ROMANCE ART IN COMIC BOOKS

Jack Kirby did not fire Vince Colletta, nor did he possess the editorial corporate power at DC Comics to terminate another creator’s freelance contract.

The narrative that Kirby unilaterally “fired” Colletta from the Fourth World books (The New Gods, Forever People, Mister Miracle) is an oversimplified industry myth that overlooks the actual mechanics of 1970s comic book publishing and the real conversation that took place between the two men.

Mark Evanier: “I guess I didn’t make it clear: Kirby, as editor of his DC books, fired Colletta as the inker.”

The True Nature of Their Parting

The transition of inking duties from Vince Colletta to Mike Royer in 1971 was a mutual parting of ways dictated by impossible logistics, industry deadlines, and a direct, professional conversation between Kirby and Colletta:

• The Deadlines and Overwork: DC Comics was pushing immense production demands on both creators. Colletta was notoriously the most prolific “deadline saver” in New York, frequently taking on late, rushed assignments from multiple publishers just to keep books on schedule.
• The Conversation: Because of the sheer volume of rushed work corporate publishers were throwing at him, Colletta directly communicated to Kirby that he simply could not promise to faithfully render every single intricate, time-consuming detail, technological background, and “Kirby Krackle” that Jack poured into his pencils.
• The Mutual Resolution: Realizing that Colletta’s hyper-fast, simplified approach was a mismatch for the grand, detailed scope of the cosmic Fourth World mythology, the two agreed it was best to part ways on those titles. Kirby then requested DC assign Mike Royer, whose meticulous, literal translation of pencils better suited the specific aesthetic Kirby wanted for his new universe.

Corporate Structure and Editorial Power

The idea of Kirby “firing” people misrepresents his role at DC at the time. While Kirby was given writer/editor credit on his specific titles, the actual hiring, firing, and payroll authority rested strictly with upper management, specifically Editorial Director Carmine Infantino and production executives. DC management actively favored Colletta because his speed kept books on track and his lower pay rates kept titles under budget. Kirby had to advocate strongly to management just to get his inkers changed.

This accurate context surrounding their conversation correctly frames two legendary creators navigating the high-pressure, under-the-gun realities of Silver and Bronze Age comic publishing rather than a bitter professional feud.