The Simon and Kirby Studio
Pictures at an Exhibition #4
This is the fourth of five posts, utilizing photos I took at the Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity exhibition, which continues until March 1, 2026. The Skirball Cultural Center, where it’s held, encourages photography and social media posting, and this time I’m concentrating on the comics Kirby produced alongside Joe Simon.
Jack Kirby’s US Army Uniform
Jack Kirby reported for duty in the United States Army, on June 21, 1943, and underwent training at Camp Stewart in Georgia. He was subsequently deployed overseas, where he was assigned to Company F of the 11th Infantry. He landed on the beach at Normandy and fought on the front lines across France under the command of General George S. Patton.
Uniform Loan courtesy of Jeremy Kirby.
WARFRONT #34
Harvey Comics, 1958. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Jim Halperin.
Joe Simon and Jack Kirby are synonymous with comic books, and their partnership ushered in the Golden Age of comics in the 1940s. Together, they created iconic characters such as Captain America and Sandman, pioneered romance comics, and elevated the standards for genres like western, crime, and horror comics. Over the course of three decades, they authored and illustrated several hundred comic books.
WARFRONT #28
Harvey Comics, 1956. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
Advertisement for Boy Commandos Vol 1 #1
DC Comics, December 1942. Cover Art: Jack Kirby and Joe Simon.
An Editorial Cartoon conveying Jack Kirby’s concerns about the rise of fascism. Pen and Inks: Jack Kirby. Possibly unpublished, 1940.
Loan Courtesy of Tracy Kirby.
HEADLINE COMICS #25
Prize/Crestwood Comics, 1947. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
STRANGE WORLD OF YOUR DREAMS #4
Prize/Crestwood Comics, 1953. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
BOYS’ RANCH #6 PIN-UP
Harvey Comics, 1951. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
BOYS’ RANCH #2, P. 1
Harvey Comics, 1950. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
POLICE TRAP #2, P. 11
Mainline, 1954. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
TRUE BRIDE-TO-BE ROMANCES #19
Harvey Comics, 1956. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
YOUNG BRIDES #27
Harvey Comics, 1956. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
BLACK CAT MYSTIC #58, P. 1
Harvey Comics, 1956. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
BLACK MAGIC #3, P. 1
Prize/Crestwood Comics, 1951. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Harry Mendryk.
ADVENTURE COMICS #73
DC Comics, 1942. Pencils and Inks: Simon and Kirby Studio.
Loan Courtesy of Jim Halperin.
Original pre-World War II Kirby pages are incredibly rare. This depiction of the superhero Manhunter is among the earliest covers Simon and Kirby created for DC Comics.
Here are the three previous posts from this amazing exhibition.
Once again, thanks for sharing Steve 👍 Interesting stuff!!
Does look like it was a great exhibition - love Kirby’s non superhero/fourth world work, particularly Days of the Mob.