Source: wikipedia.com

6. Kirby: King of Comics

Jack Kirby is arguably the most important and influential single person in the history of comic books.

The way comics look, feel, and read today is hallmarked handily with Kirby. The title of this book is not hyperbole, Jack Kirby is the King of Comics. If anything, that’s underselling it.

Kirby: King of Comics is half biography and half art book. It’s giant. And beautiful. This thing makes me drool. If you don’t personally get why Kirby is revered, take a look at some of these pages. There’s a Darkseid sketch in there that’s one of the greatest things I’ve maybe ever seen. The book was written by Mark Evanier, one of – if not the – greatest comic book historians of all time and it feels like it.

I’ve always struggled to appreciate Kirby personally. And then I read this book. I struggle no longer. This thing is important and necessary, and it’s the best account of Kirby as a man and an icon I’ve ever read.