Kirby-inspired Rocket in Space
I've always been fascinated and inspired by comic book art. I love so many of the different styles and have always been impressed at how expressive it can be. I like both old and new styles. My favorite art styles are those that were popularized in the 1960s and 1970s both in romance and superhero comics. There was a fair overlap in artists between the two genres, but the styles they used for each are different. Some of my favorite comic artists include (in no particular order).
- Vince Coletta
- Frank Frazetta
- Alex Toth
- Jay Scott Pike
- Steve Ditko
- John Romita Sr
- Jack Kirby
Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby had the biggest impact on me.
This piece was largely inspired by Kirby's work. He was well known for a lot of things, but some of my favorites have always been his scenes depicting space and other dimensions. Some of my favorite panels are from "The Might Thor," "The Fantastic Four" (silver surfer and galactus story lines in particular), and "Doctor Strange."
If you want to know more, check out kirbymuseum.org/ and his page on Lambiek, the comiclopedia.
One of the techniques he's most famous for is the "Kirby krackle." The krackle is composed of clusters of black circles or round dots that represent energy — usually from a cosmic source. This article by Harry Mendryk does a great job of explaining it and documenting its evolution over time.
I've tried implementing my own take on the krackle in various pieces I've created. The one featured here is my most recent though the krackle isn't the main focus. With this illustration, I wanted to draw attention to the rocket and to try out some different techniques of adding in shading and detail.
Below is an older Kirby-inspired piece I made. The krackle is a little more dynamic in this one.
I could go on all day discussing comic art so I'll stop myself now before I get out of hand. If you're a fan too and want to talk about it, feel free to reach out!