Widely seen as the undisputed king of comics,Jack Kirbyhas one of the strongest legacies in the superhero genre, thanks to his work on the Fantastic Four, Captain America, X-Men, and more. However, in the late 1960s, the visionary creator departed Marvel Comics and returned toDC Comics, where he had worked during the 1950s. There, he unleashed his Fourth World alongside other titles, bringing the company demons, gods, superheroes and more.
For DC,Kirby brought a blend of fresh ideas and reimaginings of work he’d done for Marvel, returning to his excellent treatment of ancient mythologies and science fiction heroes.While not all of his creations have endured as well as X-Men or the Fantastic Four, his Bronze Age stories continue to have an impact on the world of DC. With his classicNew Godstitle set for a comebackunder Ram V and Evan Cagle, it’s worth revisiting his best characters.
10The Challengers of the Unknown
First Appearance:Showcase#6
Before Kirby co-createdthe Fantastic Fourwith Stan Lee, he turned in a very similar idea for DC Comics: the four-man team of adventurers dubbed the Challengers of the Unknown.Created at the height of science fiction comics, the original team consisted of Ace Morgan, Red Ryan, Prof Haley and Rocky Davis, each with a unique set of skills that proves vital for their missions.
Unlike other prominent DC characters created by Kirby, the Challengers date back to before the Bronze Age, originally created in the 1950s.
The Challengers of the Unknown took after groups like Doc Savage’s Fabulous Five, and would form the foundation for one of Marvel’s most iconic teams.Unlike other prominent DC characters created by Kirby, the Challengers date back to before the Bronze Age, originally created in the 1950s. The heroes were explored in great detail in Darwyn Cooke’s New Frontier miniseries, but they had their best adventures under Kirby.
9Buddy Blank / OMAC
First Appearance:OMAC#1
Just as Kirby adapted the concept of the Challengers of the Unknown to Marvel, so too did he attempt to give DC their ownCaptain America- twice.Where his first effort in Guardian fell into relative obscurity, his second attempt, O.M.A.C. (One-Man Army Corps) found more success, even if it too fell by the wayside.
Joker’s Anti-Superman Weapon Makes 1 Genius Change to How Everyone Else Tries to Beat Him
Many of Superman’s enemies have tried to use Kryptonite to take him down over the years, but the Joker was the greatest innovator of the tactic.
OMAC is Buddy Blank, a former factory employee who, after being selected by the Global Peace Agency, was implanted with an uplink to the Brother Eye satellite.When needed, the man can call on the device to enhance his strength, speed, and stamina, leading to a formula that blends aspects of Captain America, Iron Man, and James Bond.
8Kamandi
First Appearance:Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth#1
Created to serve as DC’s rival to Marvel’s publication ofPlanet of the Apescomics, Kamandi tells the tale of the titular Last Boy on Earth.In the aftermath of a Great Disaster, the world of Kamandi is dominated by animal/human hybrids, with each species representing a different civilization from human history, notably the Tiger (Roman) Empire.
Kamandi is a classic, relatable young hero designed to offer the reader a sense of escapism, allowing them to imagine themselves in a strange world. Rather than being a less relatable cosmic superhero or genius, the character is just a simple boy, intended to be interchangeable with the reader.That is in large part what made the original series so entertaining,and it’s a joy whenever the young adventurer makes a return to the DCU. That said, the series was always more enjoyable than the character himself.
7Mister Miracle
First Appearance:Mister Miracle#1
Born of New Genesis,Mister Miracle was traded to Darkseidby Highfather as part of their truce.He was raised by Granny Goodness in the torturous pits of Apokolips, where the hero learned the art of escapology, eventually making his way to freedom.Settling on Earth as Scott Free, he meets Thaddeus Brown, the original Mister Miracle, who is promptly killed and hands his mantle to the New God.
Mister Miracle is at his best when working alongside the Justice League, where his intimate knowledge of Apokolips has come in handy, allowing the heroes to save Earth.
Scott is a fairly wholesome man, living a quiet life in suburban America with his wife, Barda Free, when he isn’t fighting evil.His skills in escapology have made him one of the most entertaining DC characters, with his best stories leaving readers confused as to how he could survive his daring encounters with nefarious forces.
