‘Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity’ Exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center

Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity is an exhibit of wonder: showing off both the artwork he’s known for (Marvel and DC Comics) as well as pieces he did commercially and personally.

Known for helping create many of the superheroes we all know and love, Kirby’s career spanned six decades and influenced much of what we still see in the comic industry. The Skirball Cultural Center is a Jewish educational institution dedicated to helping everyone participate in cultural experiences and honor Jewish heritage. As such, the exhibit also explores Kirby’s experiences as a first-generation Jewish American.

I’ll admit. I’m a very passive appreciator of art. I’m very much a ‘I like that’ as my deepest critique of most art. As I’ve gotten older, however, I have gotten better at understanding the techniques and themes behind much of what you see in museums. So, I went into the exhibit more for his connection to the comics world. I came out of it with an appreciation of his art style and filled with wonder at what he managed to do.

It starts off with a bang, showing the creation of Captain America and the reason behind it. I stood in dread as next to a hand-drawn page of one of the comics was a video showing a Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden in 1939. Kirby’s life and career, unfortunately, are incredibly relevant to today’s political landscape, and the Skirball does not shy away from showing that.

The pieces on display are both an example of art as well as history. Stains adorn some of the artwork, there are pencil sketches of the original Black Panther character design, and one of the items is his Friend of Fandom certificate from the very first San Diego Comic-Con. It’s not just showing his work: it also delves into how his work has influenced pop culture.

The exhibit also uses the various pieces to educate about Kirby’s life. How he fought in World War II, how he moved from New York to Los Angeles, how he moved from Marvel to DC, and how he was constantly trying to expand and reinvent his style. His use of collage especially is extraordinary, and there’s even a costume he designed for a college theatre production on view.

My favorite pieces (you can see all the photos I took on my Flickr) are from Devil Dinosaur #4, where his use of black and white space just drew my eye; one titled ‘Self-Portrait’, which is a take on the Norman Rockwell concept but with his superheroes; and a piece I didn’t take a photo of because the use of reflective material would’ve made a photo impossible.

There were also some fun personal pieces: a drawing he did of Paul and Linda McCartney in response to the Wings song “Magneto and Titanium Man” and a Hanukkah card with The Thing drawn on it, to name just two.

Kirby was very obviously a geek in the best way. The exhibit shows his love of science fiction and his sense of wonder at the universe. (One of the quotes adorning the exhibit walls: ‘I began to realize with each passing fact what a wonderful and awesome place the universe is, and that helped me in comics because I was looking for the awesome.’)

The exhibit really made me appreciate the art side of comics. While I wasn’t exactly ignoring it before, it really brought home the point of how vital the art is in these collaborations.

The exhibit is worth the trip to the Skirball if you’re a geek. While you’re there, definitely check out the other exhibits—especially their standard Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America.

Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity is on display until March 1, 2026, and more information can be found on the Skirball Cultural Center website.

Author: Angie Fiedler Sutton

Angie Fiedler Sutton is a writer, podcaster, and all-round fangirl geek. She has been published in Den of Geek, Stage Directions, LA Weekly, The Mary Sue, and others.

She also produces her own podcast, Contents May Vary, where she interviews geeky people about geeky things. You can see all her work (and social media channels) at angiefsutton.com.

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