Russo, Lou :: L. Russo Comic Book artwork

Jack Kirby tribute, Black Panther, Wakanda, Frog, Klaw, Man-Ape, and more by Lou Russo

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Artwork Details

Title:	Jack Kirby tribute, Black Panther, Wakanda, Frog, Klaw, Man-Ape, and more by Lou Russo
Artist:	None Specified
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,359
Likes on CAF:	2 3
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	5/18/2021
Comic Art Archive:

Description

The King! Not Elvis Presley, the other King�Jack �The King� Kirby!! Considered the King for his longevity in comics, the volume of work he produced in the field, and his boundless imagination! Jack Kirby was born in 1917 and, except for his time as a reconnaissance scout during World War II, spent his entire life drawing and writing comics. He either created or co-created Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the Eternals, Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom, Galactus, Kamandi, Challengers of the Unknown, Demon, OMAC, Sandman II, the New Gods, the Forever People, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Darkseid, Devil Dinosaur, Machine Man, and more! He even drew Spider-Man�s first cover appearance for Amazing Fantasy #15. Working between Marvel, DC, and many other publishers over the years, his contributions to the field of comics are unparalleled and I won�t even attempt a biography of him in such a short space. I do, however, want to give my thoughts on his connection to this piece. Along with Stan Lee, Jack Kirby co-created the first superhero of color, the Black Panther in 1966. Marvel Comics would follow this with the first African-American superhero, the Falcon, in 1969 and Luke Cage, the first African-American superhero to have his own comic book in 1972. Black Panther's real name is T'Challa, and he is depicted as the king of Wakanda, a fictional African nation. My recollection of the character includes buying one of his books off a 7-11 rack (#13, Jan. 1979) and explaining to a grownup at a Comic Con that this Black Panther was not affiliated with the Black Panther Party (BPP) of the late 1960s. Upon reading this issue, I set out to find the earlier books. To my surprise, they were VERY different, but very enjoyable! When Jack Kirby returned to Marvel in the late 1970s, he wrote and drew the first 12 issues of Black Panther�s first starring solo series. I just missed seeing the King�s work by one month, since the storyline he started had to be completed by a different writer and artist in issue #13. What is so wonderful about the first 12 issues, is that they are pure Kirby. His art practically leaps from the page and every issue was action packed with strange villains and oddball supporting characters. He really made comics fun and exciting, especially for a kid at a 7-11, and modern comics just don�t have the same magic. To give you a taste of how wonderfully off-beat these stories were, issue #1, entitled �King Solomon's Frog!� involves the Black Panther helping treasure hunters track down a time-traveling frog statue that once belonged to King Solomon! What a wonderful imagination!! When Kirby passed in 1994 at age 76, it marked the end of an era for a lot of fans. So, those are just some of my thoughts on Jack Kirby and his work with the Black Panther. This piece references Black Panther #4 and #7 and includes many friends and foes from that first solo series (and others) as well as a time-traveling frog! Wakanda forever!

1. Klaw
2. Man-Ape
3. Erik Killmonger
4. Preyy
5. Windeagle
6. Venomm
7. Baron Macabre
8. Achebe and Daki
9. The Six Million Year Man/Hatch 22
10. Icon
11. Solomon Prey
12. Hellrazor
13. Malice
14. Lord Karnaj
15. Madam Slay
16. Kiber the Cruel
17. Salamander K'ruel
18. King Cadaver
19. Kraven, the Hunter
20. Mephisto
21. Mandrill
22. Stegron, the Dinosaur Man
23. Dr. Doom
24. Dragon Circle/Klu Klux Klan member
25. Soul Strangler
26. Abner Little
27. Princess Zanda
28. Alfred Queely
29. Ogar
30. Sacred Samurai
31. Count Zorba
32. Col. Pigman
33. Silas Mourner
34. Yeti
35. N�Gassi
36. General Jakarra (mutated)
37. Agents of Kiber (x3)
38. Barricade,
39. Captain Blaze,
40. Harrier,
41. Hungyr,
42. Voortrekker
43. White Avenger
44. King Solomon�s Frog

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About the Owner

	L. Russo
Joined:	November 2009
Last Login:	August 2025
Ebay Id:	lrusso3472
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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