It's here! Jack Kirby -- the King of Comics -- would've turned 100 years old on Monday, August 28, and fans here in Phoenix are planning a multi-dimensional three-day extravaganza to honor him.
At his zenith, Kirby drew five to eight pages a day, at his board for 10 to 12 hours, so we're celebrating his productivity in a special way. On Saturday, August 26, four local artists will attempt the 24 Hour Comic Challenge -- they'll try drawing a 24 page comic book in 24 consecutive hours. If that isn't hard enough, they'll pull a Kirby-inspired topic from a hat first, to use as inspiration for their story. If you're in or around Phoenix, join us at Drawn to Comics in downtown Glendale to see the cartoonists in action, and answer Kirby trivia questions for prizes, including sketches from the artists themselves! The festivities will start at 1 p.m. -- and everything will be recorded for a webseries we'll drop later this year.
Then, on Monday, the 28th, ten comedians will roast Captain America -- Kirby's first, most famous creation -- at Monkey Pants Bar in Tempe, 8 p.m. The dais will feature some of the funniest people in the Valley . . . and Captain America himself! Kirby fancied his drawing prowess as "performance." He was a fan of cinema and pulp magazines, so a comedy show in his honor is as eclectic as the man himself. A raffle -- featuring some pretty cool prizes, if I do say so myself -- will benefit the Hero Initiative, so bring some dollar bills.
Jack Kirby inspired a lot of people. He created a legion of timeless characters and demonstrated a work ethic that sets a high standard for anyone writing or drawing comics today. Honoring him is as humbling as it is fun, and I hope you'll join us, if not in person, then in the future, as we post pictures and videos from these events. Happy birthday, Jack!
