Jack Kirby’s best comics, in complete chronological reading order.
The Comic Books of Jack Kirby
Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America, Vol. 1
You know that iconic image of Captain America punching Adolf Hitler published during World War II? One of King Kirby’s earliest co-creations alongside Joe Simon. Simon and Kirby produced the first 10 issues of Captain America comics.
Worth noting that the print editions of many of these Masterworks titles are absurdly overpriced, but the digital Kindle or Comixology versions are extremely affordable, and nearly all of Kirby’s Marvel work is available on Marvel Unlimited.
The Boy Commandos by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Vol. 1
The Boy Commandos by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Vol. 2
The Newsboy Legion Vol. 1 Featuring Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
After World War II
The Simon and Kirby Library: Horror
The Simon and Kirby Library: Crime
The Simon and Kirby Library: Science Fiction
The Simon and Kirby Superheroes
Young Romance: The Best of Simon & Kirby’s Romance Comics
The entire time period of comics following World War II is frequently overlooked, but Simon and Kirby continued producing some fascinating work expanding the medium of comics, despite the anti-comics scare of Frederick Wertham and the 1950’s. Titan Comics has expertly collected a wide variety of these issues as referenced above.
The Return of Jack Kirby’s Superheroes
The Jack Kirby Omnibus Vol. 1: Starring Green Arrow
This is probably the Jack Kirby credit that astounded me the most, simply because I had no idea that in 1957 Kirby wrote, drew, and inked 11 6 page Green Arrow stories in the pages of Adventure Comics and World’s Finest Comics. Kirby’s first stay at DC wouldn’t last long before his move to Marvel, though.
Jack Kirby’s Silver Age Marvel Comics
From Fantastic Four #1 in 1962 on through 1970, Jack Kirby co-created an almost impossible number of Marvel superheroes, drawing an even more astounding number of issues every month. I’ve linked above to the Marvel Comics 1960’s retrospective, but if you’re short on time, my favorite Kirby comics during this time are quite easily the Fantastic Four and Thor (within the pages of Journey Into Mystery!).
Jack Kirby’s DC Fourth World Reading Order
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 1
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #134
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #135
The Forever People #1
The New Gods #1
Mister Miracle #1
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #136
The Forever People #2
The New Gods #2
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #137
Mister Miracle #2
The Forever People #3
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #138
The New Gods #3
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #139
Mister Miracle #3
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 2
The Forever People #4
The New Gods #4
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #141
Mister Miracle #4
The Forever People #5
The New Gods #5
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #142
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #143
Mister Miracle #5
The Forever People #6
The New Gods #6
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #144
Mister Miracle #6
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #145
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 3
The Forever People #7
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #146
The New Gods #7
Mister Miracle #7
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #147
The Forever People #8
The New Gods #8
Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #148
Mister Miracle #8
The Forever People #9
The New Gods #9
Mister Miracle #9
The Forever People #10
The New Gods #10
Mister Miracle #10
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 4
Forever People #11
New Gods #11
Mister Miracle #11 to #18
Hunger Dogs Graphic Novel
As if defining the Silver Age of Comics and inventing the Marvel Universe wasn’t enough, King Kirby turned around and in his very next job with DC Comics created a little villain called flippin’ Darkseid, as well as the entire New Gods fourth world mythos. Absolutely unreal imagination.
Jack Kirby’s DC Comics (1970 to 1975)
In addition to the fourth world mythology, King Kirby also added the below to the DC canon:
Collects the original 16 issue run of Etrigan the Demon.
Jack Kirby’s O.M.A.C.: One Man Army Corps
Collects the original 8 issues of O.M.A.C.
Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby – Volume 1
Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby – Volume 2
Collects Kirby’s work on Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 to #150.
Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth Omnibus Vol. 1
Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects 40 issues of Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth.
Issues #151 to #162 of Our Fighting Forces.
Return of the King – Back to Marvel (1976 to 1979)
Devil Dinosaur by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection
Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 1
Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 2
Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 3
Black Panther by Jack Kirby Vol. 1
Machine Man by Kirby & Ditko: The Complete Collection
All of the above is also available much more affordably on Marvel Unlimited, with the current exception of Machine Man.
Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers
Not collected, but one of Kirby’s final works which spanned six issues. Long live the King.
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