I don't know if it's ok to post this, but maybe you can find this useful.

Incredible Hulk #139 (v2) original cover art i believe

Yeah, your original point bears repeating: such a case could get ugly in a hurry (especially 40+ years after the fact), and it's no wonder these things get drawn out.

It's clear why this was just one of many pieces of evidence, because it could really be read in any number of ways.

Haha, I bet this dialoge we have going is fairly similar to how the actual deliberation over this thing went. I guess my counterpoint would be to the effect that Lee doesn't actually explicitly indicate the extent of his own involvement in the creative process. Stan could very well have said "Jack, we need a war mag, get started on that." Then Kirby goes off and comes back with Sgt. Fury. How much was Stan really involved? That may or may not be how it went but you could spin that comment from the letter that way. Of course, we know how this thing played out so in the end this argument is simply for the sake of jurisprudence.

Possibly, although the letter does have Stan saying that "I like to have him start as many strips as possible..." which definitely sounds like Lee is the the directing creative force. Of course, Lee does strike one as a bit of an egomaniac, so his motives and impartiality are up for debate, but as I read it, this letter is evidence of Kirby's subordinate or at best collaborative role.

My guess would be that Kirby's people were pointing to the comment about Kirby starting on all the books and then passing them on to other artists. Maybe they tried to spin that comment as indication that he was the primary or sole creator of the different characters/titles.

Fascinating ... I assume it was used by Marvel to portray Kirby as more of a footsoldier rather than the creative progenitor? Otherwise I can't see how it would help Kirby's case, although it doesn't seem to damning either way.

Great stuff, at any rate! Love these tidbits!

Interesting. When you think that they consider minute things like a response to fan mail, it's not surprising that cases like that drag on for years.

from what I can find, it was used in the Kirby lawsuit.

What's the story behind the attachment you just added to Journey Into Mystery #90? It's marked as "Plaintiff's Exhibit 13", do you know the details of the case it was involved in?

I haven't been over to the main site in a while, but it sounds like your baby is growing up!