The Four Color Media Monitor

Entertainment Weekly reports that, if there's anybody who's got an axe to grind with the new Stan Lee documentary broadcast on Disney Plus, it's the son of Jack Kirby himself:

Jack Kirby's son released a blistering statement about the newest Disney+ documentary about the life and legacy of Marvel legend Stan Lee.

In the memo shared by his daughter Jillian on social media, Neal Kirby challenges the notion that Lee "had a hand in creating every Marvel character," arguing that his father, the late Jack Kirby, the co-creator of many Marvel hits including Fantastic Four, Hulk, and Thor, and Lee's frequent collaborator, has for too long been overshadowed by Lee.

"It's not any big secret that there has always been controversy over the parts that were played in the creation and success of Marvel's characters," Kirby began, acknowledging that he understands that the documentary is about, well, Lee. "Stan Lee had the fortunate circumstance to have access to the corporate megaphone and media, and he used these to create his own mythos as to the creation of the Marvel character pantheon. He made himself the voice of Marvel."

"It should also be noted and is generally accepted that Stan Lee had a limited knowledge of history, mythology, or science," Kirby wrote. "On the other hand, my father's knowledge of these subjects, to which I and many others can personally attest, was extensive. Einstein summed it up better: 'More the knowledge, lesser the ego. Lesser the knowledge, more the ego.'"

While Lee obviously wasn't a saint, I get this feeling Kirby junior is building off of the grudge his dad had against Lee decades before, due to how he didn't succeed in reacquiring all the art drafts he penciled, and Lee apparently didn't avail on his part. It's unfortunate, of course, but that doesn't mean Kirby junior should continue what his dad started, which was divisive. It's also worth recalling Kirby junior's a big leftist himself, one more reason this should all be taken with a grain of salt. Besides, it's worth noting that Lee lived early 20th century history like WW2 himself, along with the Cold War era, so to say he had limited knowledge of these topics sounds rather like somebody who's vindictive over past disputes that should be put to rest.

That said, it's unsurprising if Disney would marginalize Kirby senior, and if they had any influence watering the discussions down to Lee in the documentary's master footage, yes, that's disappointing, but hardly shocking that a company going down the drain for the sake of wokeness would stoop to such contempt for Kirby. What next, will it turn out they marginalized John Buscema and Gene Colan, 2 more significant artists from back in the day? I thought it was bad the director would interview Brad Meltzer, but this is also decidedly appalling, and if it's broadcast on Disney channels, then based on where they're now going, that's why it's better not to subscribe or tune in.

Labels: good artists, good writers, history, marvel comics, msm propaganda, science