On the 27th day of this year’s Jack Kirby Tribute Month, focused on the Fantastic Four and related characters, today’s prompt is the Puppet Master, Philip Masters!
The Puppet Master is a very early antagonist, introduced in Jack and Stan’s FF run way back in issue #8. At the same time, we also meet his daughter Alicia for the first time, who ends up being a very important supporting character.
Apart from looking kind of creepy and ventriloquist doll-like, the Puppet Master doesn’t really cut all that impressive of an appearance. He’s not on any list you might find of “best or most interestingly costumed Kirby characters.” But he does have quite the power! Using a special radioactive clay, he can make figures of just about anyone, and force them to do his bidding. In his first appearance, he manages to take control of the Thing, sending him against his teammates! So heroes underestimate him at their risk.
That’s all I have to say about the Puppet Master. Hope you enjoyed my depiction. Who’s next? Tune in tomorrow to see!
Yikes. Creepiest character ever. And your art communicates that vibe masterfully. He He. There are so many of these broken family situations in the floppies. And his daughter allying with his enemies no doubt brings the twisted face you created to be even more twisted. Chunky is a dependable babysitter compared to the Puppet Master. The “dried blood” magenta adds even more evil. Thanks.
Thanks, Joe. Yeah, I’d never tried to draw Puppet Master before, so it was a fun challenge. Unlike other Kirby characters, he doesn’t really have any kind of a cool. distinctive costume, so it really falls to getting his head and face right. And I thought the up light would be a fun way to push his character. I didn’t necessarily have the reddish-violet figured out as the backlit color for the shadows up front, but as I played with different options, that was what clicked for me ultimately as the right choice.