Krypto]

This is beyond belief..! 0_0 UNLEASH THE POWER COSMIC ONCE MORE!

My preference for the handling of this would be to have Tom Scioli on reconstruction of pencils, and then Sinnot on inks, and then top it off with Isanove or Granov on colours. :)

I know there's some hateing on the modern way of colouring, but look at Intergalactic Bounty-hunters, and look at the covers to the Forth World TPB's. Can't you see that it works, that it fits incredibly well? A colourist can adapt his style yet retain the extras that comes with modern colouring to get a retro-feel. ^^

'Hating' is a bit strong, we're just expressing a preference - why not just have someone colour it the old-fashioned way to get the classic look? I want this book to look as it would have had it appeared as commissioned, not with a modern gloss.

[Ricochet]

Very coool, a real hidden treasure, I cant wait to see it!!!

[Duke Jupiter]

If you had a Joe Sinnott inking one version AND a version inked with the modern technology/style Marvel could make it a triple sized version and I would pay even more for this book. I never buy variants or mutliples but this is special.

And the payment deal with the Kirby Estate is pretty classy.


I agree with the above completely.

Every atttempt possible should be made to get Joe Sinnott to ink this issue. Joe was so much a part of the classic FF team that his opportunity to take another bow should not be denied if he is still able to perform. Joe deserves the gig more than anyone else alive.

Beyond that, Marvel should go after Mike Royer, Karl Kesel or someone else who can treat the pencils properly.

If Marvel wants to get a bunch of hot-shot inkers to mess with the pages, that's fine...but have 'em do it alongside a proper version inked by Joltin' Joe.

'Nuff said.

- DJ

[Mark Cardwell]

If Joe Sinnott, can't or won't ink it: fair enough - these days, I think he'd be tempted to put a little bit too much of his own style over Jack, so that it might as well be a full Joe Sinnott art job. That's been the problem every time I've seen his work over Kirby since that SILVER SURFER OGN at the end of the seventies.

I say get Mike "Doc" Allred to do it: his inks are more Sinnott than Sinnott. It'd also be interesting to see Mike Royer's take, if only as a "What If" into a parallel work where Kirby stayed at Marvel.

As for colourists - I've hated it every time I've seen a rendered colour job over Kirby's work, on trade paperback covers and whatnot, so nein danke to Isanove. Someone who could do a great job of doing it flat-yet-modern would be Bill Crabtree of GODLAND. His work on that title has been amazing, certainly fantastic enough for The Four.

[buji]

how do you guys know so much about inkers? i've always wanted to learn more about that aspect of comics, but i never seem to come across anything related to the subject.

[George986]

For people interested in Jack Kirby, the Kirby issue/episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is surprisingly good. In the comic, it's Donatello #1, and in the modern cartoon it's at the beginning of the 6th DVD (the cartoon version is just as good as the comic, believe it or not). It features an artist named Kirby whose characters come to life when he draws them, and some Avengers knock offs who fight Kirby-style monsters.

[Johnny Smith]

cool - looking forward to this!

I vote for Sinnott inks.

[heelmark]

Old school? New school? :confused: :confused:
Do both. :D :D
I've never bought a variant cover for a book I already had. Same for a HC or trade when I had all the issues. But this is different. I could definitely see me getting 2 copies of this. One being old-school Marvel. One being in the new style.
I've been wanting to see what The King's work would look like with today's tech ever since I got back into comics a few years ago.
This is just beyond cool. :)

[Johnny Triangles]

I think they should make this a flip-book, reproduce the same story twice, one time with Lee scripting, Sinnott inking and markers, the other time with Bendis, Millar or Carey scripting, digital inking or inking by Miki, watercolors, computer separations, the whole nine. It's make for an interesting experiment.

[JohnLynch]

Didn't Aragones and Evanier produce a longer run with Groo?Not if you count years, as in Kirby and Lee working from 1961 - 2006 :P

It's a shame that Kirby and Marvel's relationship became forever tainted, and especially sad that this lost issue is a result of that taint. But I'm still glad that Marvel is able to print it today :)

[Jason Green]

Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus saying I hope we can get Joe Sinnott to ink this thing, and that it's treated with a very classicist approach. I think it's a much cooler effect to have this book, completed 35 years later, match the original run as closely as possible.

