# Jack Kirby artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/jack-kirby/
Profile generated: 2026-05-18T20:40:33.087Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1917-08-28
- Death date: 1994-02-06
- Nationality: American
- Movements: Golden Age of Comic Books, Silver Age of Comic Books
- Common media: Comic book penciling, Ink drawings, Concept and character design

## About Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby, born Jacob Kurtzberg in New York City in 1917, was an American comic book artist whose creative output shaped the medium for over five decades. He entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s and, with writer-editor Joe Simon, co-created Captain America for Timely Comics in 1940. In the 1960s, Kirby's collaboration with Stan Lee at Marvel Comics produced many of the most recognizable characters in popular culture, including the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, the X-Men, and Thor. After returning to DC Comics in the 1970s, he conceived the ambitious Fourth World saga. Kirby is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and influential creators in comic book history. He died in 1994.

## Common works and media

Collectors and appraisers most frequently encounter Kirby's work as original pencil-and-ink comic book art pages, published comic books from the 1940s through the 1980s, concept drawings and character designs, and later lithographic or print editions based on his art. Common subjects include superhero characters, science fiction scenarios, mythological figures, and war stories. Works spanning his collaborations with Joe Simon, his Marvel Comics era, and his DC Comics Fourth World period are all represented in the secondary market.

## Market and appraisal context

Original Jack Kirby comic book art pages are among the most sought-after pieces in the collectibles market. Key valuation factors include the title and issue significance, whether the page features a first or iconic character appearance, condition, and documented provenance. Published comic books from the Golden and Silver Age featuring Kirby art also trade actively, with grading, rarity, and historical importance driving prices. Reproductions and lithographic editions are widely available and should be carefully distinguished from original artwork. Comparable auction records and specialist dealer data are essential for establishing fair market value.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine artist identity research from authority files, museum records, and published sources with auction records, auction-house context, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Jack Kirby, this page draws on Getty ULAN, VIAF, RKD, Wikidata, and published biographical sources to establish identity and creative context.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q311607
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kirby
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500022980
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/100267886/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n77020008
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/298130