The display features original comic illustrations, fine art, and commercial works, many shown publicly for the first time
A new exhibition showcasing the six-decade career of comic book legend Jack Kirby (1917–1994) opened this week at the Skirball Cultural Center. Titled “Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity,” the display features original comic illustrations, fine art, and commercial works, many shown publicly for the first time.
The exhibit, which runs through August 2025, traces Kirby’s life as a first-generation Jewish American from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a World War II veteran, and a key figure in shaping modern comics. It highlights his creation of iconic characters like Captain America, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, and The X-Men, and explores his influence on diversity and popular culture.
Admission is $18 for general visitors, $13 for seniors, full-time students with ID, and children aged 2–17, with free entry for members, children under 2, and all visitors on Thursdays. A separate timed-entry ticket for Noah’s Ark, which includes general admission, is also available. The Skirball offers free parking and hosts a comic character creation workshop Thursdays from July 3 to August 14, from noon to 4 p.m., included with general admission.
Docent-led tours are scheduled Tuesday through Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday at noon and 2 p.m., though they may be canceled. The exhibition was co-curated by independent curators Patrick A. Reed and Professor Ben Saunders, with Michele Urton, the museum’s deputy director, as the organizing curator.