[D-ski]

I really hope they don't HC this - a nice, thin, squarebound trade would do me just fine.

If I had my preference (being the fossil that I am) I would like to see this issue inked by Sinnott or Royer, printed as its own story, ON NEWSPRINT, with period ads, traditional four-color process, Stan's Soap Box, upcoming titles and house-ads we'll never see, numbered #101 1/2, and sell for $.15.

But I guess I'll take what they give and be happy with it.

I guess...(looks down and scuffs shoe around) ;)

[Predabot1]

Hmm... at a second thought I'm very much liking the idea of several versions... one could be that entirely old school, and another new school, and a third would be in the middle, using the same type of print and colouring-technology as used on the Marvel Graphic Novels.

Aka, someone colours it in acrylics, water-colours or some very advanced use of special ink, and then it's finished off with word-balloons. :)

[Michael D.]

Sinnott on inks or no inks at all. If I want to see modern inking I'll crack open a modern comic book.

Marvel shouldn't undermine their generous initial payment to the Kirby Estate by then saying "If sales are high enough, then the Estate will get incentives". They should toss the Estate a percentage of each book sold regardless of how many it ends up being.

[Zhen Dil Oloth]

Wow, looking at that splash page makes me realise how good he was and how much I suck:) Long live the king!

I understand what you mean. I feel quite the same way.

Discovering the "Jack Kirby collector" many winters ago and seeing his pencil work made me appreciate even more how great Kirby's work was.

Add me to the list of people who wish that Marvel get Joe Sinnot to ink this.

[farwell3d]

As far as the record goes, it's the Marvel record. Or the Big Two record. Not comics on a whole.

With that out of the way... I'm speechless. Unseen Kirby artwork makes this worthwhile all by itself. FF has never been my favorite of Stan or Jack's work, but to see one more issue by them is so far beyond cool.

[The Shadow]

Doesn't Dam Sim's (& Gerhard's?) run on Cerebus count?
Jack and Stan on FF is a Marvel record ;)

[Mercury]

absolutely brilliant. words can't describe the feeling of excitement this provokes in me; truly it's like feeling 12 years old again. and no, since i was born in the early early 80s, i was not 12 when FF #103 came out, but still- its that general sense of excitement at waiting for a comic book again. long live Stan & Jack- and it'd be brilliant to get Joltin' Joe at it again.

[beta-ray]

Its like comic book archaeology...

Treasury sized please! :D

[baxtos]

Fantastic news ! Please do the right thing and name this one " ff #102"

Also please have a "Stan Lee AND Jack kirby present" baloon up front.


thanx!

[Uncle Jawa]

Jack and Stan on FF is a Marvel record ;)

Right, that's the record they are talking about when they mention Bendis & Bagley's impending record-breaker. Not comics across the board, but just Marvel and Stan & Jack's record.

[Uncle Jawa]

When Joe mentioned finding something akin to an unreleased Beatles track, I think it was fairly obvious to everyone it would be something fron Stan & Jack. Who else would warrant a Beatles comparison, right? :) I'm happy to hear it was a lost issue of FF. FF is the pinnacle of their legacy, so it makes it just that much sweeter. No matter how they do this, it's gonna be a lot of fun.

Speaking of which, did anyone else pick up the FANTASTIC FOUR reprint of the first appearance of Black Panther? It was a very unique presentation. It had all of the original ads, was printed on glossy paper but had a fading effect added to all of the pages to give it an old feel, visually. I thought it was a fun experiment for Marvel to try.

[adamcasey]

Speaking of which, did anyone else pick up the FANTASTIC FOUR reprint of the first appearance of Black Panther? It was a very unique presentation. It had all of the original ads, was printed on glossy paper but had a fading effect added to all of the pages to give it an old feel, visually. I thought it was a fun experiment for Marvel to try.

It's my understanding that there were no effects added, it was just scanned from a well perserved (for the time period) copy of the comic. That's a format I'd love seeing more of.

