Disneyland Convention program - front cover

Jack KIRBY provided the pencil art for the cover of the Disneyland Convention held April 9th, 10th & 11th in 1971. The art features Kirby's "Super-Escape Artist" Mr. Miracle and his assistant Oberon being held by Grumpy, from the Disney animated feature "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Thanks to Greg THEAKSTON for gifting a copy of the program to the Museum.

At the convention, Kirby sold a portfolio of eight of his New Gods character designs. The images were printed in grayscale on 8 1/2"" by 11" paper, and held in an unmarked envelope.

Photos taken by Vincent DAVIS from the Disneyland Convention were featured in the July 1971 issue of Richard KYLE's Graphic Story World newsletter. Thanks to Alex JAY for gifting a copy of the newsletter to the Museum.

Page 6 - Graphic Story World 2, 1971 July

The page is captioned on the next page: "ON THE LEFT: Top row: Jack Kirby; Forrest J. Ackerman. Second row: Jim Steranko; Jerry O'Hara (convention organizer); Bill Stout, Mike Royer (in stripes), Bob Foster, Larry Kenyon (in white obscuring Jim Steranko, who is displaying his art). Bottom row: Janet Royer, Mike Royer, Mark Evanier; Milton Gray; Mark Kausler; Carmine Infantino. =photography by Vincent Davis."

If you have any photos, memories or further information regarding Kirby's attendance at the 1971 Disneyland Convention, please contact me and I'll try to include them in this piece.

- Rand

(Added 3 October 2009)

Below is a scan of a photocopy of what appears to be Kirby's original art (with paste up) for the booklet. Note the art around the edges that was cut due to the bleed of the printing. Also note that "Mister Miracle" was removed and "Jack Kirby" was added before printing.

1971 Disneyland Convention booklet front cover photocopy