What's amazing is to look at the cover and all of those fantastic characters that appealed to so many kids primed for the kinds of superhero comic books that only Jack Kirby could create, write, and illustrate.
Of the crowd of characters on that cover Jack Kirby created all but four. The few there who were created by other writers or artists were:
Kid Colt Outlaw, created by Pete Tumlinson and Jack Keller.
Sub-Mariner, created by Bill Everett.
Spider-Man, created by Steve Ditko.
The Human Torch, created by Carl Burgos.
Daredevil is featured, but as he was based on character sketches by Jack Kirby (and name stolen from the Lev Gleason character created by Jack Binder, one of the amazing Binder brothers). So it could be said that the Marvel Comics character Daredevil was co-created by Jack Binder, Jack Kirby, and Bill Everett.
This particular issue was a promotions bonanza for Marvel Comics. First of all, it featured the wedding of two of the members of the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Susan Storm (the Invisible Girl). Using the wedding, Kirby was able to concoct a story wherein almost every major comic book superhero and supervillain managed to make at least a one-panel appearance. It was a brilliant marketing tactic and amazed many a comic fan (including me). I'm sure a lot of kids who weren't buying some of the titles featuring some of the other heroes were spurred to start picking up those other books.
It remains one of the single favorite of the comic books of my childhood. Pure Kirby, all Kirby, nothing but Kirby.
 |
| My copy of FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #3. |
