Kirby's Women

For those of you who miss my "Your Monday Panel" columns, here's a special treat: I have relapsed into single-panel analysis, with no less an artist than Jack Kirby as the subject. The article in question, a long look at the panel above, can be found over at HiLobrow, as the latest installment of their downright formidable "Kirb Your Enthusiasm" series -- which has also hosted luminaries like Gary Panter, Dean Haspiel, and Ann Nocenti. Rarefied company, folks. That means Panter and I are basically best friends now. Anyway, the piece unpacks the problem of "Kirby women" and the King's difficulty drawing pretty girls, which has traditionally been one of the bigger knocks against him. It also goes into what Kirby does so well -- majesty, power, the alien -- and why the best comics artist tend to be bold, unrestrained stylists. It's good, I promise. So go read it.