Kirby Krackle: A Graphic Lexicon For Cosmic Superheroes

Abstract

The objective of this work is analyze the functions of the so-called "kirby krackle" (also known as "kirby dots"). Kirby krackles were developed by Kirby between 1966 and 1968 and became a staple of his work afterwards. The effect consists in pseudo-fractal little black dots that form a negative space around the emanations of different forms of uncanny energy. Ever since Kirby developed the effect, as a part of his evolving graphic lexicon of the late sixties and early seventies, it was adopted by a variety of superhero artists throughout the years who employ it to convey two things: on the one hand, a sense of scale, grandeur and cosmic power; on the other hand, a way to pay their respects to the inventor of the effect and insert themselves in the tradition of comics that Kirby started. In this work we want to explore the way the kirby krackles works inside superhero comics. Some of the questions that guide us are: If one is able to re-create the way things are told and seen in the medium of his choice, is he an artist? Are those new visual signs and elements a manner of taking comics in an abstract direction? What do they signify when they are appropriated and used by artists different than its creator? Does the krackle call attention to the surface of the comic or to the narrative? Has it evolved to a point in which it is a signifier of a larger historical tradition of superhero comics or does it remain a mere technical resource? We will analyze some of the original comics in which Kirby employed the effect and we will yuxtapose them to examples from other artists and times to answer these queries.