The King holding court at the 1982 San Diego Comic-Con (Photo by Alan Light) How did a kid from the Lower East Side of New York grew up to become the "King of Comics," and have an immeasurable impact on the world’s popular culture? That’s the story of Jacob Kurtzberg, better known as Jack Kirby, who was born on August 28, 1917. As a child, Kirby was likelier to get into fistfights than study art, but he was captivated by such masters of the comic strip as Alex Raymond ("Flash Gordon"), Hal Foster ("Prince Valiant"), and Milton Caniff ("Terry and the Pirates"). He enrolled at the Pratt Art Institute, but soon left because they wanted him to linger over his work, and he wanted to "get things done." His imagination was so full and his creativity so profound that he rarely lingered over anything, turning out dozens of pages of brilliant comic art every week. From Pratt, he went to the Fleischer animation studios (working on their "Popeye" cartoons), but left because of the "production line" way the movies were turned out). He then tried creating a number of comic strips (under an equal number of pseudonyms: Curt Davis, Fred Sande, Jack Curtiss, Ted Grey, and even just "Teddy"). While his work was good, nothing stuck until he met fellow writer and artist Joe Simon. With Simon, he created the character Captain America for Timely Comics (the precursor of today's Marvel Comics), and the rest was history. Simon and Kirby became one of the top teams in comics history, but when they suspected they were being underpaid, they moved to DC Comics, revitalizing such characters as Manhunter and The Sandman, and creating The Guardian and The Boy Commandos. After World War II, the duo went back to work, creating the classic "Boys’ Ranch," the tongue-in-cheek "Fighting American," any number of crime comics, and even found time to invent the romance comic genre. But good things can last only so long, and the partnership split up. Kirby went back to DC, where he created "The Challengers of the Unknown." But after another legal battle, he returned to Marvel, where he began an unparalleled run that saw him co-create scores of characters, including The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, The X-Men, The Avengers, Thor, The Silver Surfer, Dr. Doom, and The Black Panther, mainstream comics' first black superhero. His muscular and dynamic style was credited by the New York Times as creating "a new grammar of storytelling and a cinematic style of motion ... Even at rest, a Kirby character pulsed with tension and energy in a way that makes movie versions of the same characters seem static by comparison." But the comics business being what it is, and Kirby being Kirby, following a dust-up over creator's rights and original art, he again went back to DC, creating the "Fourth World," a series of characters (The Demon, Mister Miracle, The New Gods, and Darkseid, DC's ultimate supervillain) and storylines that were nothing less than cosmic in scope. After only four years, though, he was back at Marvel yet again, leaving only three years later to work in animation (becoming an inadvertent footnote in the Iran Hostage Crisis of the 1980s). But ink was always in Kirby's blood, and after another brief stint at DC, he went to smaller publishers that allowed him not only full creative freedom, but also the ownership of his characters -- something he'd always craved. He died in 1994, never having lost any of his talent or creativity. It's hard today to find a comics artist -- or even a film director -- who has not been influenced in some way by Kirby's dramatic and dynamic style. He set the standard, and even 15 years after his death, he is still "the King." Suggested Sites... Jack Kirby Museum and Research Center - promoting and encouraging the study, understanding, preservation, and appreciation of the work of Jack Kirby. Jack Kirby - really nice analysis of Kirby's style and influence. Marvel Comics Database: Jack Kirby - detailed biography, with links to massive galleries of Kirby covers, characters, and interior art. Grand Comics Database: Jack Kirby - 60 years of comics, catalogued and categorized. Wikipedia: Jack Kirby - extensive biography of the King.

