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The media repeats Lee's claims http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/marvel-jack-kirby-and-the-plight-of-the-comic-book-artist/498299/ J David Spurlock 15 September 2016 I like this line: "Eventually, though, the sheer hurricane of bad publicity and pressure from the rest of the comics industry forced them to cave." — The Atlantic SEP 1, 2016 Patrick Ford: The article falls into the trap of defining Kirby as an artist. Claims Kirby collaborated with Lee, claims Lee gave Kirby plots, claims the Marvel Method came about because Lee was overworked, claims Lee told Kirby to have the FF fight god. Aaron Noble: Anyone know offhand the origin of the "fight God" story? Patrick Ford: Lee is the person who claims he told Kirby to have the FF fight god. Aaron Noble: That's my recollection too, but I wonder when he first made that claim & whether he stuck to it subsequently? Patrick Ford: I think it might go back to the Ted White interview. I'll check. Here's what Lee said in his 2010 deposition which is posted at the Justia along with a full record of other court documents. https://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-york/nysdce/1:2010cv00141/356975/ Patrick Ford: Here's the thing. All those things I listed which the article recites as fact are simply things Lee has said. And all of them are contradicted by Kirby. Aaron Noble: So in 2010, Stan had forgotten about the "FF fight God" soundbite -maybe it's from "Origins"? WRT the Silver Surfer question, Stan may not have been intentionally lying. He could have reasonably heard the question as "Who decided to have the Surfer star in his own book?" Aaron Noble: In fact, the 2010 version, typically, takes more credit than Stan had in the past, the name Galactus, his attributes, the plot. Utterly ridiculous! Patrick Ford: The 2010 depositions of Lee, Thomas and Romita are all ridiculous. What was "once a few words" has become "detailed outlines." Patrick Ford: Lee's claim that he was overworked is contradicted by Lee's writing credits during the '50s. Patrick Ford: He sure does not come across as overworked. It's been reported that he kept binoculars in his office so that he could pass the time looking at women walking past the office. JOHN ROMITA (ALTER-EGO #16): "He had binoculars by his window overlooking Madison Ave. , and if you came in to ask him a question he would say, 'I'm in love. There's a girl across the street. I'm in love.' " MARIE SEVERIN: "Even in the bullpen he had binoculars. " Aaron Noble: Just when you think you can't love the guy any more... Patrick Ford: If a person buys the explanation that the pre-hero monster stories were written full script by Larry Lieber (and until late 1961 none of the are signed by Lee) then Lee was writing very little from late 1958 until late 1961. A period of three years where Lee is signing only a tiny fraction of the number of stories he was signing in 1955 and 1956. Patrick Ford: Consider this again. From late 1958 until late 1961 (three years) Lee did not sign a single "monster" story. Not one by Kirby, not one by Ditko, not one period. Patrick Ford: Further prior to 1957 Timely/Marvel was publishing 60 or more titles month in and month out. In 1958 they were publishing eight titles a month. So how was Lee "too busy." And why are comic book historians so damn dumb? Patrick Ford: He was "too busy" using binoculars to ogle women passing on the street. Here's how Kirby reacted to that sort of behavior. JACK KATZ: "Jack represented a boss who was handling a very unusual art form. He was very much in command. The only one who could say stupid things to him was Mort Meskin. Mort had a window seat. He'd say, "Get up!, Get up!" and a girl would be walking around in a bathing suit. And Jack would say, "Would you sit the F**k down."This happened almost every day."

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