When it comes to the most influential comic creators who have had the greatest impact, Jack Kirby is among those at the top of the list. A creative dynamo given human form, for many Kirby defined with his work the very idea of what comic books should be. His impact on comics and pop culture are being explored through a new exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity follows his entire six decade career with original comic art, fine art, and commercial art – some of which is being displayed for the first time. The exhibit delves into his life as a first generation Jewish American, his time as a soldier during World War II, his career as a commercial artist, and the ways he mentored other comic creators.

“In his art and stories, the obvious brash doses of daring design and explosive action were infused with something more unexpected in the eras in which he worked: an equally bold excitement for the cerebral, philosophical and spiritual,” we wrote in his Overstreet Hall of Fame entry. “Whether working with partners such as Joe Simon (with whom he co-created Captain America, the Fighting American, Boys Ranch, and many would say the romance comics genre) and Stan Lee (co-creating the Fantastic Four, Thor, and the Silver Surfer, among others), or on his own (DC’s “Fourth World” titles such The New Gods, Mister Miracle, The Forever People, or his creator-owned Captain Victory and Silver Star), Kirby worked as much in metaphor as he did in pencil.”

The exhibit is open now and runs through March 1, 2026. General admission is $18, members get in for free, and seniors, students, and children 2-17 are $13.

The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA.