Tales to Astonish #21 - Jack Kirby art & cover, Steve Ditko art

Jack Kirby

Tales to Astonish v1 #21, 1961 - What is real and what is fantasy? The question is asked in a story about a gargantuan creature in a movie. Most of Steve Ditko's panels are silent, but impeccably paced and designed (see interior page below). The layouts are purposely repetitive to maximize the effect (this story was later published in Where Monsters Dwell #8). Jack Kirby illustrates the tale of how a giant steam shovel becomes possessed by a disembodied alien. Despite the silly premise, the artist draws the tale with all seriousness. Artistically, Kirby just meets expectations. Opening with a bombastic splash, his drawings outperform his rather obscure cover (later reprinted in Creatures on the Loose #10). Other artists in this silver age science fiction comic include Don Heck. This is 20 of 81 Tales to Astonish issues by Kirby and 21 of 57 Tales to Astonish issues by Ditko. 
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Kirby cover pencils (Dick Ayers inks) = **
"Trull the Unhuman" Kirby story pencils (Dick Ayers inks) 5 pages = ***
"It Happened on the Silent Screen'" Ditko story pencils and inks 5 pages = ***

Jack Kirby

Steve Ditko

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