Last night, February 5th, was the Jack Kirby panel on his Fourth World at the ArtCenter Library with six special guests! The panel was at the Artcenter College of Design in Pasadena. It is a campus buzzing with students and their projects. Hopefully, everyone can make a visit during one of the panels! The Artcenter’s website is at: https://www.artcenter.edu/. This discussion seems to go hand in hand with the Skirball Cultural Center’s Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity exhibition. There is still time to visit the exhibit which runs until March 1st. Don’t miss this one! Details here: https://www.skirball.org/museum/jack-kirby-heroes-and-humanity. The Fourth World was several connected titles that Kirby wrote and drew for DC Comics.
It was noted on the panel that Kirby wrote and drew five of the titles titles a month!, far beyond the input of today’s comic creators. DC Comics heralded Jack Kirby creating for DC with the tagline, “Kirby is Coming!” Kirby introduced Darkseid in a cameo in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #134 (1970). Kirby worked on the title, Darkseid had plans for Superman, this was until issue #148 (1972). New Gods #1 (1971) realized the Fourth World with Orion, the son of Darkseid, fighting against him to protect New Genesis. The Fourth World expanded with Mister Miracle #1 (1971) which featured Scott Free, son of Highfather who ruled New Genesis. He was raised on Apokolips ruled by Darkseid who searches for the Anti-Life Equation that will have him dominate the minds of everyone in the universe!
Joining the two titles was Forever People #1 (1971), one of my favorite super teams, young heroes who tangle with Darkseid! They merge into the powerful entity, Infinity-Man! Kirby’s run on The Fourth World titles finished with Mister Miracle #18 (1974). Kirby gave an ending to his saga with The Hunger Dogs graphic novel in 1985. The panel was moderated by Michael Dooley, ArtCenter professor of Comics and Animation. He is author of The Education of a Comics Artist (2005). The panelists include Jim Thompson, co-chair of the Will Eisner Hall of Fame judging committee. The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards started in 1988 and is the most important comic book awards given out at San Diego Comic-Con. It is named after one of the most well regarded cartoonist with this ground breaking comic strip, The Spirit (1940-1952). Also, bringing in graphic novels as a term with A Contract with God (1978). The Will Eisner Hall of Fame first inducted Carl Barks, Will Eisner, and Jack Kirby.
You can check out the many comic creators here: https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/hall-of-fame/. Thompson gave an overview of Kirby’s career up to the Fourth World titles. Next to Jim Thompson was Charles Hatfield, author of Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby (2011). He also part of the Comic Book Apocalypse: The Graphic World of Jack Kirby, in 2015, at Cal State University Northridge. Mention was made of the five founders of the San Diego Comic Con called the San Diego Five String Mob whom Kirby immortalized in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #144 (1954). At one end of the table was Tony Puryear who wrote and illustrated the graphic novel, Concrete Park (2014). He is also a screenwriter who wrote the summer blockbuster, Eraser (1996). He discussed the cover art of Kirby and noted the smaller art boards used in the late 60’s to the 70’s, the time of New Gods. The audience clapped at his presentation! Find more about Puryear and find his artwork at: https://www.tonypuryear.co/
On the other side of Jim Thompson was Alonso Nunez, he is the executive director of Little Fish Comic Book Studio. Also, Nunez is president of the San Diego Comic Fest, this is alternative to Comic Con, find more info at: https://www.sdcomicfest.org/ Nunez spoke about the mythology behind Kirby’s Fourth World. The last guest was Kevin Dooley who was an editor for DC Comics. He also wrote the Mister Miracle series in 1996. Dooley said that it was like a sitcom with Mister Miracle and his wife, Big Barda. They wed at the conclusion of Mister Miracle #18. Big Barda is another favorite character for me. She was introduced in Mister Miracle #4 (1971). She led the Female Furies and eventually falls for Scott Free on Apokolips. She leaves Apokolips and reunites with Mister Miracle in her first appearance. The series also had Scott Free accept his destiny as a god to save Big Barda. The panel was full of knowledgeable speakers who gave insight on Jack Kirby’s masterpiece!
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