The names Joe Simon and Jack Kirby are synony­mous with comic books, and their partnership ush­ered in the Golden Age of comics starting in the 1940s. Together they created memorable characters such as Captain America and Sandman, invented romance com­ics, and raised the standard for the genres of western, crime, and horror comic books.

Over the course of three decades Joe Simon and Jack Kirby wrote and illustrated several hundred comics, many of which are reproduced in The Art of the Simon and Kirby Studio covering all aspects of their amazing career. Selected and with an introduction by Mark Evanier, the foremost authority on the work of Simon and Kirby, the book includes artwork photographed from the original art in Joe Simon’s private archive and showcases the seminal work of Simon and Kirby and their artistry as it has never been seen before.

cover

Cover of The Art of the Simon and Kirby Studio

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Race for the Moon no. 2 (September 1958). Harvey Comics. Introduction page illustrated by Jack Kirby. “The Thing on Sputnik 4” illustrated by Jack Kirby. “Lunar Trap” illustrated by Jack Kirby. “Island in the Sky” illustrated by Jack Kirby and Al Williamson. “The Face on Mars” illustrated by Jack Kirby and Al Williamson.

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Blast-Off no. 1 (October 1965). Harvey Comics. “The Great Moon Mystery” illustrated by Jack Kirby and Al Williamson. “Danger! Atoms!” illustrated by Howard Nostrand. “Lunar Goliaths” illustrated by Jack Kirby and Al Williamson.

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Adventures of the Fly no. 1 (August 1959). Archie Comics. “The Strange New World of the Fly” illustrated by Kirby and Simon. “Come Into My Parlor” illustrated by Kirby and Simon. “The Fly Discovers His Buzz Gun” illustrated by Kirby and Simon. “Magic Eye” illustrated by George Tuska.

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Black Cat Mystic no. 59 (September 1957). Harvey Comics.“Take Off, Mr. Zimmer” illustrated by Jack Kirby.

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Justice Traps the Guilty no. 57 (December 1953). Prize Comics. Cover by Marvin Stein

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Boys’ Ranch no. 2 December 1950). Harvey Comics. Introduction page illustrated by Jack Kirby. “The Clay Duncan Story” (splash page only) illustrated by Jack Kirby. “Lead Will Fly at Sunset!” (splash page only) illustrated by Jack Kirby

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Boys’ Ranch no. 4 (April 1951). Harvey Comics. Introduction page illustrated by Jack Kirby. “Fight to the Finish!” illustrated by Jack Kirby, Mort Meskin, and others. “Double-page spread illustrated and colored by Jack Kirby. "The Bugle Blows at Bloody Knife!” (splash page only) illustrated by Jack Kirby.

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Fighting American no. 1 (April 1954). Prize Comics. “Duel to the Finish Line!” illustrated by Jack Kirby.

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Bullseye no. 1 (August 1954). Mainline Publications. Cover by Jack Kirby. Splash page illustrated by Jack Kirby

All images are copyright the Estates of Joseph H. Simon and Jack Kirby.