- "There's a place for everybody in this world. . . . If you're a creative and you think you don't fit, you do fit. You just have to get in where you fit in; find your place. Everybody has a voice and they're valid. . . . Get in where you fit in and find your audience, because they're waiting on you."
- ―J.J. Kirby on working in the comics industry
J.J. Kirby, also known as Juvaun Kirby (born in 1974 in Dayton, Ohio, United States), is an American comic book illustrator and penciller. For the Star Wars franchise, Kirby was one of the pencillers who worked on the second issue of the Dark Horse Comics miniseries Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi. Additionally, Kirby illustrated two variant covers for Marvel Comics's annual Pride Month lineup of Star Wars covers.
Biography[]
J.J. Kirby was born in 1974[1] in Dayton, Ohio, United States[2]. In 1995,[1] Kirby began working as a comic book illustrator[1] and penciller professionally.[4] Fellow Star Wars comic illustrators Arthur Adams[6] and Alan Davis[7] were early artistic influences on Kirby.[8] Kirby served as one of several pencillers for the second issue of the Dark Horse Comics miniseries Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi. The issue was published on January 28, 2004.[4]
Kirby's 2022 Pride Month variant cover featuring Larma D'Acy and Wrobie Tyce
In 2021, Kirby illustrated a comic cover for the thirteenth issue of the 2020 Marvel Comics series Star Wars: Darth Vader as part of the publisher's Pride Month lineup of Star Wars variant covers.[3] Kirby's official Pride Month variant cover was announced on March 18, 2021 in an article on StarWars.com.[9] On May 7 of the same year, StarWars.com also revealed Kirby's final design,[3] and it was published on June 23.[10] The comic cover depicts[3] Vice Admiral[11] Rae Sloane on the bridge of a starship with her arms crossed. Outside a window, the Death Star[3] battle station[12] can be seen with a flash of yellow behind it.[3]
For Marvel's 2022 Pride Month comic covers, Kirby illustrated a variant cover for the twenty-fifth issue of[13] the 2020 comic series[14] Star Wars. The cover was revealed by StarWars.com on May 19, 2022 and is scheduled to be published on July 20 of the same year. Kirby's art features[13] members of the Resistance[15] Larma D'Acy and Wrobie Tyce in a loving embrace.[13]
Bibliography[]
| Year | Title | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 2 | Penciller[4] |
| 2021 | Darth Vader (2020) 13 | Pride Month variant cover[14] |
| 2022 | Star Wars (2020) 25[13] |
Sources[]
- Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 2
- Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 2—Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi trade paperback
- Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 2—Star Wars Omnibus: Infinities
- Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi 2—Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Infinities
Marvel Celebrates Sana Starros and More in Star Wars Pride Month with Comic Covers This June on StarWars.com (backup link)- Check Out All of Marvel's Star Wars Pride Month Covers – Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Darth Vader (2020) 13
- Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 3 — War of the Bounty Hunters
- Marvel and Lucasfilm Celebrate Pride Month with Special Star Wars Covers on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 10 Questions for J.J. Kirby, Comic book aritist [sic] (2008-07-23). La Jolla Light. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Juvaun Kirby (@juvaun.kirby) on Facebook
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5
Check Out All of Marvel's Star Wars Pride Month Covers – Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3
Star Wars: Infinities – Return of the Jedi #2 (of 4) on Dark Horse Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ JJ Kirby Interview from Comikazecon 2012 on the CobraMetal.Net YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ Classic Star Wars: A New Hope 1
- ↑ "Dark Knight's Devilry"—The Empire Strikes Back Monthly 153
- ↑ WildStormsCCG.com Staff: Interview – JJ Kirby. WildStorms CCG Complete Resource. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021.
- ↑ Marvel Celebrates Sana Starros and More in Star Wars Pride Month with Comic Covers This June on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Darth Vader #13 JJ Kirby Pride Var on the official Previews World website (backup link)
- ↑ Kanan 12
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Marvel and Lucasfilm Celebrate Pride Month with Special Star Wars Covers on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Marvel's Star Wars Comic to Relaunch with Writer Charles Soule on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
External links[]
- PlanetKrB on Blogspot
- J.J. Kirby (JJKirby) on DeviantArt
- Juvaun Kirby (@juvaun.kirby) on Facebook
- J.J. Kirby (@jjkirbyart) on Instagram
- Juvaun Kirby on LinkedIn
