Jacob Kurtzberg (also known as Jack Kirby) was a legendary comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium. He is the mutual idol of TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.
Biography[]
Kirby's rendition of Michelangelo.
Born on August 28, 1917, Kirby is best known for his work on the art of the early Fantastic Four comic books from Marvel Comics. Soon after, he began work on several other comic lines from Marvel, such as The Avengers, the X-Men, Hulk, Fantastic Four, and many, many others.
Unfortunately, he became dissatisfied with working with Marvel, and joined Marvel's main rival: DC Comics. There, he could be more creative with his art, and create some stories of his own. He mixed previously created lines, such as Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, New Gods, Mister Miracle, Omac and The Forever People. He soon returned to Marvel, though was treated improperly and was not given his full pay, among other employment benefits. He left Marvel and began working with animation. He was a production designer for Thundarr the Barbarian that would later be parodied as Crognard the Barbarian.
He died February 6, 1994.
Tributes in TMNT Media[]
Mirage comics[]
Kirby appears in Donatello #1. He is first seen in his office space drawing a fly creature with his pencil as Donatello peaks through the door. The fly creature Kirby just drew startles Donatello which in turn startles Kirby. Kirby is surprised since he didn't remember drawing him and comes to the conclusion that he must be real. He assumes Donatello has come for the crystal and defends that he was only borrowing it for a while. Donatello assures Kirby that he is a friend and questions him about how he made those drawings come to life. Kirby tells him that it was the crystal on his pencil that supplies the "magic". He explains that he had found the crystal by accident a few months ago and discovered what it could do. He then shows Donatello a doorway he had drawn that didn't go away, unlike the rest of his drawings. Donatello steps through the doorway, and tells Kirby that he must see what's on the other side.
Grabbing his sketch book, Kirby jumps through the doorway and is caught by Don. They then spot a strange looking creature with horns which Kirby recognizes as something he has drawn. They both witness more of the strange creatures attacking the human types. Noticing the struggle against the amount of creatures, Kirby helps Don out by drawing him, what he calls, a "Gravitic Equalizer" that cancels out the gravity equation. He then draws Don a "Mobile Creep Trapper" that responds to brainwaves. He notices that the Trapper has filled up quickly, Kirby tries to think of another way to stop them. Realizing that the creatures are all in his sketchbook, he quickly draws all of the creatures bound with metal cuffs making it so they cannot move or fight.
The human fighters thank Kirby, calling him a "mighty sorcerer". Donatello tells him that they should probably go home, although Kirby shows interest in staying around in this world and exploring. But then both of them notice that the doorway from whence they came is shrinking. Kirby tells Don to go through first and helps push him through. Realizing that he won't be able to make it through, Kirby sends a note through the doorway instead; Don--"Life at best is bitter sweet" Take care of yourself! -Kirby
2003 TV series[]
In this world, Kirby found an odd-looking gem in a coal pile and attached it to his pencil. After doing this, everything he drew came to life temporarily, except a portal-like device. When Donatello found Kirby when helping his brother Raphael turn the water temperature hotter, they went through the portal, and found that everything he had drawn since putting the crystal on the pencil had become a world. The villains he had drawn were overrunning a city, and Donatello and Kirby managed to defeat all the villains. There was only enough time for one of them to get back through the portal, and Jack forced Donatello back through the portal. Jack had enough time to send a note to Donatello through the portal, however. He appears in the episode "The King", and refers to himself only as "Kirby".
2012 TV series[]
In the Nickelodeon series, Jack Kurtzman has the same thick eyebrows Jack Kirby had, his grey hair on the sides, and face are also similar to Kirby's. The name Kurtzman is also a reference to Kurtzberg, Kirby's real last name.
Separately, April O'Neil's father is named Kirby.