Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 3, 2016 | 2 comments

To letter or not to letter.

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IDW’s Jack Kirby: Pencils and Inks — Artisan Edition, a 160-page hardcover devoted to before-and-after work by the King and his inker, Mike Royer, is due out 12/7.

For 13 days, we’re serializing the book with examples of covers, splashes and other pages from DC’s The Demon #1, Kamandi #1 and OMAC #1.

For the full INDEX of stories, updated daily, click here.

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Page 5 is especially compelling not just because of the distinctions between the pencils and inks but how it looks with and without the lettering. That bottom panel is particularly striking without the lettering, and I’d argue that the sound effect draws away from the power of the original image.

Kirby’s pencils are first. Royer’s inks are second. I’ve stacked them so that you can see them in much bigger size than if I placed them horizontally:

NEXT: Kamandi’s back — and he’s being attacked by a KILLER WHALE! Click here.

For the full INDEX of stories, updated daily, click here.

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Jack Kirby: Pencils and Inks — Artisan Edition, an IDW/DC/Jack Kirby Museum publication, is due out 12/7, with a $49.99 list price.