King Kirby

Heroes aren’t born, they’re made. This is the epic tale of Jack Kirby, the most famous cartoonist you never heard of: Born in the Lower East Side slums, veteran of the battlefields of France, co-creator of CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE AVENGERS, THE X-MEN, Kirby had his biggest fight after his comic books became an international sensation: He had to fight for his name, and the recognition he was denied. This is the entire audio version of the New York Times Critics' Pick play by award-winning Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente, presented without commercial interruption. Starring the original New York cast of Steven Rattazzi, Amy Lee Pearsall, Nat Cassidy, Joseph Mathers and Timothy McCown Reynolds. Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Forbes magazine’s Rob Salkowitz moderates this Zoom roundtable of the full cast and crew of the epic comic book podcast drama KING KIRBY about the impact and influences of the show, including stars Steven Rattazzi, Amy Lee Pearsall, Nat Cassidy, Joseph Mathers and Timothy McCown Reynolds, writers Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente, and composer/editor Bobby Cronin. The cast talks about bringing the conflict between Marvel Universe co-creators Jack Kirby and Stan Lee to life, the difference between doing the show as a live stage performance and a podcast, how they’ve been keeping their sanity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more! 

KING KIRBY is the epic story of the greatest superhero cartoonist whoever lived, and what happened to his legacy. 

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With his old “pal” Stan Lee, Jack creates the Marvel Universe and becomes a Swinging Sixties sensation. But his tensions with Lee very quickly come to a head, leading him to strike out on his own. But Jack learns the hard way that lightning only strikes twice in the comics. 

Written by Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente. Starring Steven Rattazzi as Jack Kirby, Amy Lee Pearsall as Roz Kirby, Joseph Mathers as Joe Simon, Nat Cassidy as Stan Lee, Timothy McCown Reynolds as Martin Goodman. Music composition and sound editing by Bobby Cronin. Original stage production directed by John Hurley. Recorded at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan. 

Follow King Kirby on Instagram @kingkirbyplay & on twitter @KingKirbyPlay

Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.

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The war is over, but Jack’s struggle is just beginning. The comic book industry struggles as the world moves on from fighting, but he and Joe Simon’s romance books become giant sellers. They’re no match for a right-wing witch hunt from the U.S. Senate though, and Jack is forced to go back to the one place he swore he’d never return to. 

Written by Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente. Starring Steven Rattazzi as Jack Kirby, Amy Lee Pearsall as Roz Kirby, Joseph Mathers as Joe Simon, Nat Cassidy as Stan Lee, Timothy McCown Reynolds as Martin Goodman. Music composition and sound editing by Bobby Cronin. Original stage production directed by John Hurley. Recorded at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan. 

Follow King Kirby on Instagram @kingkirbyplay & on twitter @KingKirbyPlay

Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.

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As his Captain America takes the world by storm, Jack meets the love of his life, only to find himself sent to France to fight the Germans in person. His fame goes with him into the service, leading to a dangerous assignment that nearly costs him his life. 

Written by Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente. Starring Steven Rattazzi as Jack Kirby, Amy Lee Pearsall as Roz Kirby, Joseph Mathers as Joe Simon, Nat Cassidy as Stan Lee, Timothy McCown Reynolds as Martin Goodman. Music composition and sound editing by Bobby Cronin. Original stage production directed by John Hurley. Recorded at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan. 

Follow King Kirby on Instagram @kingkirbyplay & on twitter @KingKirbyPlay

Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Great Depression, Jack Kurtzberg draws himself out of the tenement slums of Manhattan and into the world of comics. A chance meeting after a strike at the Popeye cartoon studio leads him to a job with the self-styled “King of the Comics” and the invention of a star-spangled avenger beloved the world over. 

Written by Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente. Starring Steven Rattazzi as Jack Kirby, Amy Lee Pearsall as Roz Kirby, Joseph Mathers as Joe Simon, Nat Cassidy as Stan Lee, Timothy McCown Reynolds as Martin Goodman. Music composition and sound editing by Bobby Cronin. Original stage production directed by John Hurley. Recorded at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan. 

Follow King Kirby on Instagram @kingkirbyplay & on twitter @KingKirbyPlay

Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heroes aren’t born, they’re made. This is the epic tale of Jack Kirby, the most famous cartoonist you never heard of: Born in the Lower East Side slums, veteran of the battlefields of France, co-creator of CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE AVENGERS, THE X-MEN, Kirby had his biggest fight after his comic books became an international sensation: He had to fight for his name, and the recognition he was denied. An audio version of the New York Times Critics' Pick play by award-winning Crystal Skillman and Fred Van Lente, starring the original New York cast of Steven Rattazzi as Jack Kirby, Amy Lee Pearsall as Roz Kirby, Joseph Mathers as Joe Simon, Nat Cassidy as Stan Lee, Timothy McCown Reynolds as Martin Goodman. 

Music composition and sound editing by Bobby Cronin. Original stage production directed by John Hurley. Recorded at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan. 

Follow King Kirby on Instagram @kingkirbyplay & on twitter @KingKir35759690.

Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices