Yep, it's me - I'm the guy.
My favorite Kirby comic (indeed, perhaps my favorite comic series of all time) is KAMANDI. Close behind would be THE DEMON, followed again closely by NEW GODS, Kirby's 70s run on CAP and 2001, and... SILVER STAR! I'm not ashamed and maybe I'll substantiate that claim at length someday. In short, I tend to subscribe to the idea that Kirby loosened up when he left Marvel the first time, found his voice, and delivered the strongest and wildest work of his career in the 70s.
FTR I do rank his 60s work on THOR and TALES TO ASTONISH quite highly as well, not to mention later FFs... I'd say Kirby hit his stride on FF by #57 and delivered the best issues of that series until around #83, then maybe started to lose steam a bit. That 2+ year run completely smokes the first 50 issues imho.
However, I admit that I've (historically) been familiar w/ Kirby's 40s work and his Silver Age Marvel work through 'til the end of his life. The 50s have been a major void in my knowledge until recently.
Prince Namor, I thank you for posting some truly magnificent pages from the 50s (and beyond) on this thread and others. Moreover, I credit you extensively for investing a herculean amount of effort, time, and care in this endeavor... and for providing rigorous citations! You could probably turn around and transform these threads into something publishable (and invaluable to scholarship). What you've already accomplished has been priceless.
I realize this is a dead thread and will likely repost many of these sentiments on one of your newer Kirby threads. In any case, from one history buff to another, thanks for your hard work and diligence.