Yet another great document that has been brought back into the light via the the Marvel vs Jack Kirby's estate court case is an art return form and inventory. Now we can finally see just what art was returned to Jack Kirby after he signed his amended art return form in early August, 1987 and compare it against the inventory list that had been published in The Comic Journal in Fenruary 1986. That inventory was done by Marvel staff member Irene Vartanoff and was current up to February 1980 and the inventory counted 3973 individual pages of Kirby art, however Kirby received 2058 pages in 1987. After that Vartanoff was relieved of her duties and art had started to be returned, for example, Joe Sinnott was handed the art to Fantastic Four #91 in its entirety. Kirby was handed nothing. Some of the missing art can be put down to the standard 1/3 cut of original art to the inker, but the fact remains that it is now clear that Kirby did not see the bulk of his Fantastic Four art, including anything from the Galactus Trilogy, along with the first two issues. He also didn’t receive any artwork from his X-Men run, other than the cover art to issue #31. The original art to issue #1 surfaced not that long ago and sold for many thousands of dollars. Same with early issues of The Hulk, the Avengers and many more Kirby jobs done, including key issues such as the first appearance of Thor.
Have a look at this list, and you tell me, outside of the 1/3 share to Kirby’s inkers, are people comfortable owning art that was clearly stolen, as it wasn’t returned to Jack Kirby back in the day…
| BOOK | ISSUE | TOTAL VARTANOFF KIRBY PAGES (approx) | MARVEL 1985 PAGES | DISCREPANCY |
| AMAZING ADVENTURES Vol I | 1 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| AMAZING ADVENTURES Vol I | 5 | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| AMAZING ADVENTURES Vol I | 6 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| AMAZING ADVENTURES Vol II | 1 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| AMAZING ADVENTURES Vol II | 3 | 10 | 9 | 1 |
| AMAZING ADVENTURES Vol II | 4 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| ASTONISHING TALES | 1 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| ASTONISHING TALES | 2 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| AVENGERS | 1 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| AVENGERS | 2 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| AVENGERS | 3 | 25 | 13 | 12 |
| AMAZING SPIDER-MAN | 8 | 6 | 6 | |
| AVENGERS | 5 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| AVENGERS | 6 | 23 | 13 | 10 |
| AVENGERS | 7 | 22 | 9 | 13 |
| AVENGERS | 8 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| AVENGERS | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| AVENGERS | 16 | 20 | 11 | 9 |
| CAPTAIN AMERICA | 102 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| CAPTAIN AMERICA | 104 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| CAPTAIN AMERICA | 105 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| CAPTAIN AMERICA | 108 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| CAPTAIN AMERICA | 109 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| CHAMBER OF DARKNESS | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| CHAMBER OF DARKNESS | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| CRAZY | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 3 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 5 | 23 | 20 | 3 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 7 | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 8 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 9 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 10 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 11 | 22 | 15 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 12 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 13 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 14 | 22 | 15 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 15 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 16 | 22 | 15 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 17 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 18 | 17 | 17 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 20 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 21 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 23 | 22 | 22 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 24 | 23 | 23 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 25 | 21 | 21 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 26 | 21 | 21 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 27 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 29 | 22 | 22 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 30 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 32 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 33 | 20 | 20 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 34 | 20 | 20 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 36 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 38 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 39 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 41 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 49 | 20 | 20 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 50 | 20 | 20 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 51 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 63 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 64 | 20 | 20 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 65 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 66 | 16 | 16 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 68 | 18 | 18 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 71 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 77 | 3 | 3 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 89 | 3 | 3 | |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 90 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 92 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 93 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 94 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 95 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 96 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 97 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 98 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 99 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 100 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 101 | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 102 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR | 108 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL | 1 | 16 | 14 | 2 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL | 2 | 48 | 35 | 13 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL | 3 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL | 4 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 63 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 64 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 66 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 67 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 70 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 71 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 73 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| GUNSMOKE WESTERN | 77 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| HULK | 3 | 24 | 24 | |
| HULK | 4 | 19 | 19 | |
