Sample Headline Eulogists Testimonials: February 7, 1994

Dick Ayers (1924–2014)

I didn’t see him that often. When I was doing Sky Masters, sometimes I would meet him at Grand Central Station and we’d have coffee together, but I didn’t know him socially. He was a very talented guy, y’know? I enjoyed his work very much when I inked it, at the point when Stan Lee told me not to trace; not to ink it just as he penciled it. He told me to really let myself go, and “do my thing.” He said if he wanted someone to just draw exactly and ink over his lines, he’d just pick up anybody who could trace off the street. Then I got to enjoy it very much, because his initial concept was always very exciting. His concept was terrific, and his design, but you had to really stretch your imagination on his anatomy. And his guns; when I did Rawhide Kid, I used to get upset because I like my Colt .45s and I want them to look like that, and the Winchester rifles and all of that. His handles were so bad on the pistols, that I’d redraw them. [laughter] But as I say, his concept was always exciting. Creative and prolific. He saved the industry, with Stan. Stan did the choosing; he pitted me with Jack, and it went from there. At that point, it was so dead, Stan looked at me one time and said, “It’s time to get off the ship. It’s sinking.” I was in the process of taking the exams with the Post Office, and I actually worked there a couple of weeks. I called him and said, “Well, it’s all over.” And Stan said, “Let me try something.” And he sent me a cover to ink, and then he sent me a horror story, and we were off! There was one point where I was doing the inking, and I wanted to do everything he turned out. It got to be like a game; I think it was clocking myself at about 100 pages a month. And then in addition, Sky Masters: To keep up with him, I had to ink all six dailies—I forget whether

I squeezed in the Sunday in the same day, in order to keep up with the other stuff.

Jack was so dependable. The work would always come right on time. He and I worked very good together, because we were both the same mentality. We always meet deadlines. There were no hang-ups with Jack; it just came right on time.

Don Heck (1929–1995)

I was just thinking about it. It sorta leaves an emptiness in you. He was super, something special.

To me, it’s sorta like losing a big brother. I was lucky enough to go out there last May—first time I ever went across country. I got to be with him up on a stage, and we had dinner together. Topps had paid for it; Jim Salicrup was there too.

I’m still shocked about it. I know he was sick, but still, with somebody like that, it’s sorta like Walt Disney or one of the other giants, that you figure will last forever. He was just terrific, and such a great innovator. He was probably the greatest innovator I’ve ever known. He could take just a normal thing, and expand on it, and take it to the limits. It’s hard for me to put it into words; he was just great. There won’t be anybody like him again. Both he and Stan Lee did more for comics than anybody. There’s no question about that. And all the people who are suddenly making all sorts of money, owe a lot to him; [laughter] whether or not they realize that, I don’t know. Some of the ones who really knew what the score is, do.

[right] 2001: A Space Odyssey #7 (June 1977)

Beautifully and faithfully inked by Frank Giacoia—with only a tiny piece of wreckage deleted near the corner box—it seems Kirby deemed this a powerful cover pic that needed no verbiage. Editorial obviously disagreed. To my mind, what finally appeared in the two blurbs is right on the money, and perhaps inspired some new readers to give the title a try, so no harm done there. Kirby either felt the image strong enough without words (fair call) or perhaps he didn’t care, since this was to be the last of the stories themed this way before “Mister Machine” took center stage.

[next page] 2001: A Space Odyssey #9 (Aug. 1977)

Another cover faithfully, if quite heavily, inked by Frank Giacoia— the only change for this cover is the copy. And personally, I think “From out of the Monolith—the most awesome creation of all! Mister Machine!” (which is what was actually published) is better than what Jack suggested. A powerful and wonderfully designed cover for the second issue of a great series by Jack!