About

Widely recognized as the most prolific and arguably most important creator in the history of the comic book medium, Jack Kirby (1917–1994) is also one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. As the co-creator of the Marvel Universe and its pantheon of superheroes, as well as a pop art pioneer, among other landmark accomplishments, Jack Kirby is an unsung founding father of modern popular culture.

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But before he was known as the “King of Comics,” he was Jacob Kurtzberg, born to poor Jewish immigrants on New York’s Lower East Side. Growing up during the Great Depression, his mother’s Yiddish folktales, scrapes as a youth gang member, work as a newsboy, and other childhood experiences informed his characters and stories, now known around the world and the basis of a multibillion-dollar industry. The Jack Kirby Way: How a boy from the Lower East Side became the King of Comics is the first exhibit to explore these early influences and how they shaped his work.

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The all-ages exhibit includes over 70 items of original art and rare comics, in addition to other artifacts, taking visitors on a colorful and illuminating journey through New York history, Jewish history, and comic book history—bringing together comic fans, history buffs, and anyone interested in a classic American story about a dreamer who changed the world with a pencil and unbridled imagination.