Directory categories: Jack Kirby, Comic Book Artists, Comic Books, Marvel Comics, DC Comics

Archived under: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, Animation, Artists, Arts, Biographies, Birthdays, Captain America, Cartoonists, Celebrities, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Comics, Entertainment, History, Men, Popeye, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Villains, Writers

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Headline of the New York Post, June 16, 1959 In the early hours of June, 16, 1959, actor George Reeves died from a gunshot wound to the head, creating one of Hollywood's biggest mysteries. After half a century, no one is quite sure if Reeves committed suicide or was murdered. At the time of his death, Reeves was (and still is) best known for his television role as Superman, though it's still uncertain whether he was thrilled or delighted with that fact. On the one hand, the role provided him with national fame, the chance to direct, and a handsome salary (that he planned on using to initiate his own projects). On the other hand, like many other actors who play superheroes, he was typecast, and found getting serious acting work difficult, leading to such false urban legends as the one that his role in "From Here to Eternity" was severely cut because audiences allegedly yelled, "Hey, it’s Superman!" when he came on the screen. But it's not like Reeves had been a huge success as an actor previous to his being cast as the Man of Steel. He had had some success in the 1930s and 40s with bit parts in such films as "The Strawberry Blonde" (with James Cagney and Rita Hayworth) and "Gone With the Wind" (as one of the red-haired Tarlton twins), but not much of note beyond that. In the decades since, while no firm case has been made for murder -- and Reeves's friends and fellow cast members Noel Neill and Jack Larson have gone on the record with their beliefs that it was indeed suicide -- the controversy continues because he apparently had so much to live for. "The Adventures of Superman" was due to begin production again after a year’s hiatus, with Reeves having a greater say in the creative realm, he was newly engaged, and saw career prospects beyond wearing his underwear on the outside of his clothes. And although he was found with a fatal gunshot to his head, not only was there no powder residue on his hands, a second bullet hole was found in the floor of his bedroom, something that usually doesn't occur in point-blank suicides. On top of that, he had been involved with Toni Mannix, wife of ruthless MGM executive Eddie Mannix, a man for whom the idea of taking out a hit on a romantic rival wouldn't have been unthinkable. Theories have been advanced for both murder and suicide, but Hollywood mysteries being what they are, no one will ever know. In one of those coincidences we so love, the Superman family suffered a second loss on June 16, as in 1996, longtime Superman artist Curt Swan died. Swan was an old-school craftsman, whose ability to tell a story and convey expressions was unparalleled. Equally at home on serious and humorous tales, he was the definitive Superman artist for nearly five decades. One critic described Swan's Superman as "the alien in our midst (who was) someone like us, who would think and feel as well as act, who was approachable, big-hearted, considerate, maybe physically superpowerful yet gentle, noble yet subtly tragic," a quote which also describes Reeves's portrayal of the Man of Tomorrow. A finer epitaph an actor or an artist couldn’t wish for. Suggested Sites... George Reeves.net - fansite dedicated to the actor. TruTV: The Mysterious Death of Superman - facts and legends surrounding Reeves's death. The Death of Superman - the unsolved death and mysterious afterlife of George Reeves. Who Drew Superman? Curt Swan - examines Swan's art style and how different inkers rendered his work. Superman Super Site: Curt Swan - biography of the dean of Super-artists.

Directory categories: Superman, George Reeves, The Adventures of Superman, Comic Book Artists, Superheroes

Archived under: 1950s, 1990s, Actors, Anniversaries, Artists, Cartoonists, Celebrities, Coincidence, Comic Books, Comics, Cover Ups, Dead Celebrities, Death, Entertainment, Murder, Mysteries, Scandals, Secrets, Suicide, Superheroes, Superman, TV, Unsolved Crimes, Urban Legends