[Frankfurt]

The Kirby panel at Comicon:

http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=0053 89

It's my understanding that there were no effects added, it was just scanned from a well perserved (for the time period) copy of the comic. That's a format I'd love seeing more of.

Same here. Better than the redone versions.

[Juisarian]

Those pencilled pages look amazing. I don't think I ever really understood the "Kirby is King" thing until this moment. Just, wow. The inked panel doesn't look anywhere near as good. INK IS KILLING COMIC BOOK ART!

[spiderrob8]

Should be fun. I know in my Marvel Masterworks, there were missing pencil pages, so i guess they found them-wish they were in my masterwork:D .

Also, it was said they think Stan found the pages to be confusing and not able to be dialogued, not sure if that is true. That is why they bumped 103 to 102 and had this changed around for 108 (the same month Kirby;'s DC work came out I think).

I'd like each page to be done in new and old style, maybe even across from each other, so you could compare directly without flipping.

[Uncle Jawa]

It's my understanding that there were no effects added, it was just scanned from a well perserved (for the time period) copy of the comic. That's a format I'd love seeing more of.

If that's the case, it still made for an interesting format.

[kalorama]

I really hope they don't have anyone from the Isanove "school" handle the colors. The previous examples I've seen of artists with looser, less "realistic" styles being paired with the layered, texured "painted" approach used by Isanove has produced some really unsatisfactory results, in my opinon.

[RIsanove]

I just want to point out that I wasn't approached to work on the project. Tom's exact words were "somebody like Richard Isanove". But, since we're speculating...
On one hand it'd be a Fan's dream come true and I would love to give it a shot, but I'm also of the mind that it's not really the best ground for an experiment, because experiments can work or they can go horribly wrong. I usually have a pretty good idea of how to make something work (in my opinion) and frankly it's hard to imagine Kirby colored any other way than with flat colors.
That said, the repainting of old Kirby covers by Alex Ross was pretty cool. But that's Ross...

I usually try to work closely with the penciller, to work in the direction of their vision. Kirby envisioned his pencils colored in flats (I would assume) and it makes me uncomfortable to think of doing it any other way.

But then again, could I really turn down the chance to work over Jack F-ing Kirby?!

We'll see...
-Richard Isanove

[Johnny Triangles]

Fantastic! (no pun intended) Count me in!

They should get Sinnott if they can and then select a couple pages to redo "modernized" for the back showing how Kirby's work holds up.


I'd rather have the whole comic done twice, once modernized with a modern Millar/Bendis type writer and one classic with Stan Lee.

[buji]

But then again, could I really turn down the chance to work over Jack F-ing Kirby?!

We'll see...
-Richard Isanove

no sh*t! no matter who ends up working on this, i'm sure everyone involved will be doing their utmost to respect and be as true to the original spirit of the work as possible. it's pretty exciting.

[kevconart]

I just want to point out that I wasn't approached to work on the project. Tom's exact words were "somebody like Richard Isanove". But, since we're speculating...
On one hand it'd be a Fan's dream come true and I would love to give it a shot, but I'm also of the mind that it's not really the best ground for an experiment, because experiments can work or they can go horribly wrong. I usually have a pretty good idea of how to make something work (in my opinion) and frankly it's hard to imagine Kirby colored any other way than with flat colors.
That said, the repainting of old Kirby covers by Alex Ross was pretty cool. But that's Ross...

I usually try to work closely with the penciller, to work in the direction of their vision. Kirby envisioned his pencils colored in flats (I would assume) and it makes me uncomfortable to think of doing it any other way.

But then again, could I really turn down the chance to work over Jack F-ing Kirby?!

We'll see...
-Richard Isanove

I like the way you think Richard! I for one would love to get my hands on those pages to ink myself...BUT...i would stay as true to the pencils as I possibly could. It would be interesting to see someone like Danny put his twist on it, but I think there is no other choice than Mr. Sinnott himself. Here's another point - Kirby is gone, no one, but NO ONE should be laying ANY ink (not even Sinnott) over the original pencils. They are far too rare and valuable to let anything cover them. I say send blue lines to their top choice and seal those pencil pages air tight and turn them over to Kirby's estate! Hell, I just gave myself and idea, I think I'm gonna print out that splash in blue line and give it the ol' Conrad ink job so I can say I inked one of the masters of Marvel!

