Gone, but not forgotten, comic book legend Jack Kirby is remembered every year on August 28th. Happy birthday, sir.
If you’ve seen Guardians of the Galaxy, you know Groot — the singing, dancing, crime-fighting tree. Groot was created by comics legend Jack Kirby, who’s also responsible for Captain America and was the co-creator of the Avengers and the X-Men. Kirby died in 1994, but his birthday on Aug. 28 has become something of a national celebration for comic book fans. (NPR Morning Edition 8/28/2014)
Despite being behind some of the most beloved comic book characters of all time, including The Fantastic Four (with Stan Lee), Kirby spent much of his career behind the drawing board and in the shadow of Lee and other bigger personalities. One fan recalls seeing him at a convention in the late 80’s, sitting alone among artists. He was able to speak to the legend, unrecognized in a place where he should have been in the spotlight.
Now, years after his death, August 28th has become Jack Kirby Day. Fans gather around the word to remember the man whose characters, stories, and ink have filled imaginations for more than 70 years.
Listen to the August 28th NPR story about a Kirby Day Celebration in upstate New York.
Photo: twitter.com/thinkgeek