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Johnny Weissmuller, before he play Tarzan Me Tarzan, you reader. Friends ask Tarzan why English lord speak so badly. Tarzan shrug and answer, "Give people what they want." Tarzan speak fine in 1912 when Tarzan created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. (Tarzan even speak French.) But when Tarzan played by Johnny Weissmuller in many movies, Tarzan somehow tongue-tied. Go figure. Anyway, Tarzan is King of Apes and of many jungles: African jungle (even have song about it!), movie jungle, TV jungle, radio jungle, comic book jungle, cartoon jungle. Tarzan even had Broadway musical. Eat heart out, Batman! Today good day for many friends. Cheeta recently celebrate 77th birthday. Live in Valley. Paints. Lucky. ($125 a painting? Maybe Tarzan should try.) Weissmuller's 105th birthday today. Couldn't speak, but good swimmer. To them and you, Tarzan have only one thing to say: Ooohhhhaaeeeaaaahhhh Oooohhheeeaaahhh! Suggested Sites... Tarzan.com - home of Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, David Innes, Carson Napier, and dozens of other pulp heroes. Tarzan: The Broadway Musical - swinging onto the Great White Way. ERBzine - dedicated to all of the creations of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Salon: Jungle love - Stephanie Zacharek puts the Tarzan and Jane marriage under the microscope. Tarzan of the Apes - the complete first novel, anotated.

Directory categories: Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan Movies, Musicals, Primates

Archived under: 1910s, 1930s, Africa, Apes, Athletes, Authors, Birthdays, Broadway, Cartoons, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Disney, Entertainment, Fiction, In Character, Movies, Musicals, Olympics, Royalty, Superheroes, Swimming, TV, Tarzan

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Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27 In 1939, 24-year-old comics artist Bob Kane was not having a lot of success. But one day, he got a phone call from DC Comics. DC was trying to come up with a costumed superhero to capitalize on its success with Superman, and wondered if Kane had any ideas. Looking for inspiration, he thought of the swashbuckling movies of Douglas Fairbanks, a flying apparatus designed by Leonardo da Vinci, and a movie thriller called "The Bat Whispers," and came up with a character called "The Bat-Man." Unfortunately, that "Bat-Man" wore red tights and a domino mask and looked about as threatening as Little Orphan Annie. Seeking help, Kane turned to writer Bill Finger, who junked most of Kane's ideas and implemented his own. He put the character in grey and black, added a scalloped cape, gloves, and a cowl with bat ears. Finger's final touch was the name "Bruce Wayne." With that, the Batman we more or less know today was created. Today we note the 70th anniversary of the publication of Detective Comics #27, which featured the first appearance of Batman, supposedly created solely by artist Bob Kane. But despite the credit line that still appears on every Batman comic, cartoon, and movie, Kane was probably the least involved of the team members that created the Caped Crusader. Kane was a poor artist and "swiped" many of the images in those early stories. Where Kane excelled was in his business sense and marketing ability, so he signed a contract with DC that gave them exclusive rights to Batman in exchange for sole credit going to Kane for "creating" the Dark Knight. Kane soon farmed out the actual work of drawing Batman to such artists as Sheldon Moldoff, George Roussos, Ray Burnley, Charles Paris, Lew Sayre Schwartz, and, most notably, Jerry Robinson and Dick Sprang. Robinson was responsible for refining the look of Batman and creating the Joker, Alfred, and Robin. Well, actually, he only named Robin. The Boy Wonder was one of Bill Finger’s many creations, along with The Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face, The Riddler, the Batmobile, the Batcave, the name "Gotham City," and dozens of other characters and concepts. While Robinson moved on to other things (including becoming an award-winning editorial cartoonist, teaching at the School of Visual Arts, The New School, and the Parsons School of Design, and writing the first history of the comic art form) Finger continued working more or less anonymously for DC, co-creating the Green Lantern (this time for credit), and turning out classic Superman and Batman stories in the '40s, '50s, and '60s. Bob Kane died in 1998, never fully acknowledging the contributions of his collaborators. Robinson, however, now 87, has worked tirelessly to ensure creators' rights (including shaming DC Comics into giving a pension to Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster). Robinson greatly responsible for founding the Bill Finger Award, given annually at San Diego's Comic-Con International to writers who were not sufficiently honored in their own lifetimes. Suggested Sites... Bob Kane.com - dedicated to the Caped Crusader's co-creator. Dial B for Blog: Secret Origins of The Batman - Robby Reed looks for the facts behind the legend. The Haunting of Robert Kane - Robby reveals the truth about Bob Kane's contributions to Batman. POV Online: Dick Sprang - Mark Evanier tells the story of one of the finest of Bob Kane's ghosts. You Tube: Jerry Robinson and the Creation of the Joker - the creator discusses the origin of the Clown Prince of Crime.

