What I’m now wondering: I’ve presumed for years that FF 25 and 26 was essentially a Kirby plot with minimal input from Lee. For those unfamiliar with it, 25 is a rematch between the Hulk and FF and ends with three of the four essentially off the board, so to speak, with only Ben still “in play”. And we’ve known that Hulk is much stronger than Ben -- Ben doesn’t have a chance against one on one. This was absolutely mind blowing at the time.
That strikes me as much more a Kirby plot than a Lee one. Too, during the middle part of the Lee and Kirby run, Kirby was let’s say the dominant plotter with minimal input from Lee. (See, for example, the Him matter.) So with that as a given, I presumed this Kirby “domination” started early enough to be the case for FF 25, which would have been late 1963 or so.
So, question: do you *know* that I’m wrong to believe what I believe re issue 25?
Wonderful dissection of their work process! It fits well with what I’ve learned, over the years, about their process, as well as what it was like when I got my chance to work with Stan, late in the game. I’ve worked plot-style, full script, and about a dozen versions of a mix of both, all of them rewarding in their own ways. What I’m encouraged about overall is to see how Kirby evolved as an artist into a plotter, into a full storyteller. I’ve been trying to emulate his process into my own work. Inspiring!
That Puppet Master bit reminded of an Alicia Masters thing I've wondered about for years. Has Alicia looking so much like Sue with just a hair color change ever been a thing ever since?
Great piece, Tom. Thank you.
What I’m now wondering: I’ve presumed for years that FF 25 and 26 was essentially a Kirby plot with minimal input from Lee. For those unfamiliar with it, 25 is a rematch between the Hulk and FF and ends with three of the four essentially off the board, so to speak, with only Ben still “in play”. And we’ve known that Hulk is much stronger than Ben -- Ben doesn’t have a chance against one on one. This was absolutely mind blowing at the time.
That strikes me as much more a Kirby plot than a Lee one. Too, during the middle part of the Lee and Kirby run, Kirby was let’s say the dominant plotter with minimal input from Lee. (See, for example, the Him matter.) So with that as a given, I presumed this Kirby “domination” started early enough to be the case for FF 25, which would have been late 1963 or so.
So, question: do you *know* that I’m wrong to believe what I believe re issue 25?
Wonderful dissection of their work process! It fits well with what I’ve learned, over the years, about their process, as well as what it was like when I got my chance to work with Stan, late in the game. I’ve worked plot-style, full script, and about a dozen versions of a mix of both, all of them rewarding in their own ways. What I’m encouraged about overall is to see how Kirby evolved as an artist into a plotter, into a full storyteller. I’ve been trying to emulate his process into my own work. Inspiring!
That Puppet Master bit reminded of an Alicia Masters thing I've wondered about for years. Has Alicia looking so much like Sue with just a hair color change ever been a thing ever since?
I have more respect for these gentlemen now and forever
Thank you SO much for this article! Looking at these pages, to me, is like looking at the pages of the apocrypha!👍🏾🤘🏾✊🏾❤️