Kirby, Jack - Fantastic Four, issue 98, cover (May 1970)
Artists: Jack Kirby (Penciller) , Joe Sinnott (Inker)
42 Comments - 4,931 Views - 9 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThe first piece in my Kirby gallery...what a way to kick it off. The cover to May 1970's issue #98 that featured Lee/Kirby's "Mystery on the Moon" storyline (if anyone knows why it's "Doomsday on the Moon" on the cover and 'Mystery on the Moon" in the interior, would really love to hear about it). In May of 1970, Kirby's time with the FF and Marvel was coming to a close - two months prior he had called Stan Lee after delivering his final pages for issue #102 and resigned, having just executed a contract with DC to create it's "Fourth World' characters & stories. His final story in issue #102, 'The Strength of the Submariner", would be published with a John Romita, Sr. cover - who would assume pencilling duties for the next five issues until John Buscema took over in issue #107.The Fantastic Four debuted in their first issue in November 1961 and were the first superhero team created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby. Together, they developed a collaborative approach to creating comics with this title that would come to be known as the ‘Marvel Method’. As the first superhero team title produced by Marvel Comics, it would be the cornerstone of the company's rise to pop-culture conglomerate. Ironically, and according to legend, the inspiration for creating the team came from Marvel’s competitor, DC Comics. Marvel’s Martin Goodman, a publishing trend-follower, aware of DC’s Justice League of America book and its’ strong sales, directed his comics editor, Stan Lee, to create a comic-book series about a team of superheroes. According to Lee, writing in 1974, "Martin mentioned that…'If the Justice League is selling, why don't we put out a comic book that features a team of superheroes?’” Flash forward ~50 years and a few billion dollars in enterprise valuation later. The release of The Fantastic Four #1 was an unexpected success. Lee had felt ready to leave the comics field at the time, but the positive response to Fantastic Four persuaded him to stay on. With the third issue, Lee created the hyperbolic slogan "The Greatest Comic Magazine in the World!!" With the following issue, the slogan was changed to "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!" - it became a fixture on the issue covers into the 1990’s and on numerous covers in the 2000’s. The Fantastic Four have always been portrayed as a somewhat dysfunctional, yet loving, family. Breaking convention with other comic-book archetypes of the time, they would squabble, hold grudges and eschewed anonymity or secret identities in favor of celebrity status. The team is also well known for its recurring encounters with characters such as the villainous monarch Doctor Doom, the planet-devouring Galactus, the sea-dwelling prince Namor, the space-faring Silver Surfer, and the shape-changing alien Skrulls. The story frequently cited as Lee and Kirby's finest achievement is the three-part "Galactus Trilogy" that began in Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966), chronicling the arrival of Galactus, a cosmic giant who wanted to devour the planet, and his herald, the Silver Surfer. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Maria Coppola
Member Since 2011
Posted on 12/3/2011
Amazing how many Grail pieces have switched hands in these last couple weeks! A classic from Jack "The King" Kirby! Congrats on such a fAntastic acquisition!
George H 
Member Since 2009
Posted on 12/3/2011
Such a stunning Kirby classic! I love looking at Kirby's FF covers. Congrats on an amazing addition my friend.
Wesley Liu
Member Since 2009
Posted on 12/3/2011
You can't do better than a Kirby/ Sinnott FF cover. Congratulations!
Colorado Kid
Member Since 2007
Posted on 12/3/2011
A Kirby/Sinnott FF cover???? WOW!!!!!!! Way to kick it off is right--congrats Ronan!
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
Posted on 12/3/2011
Spectacular. One Kirby like this and you will never need another.
J L
Member Since 2005
Posted on 12/4/2011
This is your first Kirby? What a way to start off indeed. Always love seeing your updates Chris. Congrats again!!!!
Alberto Giavoni
Member Since 2005
Posted on 12/4/2011
Ronan! this is a great great piece...from a great great F4 supporter and Kirby fan!
