Kirby
Hulk
Behind the Scenes
I wanted this sculpture to work as an individual standalone piece as well as in conjunction with the others in the series. The challenge was counterbalancing the figure to preserve the signature Kirby dynamism in the pose—Hulk had to be jumping right out at the viewer, just as he is in the poster.
At the time, this was only the second piece I’d done with the Aves product, Apoxie Clay that I generally use now for one-of-a-kind pieces.
Besides being incredibly durable and having a satisfying heft in its finished form, this two-part epoxy allows me to exercise both sets of sculpting skills; modeling (building up, adding on and working outward from an internal structure or armature) and carving (creating the piece by cutting away and/or engraving). Depending on temperature and humidity, the material is soft and pliable for about an hour or so, less so but still sometimes workable for another hour. After that, it must set; but after 24 hours you have a piece that can be cut, carved into, sanded etc. to add the desired detail and finish.
Kirby Hulk: Marvel Poster
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a box-office success that has grown the value of the brand beyond all but the most optimistic projections. A legion of fans worldwide has flocked to each new entry in the franchise, but most moviegoers are likely unfamiliar with the original source material from the comics. Until his passing, all the films featured a cameo appearance by the avuncular impresario who was one of the Marvel line of comics’ chief architects, Stan Lee. Because of his ubiquitous presence, most fans think he basically created the host of characters himself and generated the stories alone. I don’t want to belabor the point, but I have a very different opinion regarding Lee’s role and would invite anyone who’s curious to do some research on the matter.
However, what’s never been up for debate is the creativity, influence and volume of output of the great Jack Kirby.
Sadly, another fact that’s never been up for debate is the shoddy treatment this titan of the medium received throughout the bulk of his career. The poster this piece is based on is a sad example of that behavior. An outside firm contracted Kirby to draw a line of posters, which he dutifully did. Someone at Marvel decided there was too much Kirby in the run and pulled several, so the artist wasn’t paid for those, despite having done the work. To make matters worse, they had Herb Trimpe, who was drawing Hulk at the time—a character Kirby had created—trace over Kirby’s pencils so they could sell that poster without paying the man. When I decided to sculpt a series of pieces to honor the man behind these beloved characters, I looked at dozens of iconic images for reference, but there was never any choice about which one I wanted to bring to three-dimensional life.
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Let’s make something amazing together
Please note, all Manifest Sculpt work is completed with traditional sculpting techniques—modelling and carving—rather than through modern digital techniques and programs. Consequently, the resin and bronze castings in this edition were also produced through traditional mold making and manufacturing processes. Final Manifest Sculpt commissions are available in a variety of materials, but they are not 3D printed and are not available as printable files.