In an unearthed interview with James Cameron from around the time when Aliens was released on home video in the 1980s, the legendary filmmaker cited comic book author and artist Jack Kirby as “a visionary,” whose ability to conjure speculative worlds and cosmic characters was an influence on Cameron’s work, highlighting Kirby’s impact beyond just the comic book medium, where he is considered one of the GOATS.

In a newspaper interview from 1987 promoting Aliens’ arrival on home video, Cameron discussed how Jack Kirby served as an inspiration on the director’s sci-fi aesthetic; “Kirby's work was definitely in my subconscious programming,” he stated, explaining that, while not a direct influence on the film, Kirby’s comics helped define his visual palette.

“He could draw machines like nobody’s business,” Cameron asserted, drawing a connection between Kirby’s work and the eventual creation of The Terminator, as well as the biomechanical look of the Xenomorphs and the overall aesthetic of Cameron’s beloved sequel.

In An Interview From The Era Of "Aliens," James Cameron Cited Jack Kirby As An Influence

"[Kirby] Was A Visionary," According To Cameron

Kirby is revered for his groundbreaking work at both Marvel and DC Comics, and overall, it is impossible to talk about the history of the comic medium, or the superhero genre, without talking about him often, and effusively. If anyone has earned the right to be called a "visionary," as James Cameron called him, it is Jack Kirby, and in fact that word is almost defaulted to by comic book creators and readers alike when discussing his work.

And while his reputation in comic book spaces is unparalleled, it is noteworthy to encounter signs of his influence outside of comics, particularly when it comes to James Cameron, who has taken on his own semi-mythical status in American popular culture, thanks to four decades of cinematic output that, in its own right, also earns the "visionary" label. Discussing Kirby's impact on his work, Cameron put it this way.

It's not intentional in the sense I sat down and looked at all my favorite comics and studied them for this film, but, yeah, Kirby's work was definitely in my subconscious programming. The guy was a visionary. Absolutely. And he could draw machines like nobody's business. He was sort of like A. E. van Vogt and some of these other science-fiction writers who are able to create worlds that — even though we live in a science-fictionary world today — are still so far beyond what we're experiencing."

In other words, just as Cameron’s work has seeped into the fabric of American creative culture, so did Jack Kirby’s before him.

Jack Kirby's Influence On James Cameron Is A Potent Example Of His Effect On Pop Culture Outside Comics

Kirby Is A 20th Century Creative Icon

Jack Kirby's work is traditionally lauded for its expansive scope and its boundary-pushing qualities. Especially at his peak, Kirby sought to reinvent the comic book medium, to explore the limits of what was possible on the comic page, and to treat superhero storytelling with the same ambition and gravity as any work of literature. In so many ways, he succeeded, from his pioneering work at Marvel, especially with characters like Thor, to his innovative New Gods at DC Comics. In many ways, Kirby was the defining artistic voice of a generation at both publishers.

If James Cameron's work can be said to be part of the lineage of Jack Kirby's influence, then the countless artists who have looked to Cameron for inspiration, in turn, are working within the legacy of Kirby.

The sway of Kirby's work continues to be felt in contemporary comics, more than most readers realize. Further, if James Cameron's work can be said to be part of the lineage of Jack Kirby's influence, then the countless artists who have looked to Cameron for inspiration, in turn, are working within the legacy of Kirby. This makes it all the more important for devoted fans of pop culture, both comics and film, to develop a greater appreciation for the iconic creator's ouvre.

At A Pivotal Point In His Career, James Cameron Cited Jack Kirby As A Formative Creator

Kirby's Work Paved The Way For Cameron's

The link between the work of James Cameron and Jack Kirby is an exciting connection between classic comics and classic cinema, highlighting the formative role comics have played in the creative trajectories of so many major players in pop culture, especially over the past sixty-plus years, from the peak of Kirby's career, well beyond his ing. Especially coming early in his career, right after the release of Aliens, it is fascinating to get an insight into the debt of inspiration James Cameron owed legendary comic creator Jack Kirby.

Source: James Cameron interview (via Wayback Machine)