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The Jack Kirby Annual Sketchbook Challenge was born from two unstoppable forces the internet couldn’t get enough of.
First, the original viral sketchbook challenges that captured the imaginations of illustrators both big and small, far and wide. Second, the massive influence of the Cartoonist Kayfabe Podcast and YouTube channel, which popularized deep dives into 1990s Wizard: The Guide to Comics. Jack Kirby’s life, work, and career became a high-focus topic on the channel. Why not? Jack Kirby remains a fascinating figure in comic book history, and both old and new generations of fans can never get enough insight into his legendary body of work.
Frequent Cartoonist Kayfabe collaborator and guest Tom Scioli — a respected Jack Kirby historian in his own right — appeared in multiple videos adding rich analysis. Then Scioli had his flash of genius: combine the discipline of a month-long sketchbook challenge with the deep love and lore surrounding Jack Kirby. And so, JACKTOBER was born.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Consider the above as the 90s-style #0 issue — because this is only the beginning.
What started as a celebration to remind comic book fandom never to forget Jack Kirby’s monumental contributions quickly turned into something else. What Peter A. DeLuca (AKAPAD) witnessed was a dull, low-energy, desperate 31-day grind that mocked the very legacy it claimed to honor. The creator of Jacktober transformed his own sketchbook challenge into a remedial illustration showcase.
When you study a subject as long and deeply as Peter has, you get close to it. In the case of Jack Kirby, Peter feels Jack sits down with him at every drawing table session. Somehow, through the course of this challenge, Scioli’s efforts came across as scorning the King himself — blemishing the very legacy he believed he was upholding.
During this period, Tom Scioli blocked Peter A. DeLuca (AKAPAD) across multiple social media platforms after Peter publicly campaigned to raise the bar and refocus the challenge on quality work worthy of Kirby’s name.
As this battle rages, Peter has taken it upon himself to emulate Jack Kirby during the month of October by producing giant, complete sketchbooks — often exceeding 50 finished drawings. His goal is to remind all of comic book fandom that Jack Kirby didn’t just draw with incredible speed — he drew with imaginative precision that hooked readers young and old. The true definition of “think less and make the deadline.”
Now, Peter A. DeLuca (AKAPAD) has taken it upon himself to honor the legacy of Jack Kirby the correct way — with high-level work filled with enough imagination to make every single stroke unforgettable.
