Simon and Kirby: Superheroes

by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby (Illustrator), Steve Saffel (Editor), Neil Gaiman (Introduction)

Overview

Beginning with Blue Bolt in June 1940, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby set the standard for costumed heroes. Their creation Captain America remains one of the most famous heroes in comic book history, and their work for Timely and DC Comics raised the bar.

This large format hardcover collects the duo’s most exciting characters: Fighting American, their cold-war take on the patriotic hero, The Fly, with origins in an unknown Spider-Man prototype, Lancelot Strong, the man with the double life, and the Hollywood swashbuckler known as Stuntman.

This is the only edition authorized by both Joe Simon and the estate of Jack Kirby, gathered from the official Simon and Kirby archives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848563650
Publisher:	Titan
Publication date:	09/28/2010
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 11.20(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created one of the most enduring American heroes in 1940 with the first issue of Captain America Comics from Timely Comics—the company that became Marvel Comics. Simon proved to be a brilliant editor, writer, penciller, inker, and businessman, serving as an editor for Archie, Harvey, Fox, Crestwood, and Mainline Publications—Simon and Kirby’s own company.

 

Jack Kirby is one of the most famous illustrators in comic book history. Having begun in the Fox Comics Bullpen in 1939, he teamed with Joe Simon on such seminal series as Blue Bolt and Captain Marvel Adventures. In subsequent years they worked in every genre imaginable, often seeing their titles sell in excess of one million copies.

Editorial Reviews

"A beautiful and expansive book that collects so much of [Jack] Kirby and Joe Simon's great efforts." - Washington Post

"As much a valuable historical artefact as it is a compilation of fantastic comic book classics. 10/10. An essential collection." - Total Sci-Fi Online

 "A gorgeous volume..." - LA Times

"The Stuntman stories are some of the best superhero material this pair ever produced." - Blog Critics

"... another homerun produced by Titan Books. It’s an eye popping and lovingly produced tribute to some of the best talent that the Golden Age had to offer. Go out and pick it up if you love classic superhero stuff. It’s worth its weight in gold and more." - Ain't It Cool

"The ultimate collection for Simon and Kirby’s work..." - Comic Attack

From the Publisher

Last year's initial The Best of Simon & Kirby volume knocked the socks off that duo's legions of fans who've been dying for such a collection. And as outstanding an overview of their work as that book was—now we're talking, baby! Though Simon and Kirby redefined every genre in the comics' field, their superheroes made them gods. This equally magnificent volume collects all of their non-DC/Marvel supers work—over 450 pages' worth—ranging from the 1940s through late 1950s and featuring their Fighting American, The Fly, Lancelott Strong, and Stuntman stories. Along with the full runs of those comics, this also includes some never-before-seen material as well as alternate covers. Like the previous collection, the full-color reproduction of the artwork is superb; you can clearly see "King" Kirby honing his inimitable style. In his warmhearted introduction, Neil Gaiman credits Simon's writing with changing his life through Sandman, which Simon and Kirby produced in the 1970s, and which Gaiman later revived to great success. VERDICT Filled with magic from cover to cover, this is another dream collection for fans and a solid addition to the series. Titan, keep 'em coming.—Mike Rogers, Library Journal

Library Journal