Best of 2021 :: Published/Unpublished Comic Book Covers

Jack Kirby Black Magic 1 Unpublished Cover

Owner: Mark Howland
Artist: Jack Kirby (Penciller)

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Additional Images:

Close-Up

Black Magic Alternate Cover 2

Black Magic Alternate Cover 3

Back of Board 1

Back of Board 2

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Artwork Details

Title:	Jack Kirby Black Magic 1 Unpublished Cover
Artist:	Jack Kirby (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Cover
Views:	1,104
Likes on CAF:	12 13
Favorited on CAF:	1
Added to Site:	9/15/2021

Description

When I first saw this cover, I was struck by Kirby�s ability to render and capture - yet again - a climactic moment. Additionally, I enjoyed seeing all the production information noted on, and adhered to, the board.

Ultimately, I wonder why this image failed to satisfy Kirby. The 1950 published cover to Prize Comics Black Magic 1 utilizes an image from another story in the issue. And when DC Comics reprinted the series in 1974, they used a different Kirby cover image for this story, one which I don�t think is as effective.

What do I know, but it seems to me that Kirby had an effective alignment for drama here, the pivotal female figure being front and center and flanked by the two male figures. Kirby liked that arrangement of characters enough to repeat it for the covers of DC�s reprints of Black Magic 12 and 16 in the 1970s.

If you know anything about this cover, please invite me to join the club. In the meantime, thanks to Bechara of Nostalgic Investments!

Update: Thanks to Harry Mendryk for supplying cover images for the two additional, rejected covers to Black Magic 1 by Kirby. Also, on the back of my unpublished BM cover are two notations (see additional images below): "Mr. Meese" and, in Arabic, "parrot series." If you have any information, please share.

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About the Owner

	Mark Howland Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	December 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	howmark
Website:	http://www.comicartfans.com
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Mark's Classifieds Mark's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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