[Brother Zag]

This sounds superb but forget double sized, make it triple so we can have Joe Sinnott and classic style inking and colouring, and a version with inks by some trendy tyro and computer colours and letters.

My thoughts, exactly! Why not give some of the cool new guys a go on it, and let some of the old guard do their take on it. C'mon, Marvel, do it up!

[ANGELDOGGIE]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek: :eek:

[kalorama]

I usually try to work closely with the penciller, to work in the direction of their vision. Kirby envisioned his pencils colored in flats (I would assume) and it makes me uncomfortable to think of doing it any other way.

I only hope that whoever's responsible for assigning the job (and whoever gets it) has the same clear perspective as you.

[kalorama]

This sounds superb but forget double sized, make it triple so we can have Joe Sinnott and classic style inking and colouring, and a version with inks by some trendy tyro and computer colours and letters. I bet I know which version would look best.

I bet we all do, begging the question: What would be the point of doing it? Just get the best/most suitable inker/letterer/colorist and complete the book in a style that does proper justice to Kirby's work and his legacy.

Period.

[Jeremy Holstein]

The Jack Kirby Collector printed all the existant Kirby pencils a few years back. All the pages were there, printed in their original order (before Marvel hacked up the pencils to make issue #108). A panel or two was missing. Have the missing panels been discovered? What's new here is Stan Lee's dialogue, so that should be fun.

For myself I'd go for Sinnott or Royer on inks. If neither can be hired, how 'bout multiple inkers, one per page? It's always a thrill to see what an inker can bring to Kirby pencils (or take away. I'm looking at you, Coletta!)

[Shanobi]

Kirby's pencils are so graceful, and powerful. I'm really looking forward to getting this!

And for those who were saying they wanted to see Miki on Kirby, it already happened when Image released Kirby's Phantom Force. Danny inked at least one or two pages.

[Jigokuman]

It would be interesting to see, instead of 108 being reprinted, a "classic" looking version using a more traditional penciling and colouring along side of a more modern inking and colouring.

I would also like to see it in a prestige/trade format. Something that could go on the bookshelf.

My thoughts exactly.

[Bigdogg228]

well said on Dave Sim's run....Don't forget Curt Swan's gazillion issues of Superman/Action.

As long as Kirby's family get justly compensated I'm for it. I guess if someone has to crap all over Kirby's plot it might as well be Stan one more time.

[Drcharles]

Speaking of which, did anyone else pick up the FANTASTIC FOUR reprint of the first appearance of Black Panther? It was a very unique presentation. It had all of the original ads, was printed on glossy paper but had a fading effect added to all of the pages to give it an old feel, visually. I thought it was a fun experiment for Marvel to try.

I saw this advertised in Previews, but I don't know when I'll get it, but it's a great step in the right direction, for printing off the original books for the fans.

This news that a recent Kirby find will be printed off, will surely generate mass interest, and deservely so, its wonderful and exciting news.

Can anyone remember the ' Marvel Tales ' reprints of the original SpiderMan series, By Lee/ Ditko, They ( Marvel ) Printed the 1st Spidey app and # 1-38 or so of the original run, Just think, wouldn't it be wonderful if they did that again, but printing all the FF stories in Comic Form per month, instead of those Dreadful MasterWork Editions.

Kirby is The King,
His renditions of the Greatest comic, starring the Greatest family will always stay with me, since the FF were one of the first comics I came across, not realising that nearly every comic that I was pricking up had this Genius artwork in,

In Closing,

Every person should pick this bk up, and it would do the man justice to see so many people do that, a nice healthy sales estimate of 250,000 copies would be lovely to see.

[Dman]

knowing that part of the money is going to Kirby's family is great, looking forward to the lost story and my vote is for Sinnott

[Mercury]

If Sinnott can't do it, Dick Ayers would be a great option. He's still working, and, along with Sinnott, was one of Kirby's first and most prolific inkers on the early "Marvel Age".