Jack Kirby Pencils and Inks Artisan Edition

Yet another excellent Artisan edition. I was really getting a little concerned that the Wally Wood artisan edition was going to be the first and the last artisan edition but I was mistaken and a new volume (and a few additional ones have been announced such as Rocketeer and Teenage Mutant etc) appears and what an excellent book with the pencils and also the inks for the same pages (should be half price) but no, it is some truly fine Kirby priceless artwork and the only thing missing being the scripts and the rough scribbles and notes (guess not everything can be saved). This is a hefty book with some really wonderful artwork throughout and a pleasure to read again and again

Nice volume. I am not a big fan of Kirby, mostly because of ignorance but this may change with books like this. As the title says you have the pencils (on the left) and the inks (on the right) which gives a nice contrast. One thing that I do not understand is why this is a HC while the Wally Wood Artisan edition is SC.

I really should have read the blurb on this more carefully before buying it. I'd assumed it would be a collection of Kirby artwork from across his career, with his pencils alongside versions inked by a number of different inkers who worked with him over the years, like Joe Sinnott, Chich Stone, Dick Ayers, the much-maligned Vince Colletta and others. Instead, it turns out to be Kirby pencils alongside pages all of which are inked by just one artist, Mike Royer. Now, I've nothing against Mike Royer, who seems like a great guy and who inked Kirby's work more faithfully then any previous inker had. But there's the problem. I'd love to have seen a comparison of how different inkers approached working over Kirby's pencils, maybe with accompanying interviews and recollections. Being limited to one inker and one period in Kirby's decades long career limits the potential interest of the book. It's still an interesting book, and it's still full of Kirby artwork, which can only be a good thing. It's just not as interesting as it would have been had it been the book I'd expected it to be. Maybe IDW will step up to the plate and provide such a book before too long. How about it guys?

The "pencils" are pretty bad reproductions. Maybe the title should have been "Old-Timey Photocopies of Pencils and Sublime Inks". Sounds whiney right? Well that's all the whining I have. The "inks", the original art reproductions of the finished inked pages are so beautiful, so perfectly sharp and the texture of the pages, ink and whiteout is just so perfect. The book has cool fancy design touches and even a snazzy fold-out. This size is really perfect for reading; a little easier for reading than the artists editions (though it's almost worth stressing out your marriage and going into bankruptcy to own them all). I feel like I'm giving my eyeballs champaign and caviar seeing this original art presented in this fancy format. And the lousy old-fashioned photocopies aren't totally lame. It feels like you have a rare old ultra low-tech fanzine version right next to the most satisfying reproductions of original art from legendary stories. And don't just look at it. Read it. With the various reprints and especially the artists editions and other original art fancy editions like this one, I agree we are living in the golden age of reprints. What a time to be a Kirby, Wood (and the other jaw-dropping EC maestros), Ditko, (everybody cool etc) fan. I wish there were some Jim Starlin Artist editions (Warlock or Iron Man or Captain Marvel) Whoops sorry for the tangent. 8D

Libro muy muy interesante. Recoge páginas dibujadas por Kirby con las tintas de Mike Royer. Lo interesante es que contraponen a la izquierda los lápices y a la derecha la tinta, con lo que se puede comparar sin darle la vuelta a la página el original y la tinta. No es un libro grande (como los Artist Edition) pero no necesita más tamaño, se ve todo perfectamente. Un libro muy muy recomendable para todo fan de Jack Kirby

Perfect book for fans of hidden Kirby gems and Artist Edition style book lovers. Also, it's about the Prisoner. So 2 for 2

Un livre bien dessiné qui ne saurait décevoir. Celui à qui je 'lai offert ne l'a aps été en tous cas.

This is an incredible book, showcasing some of Jack Kirby's finest work in both its original pencil form and with inking by his most faithful and talented collaborator, Mike Royer. The design and production values are absolutely first-rate as well. An A+ effort in every way, it will leave you clamoring for more!