F.M. :: KIRBY J.J.

The Thing by J.J. Kirby

Artist: J.J. Kirby (Penciller)

8 Comments - 359 Views - 7 Likes

Click Image to View Full Size

Previous Item:
Spawn Kills everyone cover by J.J. Kirby

Next Item:
Dr Destiny by J.J.Kirby

Artwork Details

Title:	The Thing by J.J. Kirby
Artist:	J.J. Kirby (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Illustration
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	359
Likes on CAF:	7 8
Comments:	8
Added to Site:	4/10/2022
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This is my 50th piece of art by J.J. Kirby, an artist whose work I immediately fell in love when he was working at Wildstorm and one of the true artists’ artist of the industry (ask his peers, I have, and the answer is always the same: incredible sense of design, use of colours, techniques, mediums, freshness…).

I won this one at auction where it was presented as an unpublished cover. Well, my intuition is that the auction house and/or the consignor simply wanted to pimp the sale up. Which simply didn’t work at all, luckily for me :) Only J.J. could shed some light on that but I don’t think it’s necessary to appreciate the art itself.

I find the idea behind this piece to be quite simple theoretically but oh so bold in execution.

The titled angle is fantastic, especially considering that the Thing written in his eye is not (so we can tell it’s not a simple reflection?), resulting in the words being instantly readable.

Then J.J. intelligently framed the words with the two circles of the iris and pupil to highlight them within the eye but also with the thick black line defining the whole eye. A simple but brilliant set of devices.

Also of note is that even with but one eye present, you can tell that ol’ Ben is pissed off. The somehow pinched lips revealing his teeth for one is so fun. You can clearly tell that clobbering time is a’comin’.

And lastly, no over rendition on Ben’s scaly skin like many artists would. Just a few seemingly spontaneous lines that possess the same weight. Economical and yet so effective in instantly recognizing the character, even without the words.

In the end, just a great drawing by a monster of an artist.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	F M Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	BELGIUM
On CAF:	F's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 4/10/2022

I've always been a fan of the extreme closeup shot, and this fits the bill very nicely! Congrats, fun piece!

Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 4/10/2022

GREAT piece, F M. I love the vantage point and extreme close up, and the pencil-thin lines (countered by the thick line around the eye) provides great visual texture _because of_ its uniform nature. Very cool to see the minute anatomical detail around The Thing's eye here; trying to decipher the logic behind it doesn't bear much fruit (but I wasn't expecting to all fo a sudden be shown "the answer" :) ), but, boy - it's really pretty to look at. Great add, F M! Congrats on 50 J.J. Kirby pieces - that's a fantastic milestone!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 4/11/2022

Awesome closeup and focus on the eye which is the one last body part Ben did not lose when he transformed into the Thing. So when that has an angry look, you know that he's angry to the core.

Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 4/11/2022

Spectacular idea for a piece featuring the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing!

J H
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 4/12/2022

This is the title credit I'd want to see for the Thing movie. Are you listening, Marvel? Give us a Thing movie, for Aunt Petunia's sake. This really is striking and cool. As you said, that angle makes it, and I really dig the impact from such a simplicity of line. Very clean ol score. Congrats!

Michael Reyes
Member Since 2014

1 - Posted on 4/13/2022

Quite original and brilliant at the same time.

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 4/15/2022

Yeah, love pieces like this. Such a strong graphic sense and the execution is even better. Even with the extreme close up you know it's the Thing right when you see it. Some clean line work for sure. Kind of thought Kalman Andrasofszky and Pasqual Ferry too when I saw it. Congrats!

Dave W
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 4/19/2022

Great piece, love the in your face layout! Congrats on piece #50 and onward to the next level!

All
	Jason Borelli 9/7/2025 2:11:00 AM
	R S 9/7/2025 1:59:00 AM
	Comics Gallery 9/7/2025 1:08:00 AM
	Tony Isaza 9/7/2025 12:42:00 AM
	Neil Hansen 9/7/2025 12:04:00 AM
View All


	Anthony Mauceli 9/6/2025 11:37:00 PM
	Alan E 9/6/2025 10:32:00 PM
	Jason Baccus 9/6/2025 10:23:00 PM
	kelly b 9/6/2025 10:23:00 PM
	Mike Sig Slayer 9/6/2025 9:57:00 PM