Peter P
Member Since 2009
Posted on 12/4/2011
Here it is and WOW!!!! I LOVE this cover, everything about it is perfect, even the font and text layout! What a piece, superb in your stellar collection, congrats Chris!!!! =)
Joseph Melchior
Member Since 2005
Posted on 12/4/2011
A stellar (unintended pun) Kirby/Sinnott example. You've certainly upped the ante.
bob fish
Member Since 2011
Posted on 12/4/2011
Arrgll...for me one the best cover on FF by the two great masters...what a fantastic add to your collect ! congrats !!
Bennett Pisek
Member Since 2003
Posted on 12/4/2011
Wow! Fantastic cover. Absolutely great way to start a Kirby collection.
Ron S
Member Since 2007
Posted on 12/4/2011
If this is how you're kicking it off.....wow! Really just a great cover. Well done!!
Jason Versaggi
Member Since 2005
Posted on 12/4/2011
Such a stupendous piece of comic art. Truly wonderful once in a lifetime acquisition. Bravo!
Kasra Ghanbari
Member Since 2004
CAF Administrator
Posted on 12/4/2011
"Merry Christmas to ME!" Amazing. Very happy for you, congratulations!!
Davide G.
Member Since 2009
Posted on 12/13/2011
Well, would say It's really a good idea to buy as the first piece a museum piece... but it's quite difficult to achieve for us poor mortals! Congrats on this amazing goal, Ronan!
Alex B
Member Since 2008
Posted on 1/3/2012
This is just... incredible ! Can't get more classic (and classy) than this ! HUGE CONGRATS and thanks for sharing this beauty !
Crees Tyler
Member Since 2008
Posted on 1/11/2012
Amazing cover ! Really Spectacular !!! Kirby/Sinnott was the best team ever ! Congrats Chris
Adam Ianbarry
Member Since 2010
Posted on 2/8/2012
Wowzas!!! That's a pinnacle page you got there!!!
Fred's CAF Gallery
Member Since 2003
Posted on 2/24/2012
Kirby & Sinnott = MAGIC!!! Congratulations on a sensational acquisition!
- Artemaria
Member Since 2007
Posted on 2/26/2012
Fantastic indeed, in every sense of the word. Congratulations on acquiring a historic centerpiece for ANY gallery!
Nick Katradis
Member Since 2005
Posted on 5/30/2012
Chris, a true classic Kirby masterpiece! That FFour space shuttle is awesome!
Daren Domina
Member Since 2006
Posted on 2/4/2013
Wow--really cool early FF (and late Kirby FF) cover---great images of Reed, Johnny and Ben!
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 3/16/2013
Uhh...wow! Looking through CAF, I didn't realize how few of these Kirby FF covers are out there (at least publicly) - congrats!!
Andy Robbins
Member Since 2003
Posted on 3/24/2013
These pre-100 Kirby FF covers are all cornerstone pieces of any collection.
Mark Howland
Member Since 2004
Posted on 9/23/2013
It is difficult to fathom the breadth and depth of your collection. Awesome stuff!
Terry Doyle
Member Since 2004
Posted on 12/9/2015
The 'Doomsday' lettering on this cover looks like a paste-over or replacement stat. If original paste-over, maybe there's lettering underneath? You need to investigate, as I'm now curious what might be hidden underneath (if anything)!
alessandro gentili
Member Since 2011
Posted on 11/10/2018
I don't understand because I've not commented this masterpiece before ! This is a Museum piece .
Huge congrats !
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 6/7/2019
Jaw-droppingly good! Classic cover by the King! Love it!
E DLS
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/5/2020
Wow! If my first Kirby looked like this, I would be one-and-done with Kirby. Incredible!
West Stephan
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 5/30/2023
FF covers under #100 are grails, especially Kirby/Sinnott!
NEBUR ADLAN
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 8/13/2024
No fail with a F4 Kirby Sinnott cover ! Great cover and great inks !
Comics Superworld
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 8/25/2025
Loved this issue when I bought it new. . .
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