Jack Kirby Petition Reaches 1,500 Signatures

Congratulations to everyone who has participated in this petition. I'm really quite happy with the response it has generated! 1,500 was the original goal of the petition --something attainable to demonstrate that there was wider support for the idea that comic book creators like Jack Kirby should be justly compensated for their creations by Disney and Marvel. And while there has been zero response from the corporation, the discussion of creator rights in the fan community and in the general media (Wall Street Journal, Slate, ESPN, AOL) since Steve Bissette first called for a boycott of Marvel last summer has been extremely gratifying. Here's hoping the petition will continue to play a role in that discussion and that people will continue to use it as a forum to stand and be counted. Jennifer Starkman from Canada was the 1500th person to sign the petition. Thanks to Jennifer and thanks the 1,499 other people who have so far taken the time to sign the petition, to comment and to share it. The petition will remain open...

Jack Kirby is one of the most important and influential artists in the history of U.S. comic books and popular culture. Along with writers Joe Simon, Stan Lee, and Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby created the characters and stories on which Marvel Comics has built a very successful business over the past 60 years. Kirby created or co-created Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, The X-Men, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, and many more. For his efforts, Kirby was paid a few dollars a page and never shared in the billions of dollars in profits his characters have made in various media, including print, film, and video games. We strongly urge Marvel Entertainment and its owner Disney to acknowledge Jack Kirby's authorship and primary role in the creation of these characters. As well, we urge Marvel to pay Kirby's family royalties or other just compensation for the use of these characters and stories. Until such a time as Marvel can make things right with Kirby's legacy and Kirby's family and heirs, we may refuse to purchase any Marvel product, including comic books, movies, toys, or games. We ask Marvel, Disney, and its shareholders to act ethically and morally in this situation, just as their characters would.