Although I find it a bit odd to wish a happy birthday to someone who is no longer among the living, we’d be remiss to not make mention of today marking what would have been comic book legend Jack “King” Kirby on what would have been his 95th birthday. Sorry to say Kirby’s work may not have been appreciated as much as it deserved while he was alive – especially monetarily – but even those who don’t read comics should take a moment today to give thanks for the man’s amazing work which not only made an undeniable mark on the industry but also laid the foundation for the very films that thrill moviegoers today!
Also in honor of Jack Kirby folks should head over to the Hero Initiative website as the organization looks to provide for comic creators in need. They even ran a Wake Up and Draw campaign today in honor of The King! Hero recruited 100 artists to get up on this morning to simply “Wake Up and Draw.” This new event is a way for artists to limber up, get the creative juices flowing, and celebrate the day by drawing and sending a “birthday card to Jack.” All 100 drawings will be featured in a special gallery at ComicArtFans.com, and fans can follow the action through the day on Twitter searching hashtag: #WakeUpAndDraw. All drawings will be auctioned to benefit Hero Initiative at a later date!
Jillian Kirby, Jack’s granddaughter, has spearheaded the “Kirby4Heroes” campaign. Jillian has recruited a number of comic stores to donate a percentage of their sales today to Hero and encourage their customers to make donations as well. Fans can donate via the PayPal link at Hero Initiative and type in “Kirby4Heroes” in the special instructions box.
