Machine Man

Machine Man originally appeared in the pages of 2001: A Space Odyssey #8 (July 1977), which was written and drawn by Jack Kirby, where he was called Mister Machine.[3] He went on to appear in his own self-titled series in 1978.

This title featured Machine Man entering the mainstream Marvel Universe. Jack Kirby wrote and drew the first nine issues, which dealt with the title character's status as a fugitive from the military after the death of his creator, and his first interactions with mankind. The book was canceled at the end of 1978 with X-51 finally standing up to the military. Machine Man appeared next in a three issue story arc within the pages of The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #235–237. The robot found himself battling the green giant within the suburban setting of his human friend, Dr. Peter Spaulding. By the end of the storyline, he incurred a complete system shutdown, leading to the events portrayed in his relaunched monthly series. The title was relaunched in issue #10 after a nine-month hiatus. Status quo in the book changed with Machine Man now living amongst humanity, and dealing with his own new-found emotions. Marv Wolfman came aboard as the new writer, partnered with artist Steve Ditko, which helped set a different tone from Kirby's previous stories. Issue #15 saw a new writer, Tom DeFalco, taking over the writing chores. The title lasted until issue #19, ending in Feb. 1980.

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Darkseid

Darkseid is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby to serve as the primary antagonist of his "Fourth World" metaseries, and was first seen briefly in a series of cameos that started in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 in December 1970 before being seen in a full story in the debut issue of Forever People in February 1971.

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Kamandi and Tuftan

DC Comics editor-in-chief Carmine Infantino had sought to acquire the rights to publish the comic based on the hit film Planet of the Apes. Having failed in the enterprise, he asked Jack Kirby to design a series of similar setting. Kirby had not seen the film but knew the plot broadly, and had also already created a similar story, The Last Enemy!, published in 1957 by Harvey Comics in Alarming Tales n. 1, even earlier than the original novel La Planète des singes by Pierre Boulle. He had also drawn an unused strip from 1956 called Kamandi of the Caves. Kirby brought all these elements together to create Kamandi.

 

11 Settembre

Uatu, often simply called the Watcher, is a comic book character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966, published by Marvel Comics. His first appearance occurs in The Fantastic Four (first series) n. 13. Uatu is a member of the Watchers, a highly advanced extraterrestrial humanoid species.

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X-Men

The Genesis of the X-Men according to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

In the annals of comics, few collaborations have proven as iconic and influential as that between Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Together, these two creative geniuses created one of the most beloved and popular superhero teams of all time: the X-Men.

The genesis of the X-Men was a fascinating process involving the ingenuity and brilliance of Lee and Kirby. Both contributed significantly to the creation of the mutant group, with Lee shaping the plot and characters, while Kirby shaped their incredible abilities and the world around them.

On several occasions, Stan Lee has shared his vision and enthusiasm for the genesis of the X-Men, both in interviews and in his writings. Below, we will report some of his most famous phrases that talk about the creative process and collaboration with Jack Kirby.

"With X-Men, we wanted to create a group of superheroes unlike any other. We wanted something fresh and innovative that spoke to young people."

With this phrase from Lee, we can understand the intent to create a group of characters that distanced themselves from the typical stereotypes of superheroes of the time. The desire to give voice to young people is a fundamental component of the genesis of the X-Men.

"Jack was instrumental in bringing the X-Men's powers and unique appearance to life. He created individuals with exceptional abilities, while simultaneously marginalizing them from society."

Kirby was the primary architect in developing the X-Men's extraordinary abilities. His illustrations gave an iconic aspect to the characters, conveying a sense of "superhuman" which is reflected in their social marginalization, a central theme of the series.

"The X-Men represent a powerful metaphor: the acceptance of differences and the fight for equality. They are the legacy of a world that often fears what is different."

Lee explains here that the X-Men are much more than just a group of superheroes. They are a powerful metaphor for social struggles and marginalization, representing a message of inclusion and equality.

"When Jack and I created the first X-Men, we knew we had created something special. We never imagined the incredible journey they would embark on and how beloved they would become by fans around the world."

With this phrase, Lee expresses the awareness of having created something unique and special with Jack Kirby. They probably couldn't have predicted the impact and enthusiasm that the X-Men would generate over the years, breaking through comic book barriers and adapting into multiple media.

The genesis of the X-Men, born from the minds of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, has proven to be much more than just a comic book creation. In addition to paying homage to the power of imagination and the ability to create entire worlds, it conveyed values of inclusion, acceptance of differences and the fight for equality.

The legacy of this legendary creative duo continues to be celebrated in the world of comics and beyond, as the X-Men remain an icon of hope and strength for many fans around the world.

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