Directory categories: Batman, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Comic Book Artists, Comic Book Writers

Archived under: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, American History, Anniversaries, Artists, Batman, Books, Cartoonists, Collectibles, Comic Books, Comics, Cover Ups, Entertainment, Impersonators, Secrets, Superheroes, Writers, Writing

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These Things Drive Us CRAZY! (Photo by Chelsea Durham) When George Orwell wrote "Nineteen Eighty-Four," he could never have imagined The Spark. In his classic novel, Orwell proposed that every April the citizens of Oceania were whipped into a frenzy of hate against some imaginary foe, for no reason other than to keep them distracted from what was really happening. (Sounds like some current political commentators, but we digress ...) In the past we've mentioned our loathing of cell phones, banished words, NASCAR, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, bad movies, telemarketers, Tim McCarver, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Keanu Reeves, and "Batman" the TV show, but there's always new stuff to denigrate. When we got to thinking about it, we realized that celebrating hate sounded like a darn fine idea -- oh, not the harmful kind that actually hurts people, but rather, as an outlet for those things that either drive us crazy or that we just can't stand. So, herewith, the Spark's "We Hate It" list: Liz: I hate it when I rent or borrow a movie on DVD and it stops in the middle. Then when I look at the disc, it appears that someone has used it as a hockey puck or a butter dish -- or both. Can we learn to hold these things by the edges, people? Robert: I have a strong dislike for tofu ice cream bars. They look like ice cream, they feel like ice cream when you roll them around in your mouth, but you wait -- and that rich, sweet taste never comes. Instead, you're left with thoughts of what could have been and the faint aftertaste of bean curd. I'm sure there are vegan tofu ice cream enthusiasts that love these things, but I personally shudder when I think about them. Suzi: Drivers who use their brights on the highway, regardless of oncoming traffic. Helene: I hate falling asleep without having caught that spider hanging on the ceiling. Apparently, we eat three spiders per year while sleeping. Heather: I have a love/hate relationship with the movie industry. There's something particularly annoying about getting all pumped up over a stellar movie trailer, only to walk out of a theater $8.00 poorer with a sour taste in your mouth and a queasy feeling in your gut. Netflix, anyone? Mike: I hate road hogs who think letting a car change lanes in front of them is like an insult or something. Sarah: The "Twilight" movie posters. Yellow eyes aren't sexy; they're a sign of jaundice! Jessica: I hate people who are walking and talking on Bluetooth. I even hate myself when I'm walking and talking on Bluetooth. Richard: There's only one thing in this world that I truly hate to my very core: Cilantro, the devil's herb. It's true. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Hate Week - start your own celebration. How To Repair Damaged CDs or DVDs - help is on the way! Tofu Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe - can you call it ice cream if there's no milk? Bad Driver Blog - you're not alone. Idiots are everywhere. Ban Cilantro.org - dedicated to the destruction of the evil weed.

Directory categories: George Orwell, 1984, Tofu, Bad Drivers, Traffic and Road Conditions

Archived under: 1984, Adam West, Authors, Batman, Celebrations, Cell Phones, DVD, Disney, Disney Channel, Driving, Entertainment, Fiction, George Orwell, Hannah Montana, Holidays, Humor, Ice Cream, In Character, Literature, Miley Cyrus, Movie Trailers, Movies, NASCAR, Performing Arts, Rock and Roll, Spiders, Sportscasters, Superheroes, T-Shirts, Telemarketing, The Spark, Tofu, Travel, Vampires, Writers, Yahoo! Directory

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