| HULK | 5 | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 52 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 55 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 58 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 59 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 60 | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 61 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 63 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 66 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 67 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 71 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 72 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 73 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 74 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 75 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 76 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 78 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 80 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 81 | 13 | 13 | |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 82 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 85 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 86 | 13 | 13 | |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 87 | 10 | 10 | |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 89 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 93 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 97 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 98 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 99 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 100 | 5 | 5 | |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 101 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 102 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 103 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 104 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 105 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 106 | 23 | 21 | 2 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 109 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 110 | 22 | 11 | 11 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 111 | 21 | 12 | 9 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 113 | 21 | 19 | 2 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 114 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 115 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 116 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 117 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 118 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 119 | 21 | 21 | |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 120 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 121 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY | 122 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| THOR | 126 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| THOR | 127 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| THOR | 128 | 21 | 21 | |
| THOR | 129 | 21 | 21 | |
| THOR | 131 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| THOR | 132 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| THOR | 137 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| THOR | 169 | 17 | 17 | |
| THOR | 140 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| THOR | 141 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| THOR | 142 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| THOR | 143 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| THOR | 144 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| THOR | 146 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| THOR | 147 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| THOR | 148 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| THOR | 149 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| THOR | 150 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| THOR | 152 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| THOR | 153 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| THOR | 158 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| THOR | 160 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| THOR | 161 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| THOR | 172 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| THOR | 173 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| THOR | 174 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| THOR | 175 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| THOR | 176 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| THOR | 179 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| KID COLT | 93 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| KID COLT | 95 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| KID COLT | 119 | 23 | 3 | 20 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 18 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 20 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 21 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 22 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 25 | 18 | 18 | |
| RAWHIDE KID | 26 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 27 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 28 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 30 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 31 | 18 | 13 | 5 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 32 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 34 | 18 | 2 | 16 |
| RAWHIDE KID | 43 | 18 | 4 | 14 |
| SGT FURY | 1 | 21 | 21 | |
| SGT FURY | 2 | 22 | 10 | 12 |
| SGT FURY | 3 | 22 | 15 | 7 |
| SGT FURY | 13 | 23 | 10 | 13 |
| STRANGE TALES | 72 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| STRANGE TALES | 75 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| STRANGE TALES | 76 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| STRANGE TALES | 77 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| STRANGE TALES | 83 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 84 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 85 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 89 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 90 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| STRANGE TALES | 91 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| STRANGE TALES | 92 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 93 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 94 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 95 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 96 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 98 | 7 | 8 | -1 |
| STRANGE TALES | 99 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 100 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| STRANGE TALES | 101 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 102 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 103 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 105 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 108 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| STRANGE TALES | 135 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| STRANGE TALES | 142 | 12 | 1 | 11 |
| STRANGE TALES | 143 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| STRANGE TALES ANNUAL | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 72 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 78 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 79 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 80 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 81 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 82 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 83 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 84 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 85 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| TALES OF SUSPENSE | 86 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| TALES TO ASTONISH | 14 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| TALES TO ASTONISH | 83 | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| TWO GUN KID | 55 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| TWO GUN KID | 58 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| TWO GUN KID | 59 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| TWO GUN KID | 60 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| TWO GUN KID | 61 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| TWO GUN KID | 62 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| X-MEN | 1 | 23 | 23 | |
| X-MEN | 2 | 22 | 22 | |
| X-MEN | 3 | 24 | 24 | |
| X-MEN | 4 | 22 | 22 | |
| X-MEN | 5 | 24 | 24 | |
| X-MEN | 6 | 22 | 22 | |
| X-MEN | 7 | 22 | 22 | |
| X-MEN | 8 | 20 | 20 | |
| X-MEN | 9 | 20 | 20 | |
| X-MEN | 10 | 20 | 20 | |
| X-MEN | 11 | 20 | 20 | |
| X-MEN | 12 | 19 | 19 | |
| X-MEN | 13 | 20 | 20 | |
| X-MEN | 16 | 20 | 20 |
3 comments:
Its great that you have compiled this list, but it would be better still if you could include all the issues that Kirby was not supplied at all, so that we have a more accurate listing of what exactly did not make its way back to Kirby
It's all there, by proxy. Basically if it's not listed in the MARVEL 1985 PAGES column then Kirby didn't get any art from it. That includes FF #1, all of his X-Men work and many, many more pages. As you can see, Kirby didn't a lot of his FF art back - entire issues and runs went missing, and key issues at that, such as the Galactus trilogy.
Since the question of who legally owned Jack's art prior to 1987 is clear, it's really a misnomer to say it was being stolen from Jack himself. This was property of the Marvel company until they chose to release it. I agree that Kirby was badly mistreated as creative talents often were in those days, but don't fall into that familiar trap of applying present-day sentimentality to past events.
Post a Comment