6The Manhunter
First Appearance:Adventure Comics#58
The Manhunter is a mantle that has been held by several characters - first by Paul Kirk when Jack Kirby created him in 1941.Debuting as one of many Golden Age private investigators, the character took on cases too tough for the police to crack themselves. In 1973, he made a brilliant comeback for DC Comics.
The Manhunter is one of the few instances of a Kirby DC character who actually had his best story told by creators, namely Archie Goodwyn and Walter Simonson.This story followed Paul Kirk as he wakes up in the ’70s, realizing a group of evil conspirators known as the Council had kept him alive, given him superpowers, and cloned him.Goodwin and Simonson explored the character as a contrast to Batman, ditching the no-kill rule and arming the vigilante with weapons. To date, he’s responsible for one of the best back-up sagas in comic book history.
5Etrigan the Demon
First Appearance:The Demon#1
One of Kirby’s best-selling DC Comics series turned out to beThe Demon, a series centered around Jason Blood, an immortal whose soul is bonded by magic to the demon Etrigan.Best-known for speaking in rhyme and his superhero-esque appearance, the demonic antihero is often torn between good and evil, occasionally becoming a nuisance to heroes like Superman.
Etrigan is one of DC’s most entertaining antiheroes, as has been demonstrated in series likeAction ComicsandJustice League Dark, where he can be as much of a hindrance as a help.One of his best stories sees him teaming up with Lobo in an effort to end the world, resulting in the two immortals fending off attacks from a dragon-like monster.
4Metron
First Appearance:The New Gods#1
Metron was introduced by Kirby to his New Gods mythos as the God of Knowledge, a character with no clear allegiance to either Apokolips or New Genesis.Despite his detachment, he does play both sides against one another, including his sharing of technology, such as Mother Boxes and travel by Boom Tubes.
Instead, he’s more interested in exploring time, space, and other dimensions, developing technology that advances his race and probing beyond the Source Wall.
Metron is a great example of “true neutral” and is a character whose knowledge and intelligence are so immense that most events seem beneath him.Instead, he’s more interested in exploring time, space, and other dimensions, developing technology that advances his race and probing beyond the Source Wall.
3Big Barda
First Appearance:Mister Miracle#4
Big Barda made her debut in theMister Miracleseries, where she’s introduced to Oberon as she tries to save Scott from criminals.From the moment readers first meet her, her warrior-like personality and temper are evident.As the series progressed, she established herself as one of the toughest of the New Gods, harboring a hatred of Apokolips and the cruelty of Darkseid and Granny Goodness - which she shares with her husband, Scott Free.
In some ways,Big Barda resembles Wonder Woman, sharing her tenacity, tough personality, and skills as a warrior.As great as Mister Miracle can be, there’s little argument among readers that Barda is the powerhouse of the relationship and is far more formidable an opponent in battle.
2Orion
When Kirby launched hisoriginalNew Godsseries, Orion stood out as the undisputed star of the series.The title followed his arrival on Earth, where he worked alongside a group of humans to find and foil Darkseid in his quest for the Anti-Life Equation.While his impatience would often boil to the surface, he also came across as a tactical, thoughtful, and genuinely heroic figure.
Orion’s story is one of the most interesting in the New Gods lore, as he’s forced to struggle between the rage he inherited from his father and the noble intentions inculcated in him by Highfather.The ever-present struggle between his two sides, coupled with his hatred of Darkseid, has made him one of the most interesting New Gods.
1Darkseid
First Appearance:Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen#134
As one of the most powerful New Gods in Kirby’s Fourth World mythos,Darkseid is effectively the manifestation of evil in the DCU.Obsessed with obtaining the Anti-Life Equation, which would give him mastery over the will of sentient beings, the villain rules Apokolips with an iron fist. Typically, Darkseid is the go-to villain for major Justice League events and is made all the more formidable by his intelligence, unrelenting nature, and strategic mind.
Darkseid’s status as the living embodiment of evil in the DCU has kept the villain relevant since his creation, especially as an enemy to Superman and the Justice League. Not only does his quest for the Anti-Life Equation pose one of the biggest threats to life and freedom in the universe, but his endless plotting and thoughtfulness makes him an unpredictable foe and arguablyJack Kirby’sgreatest creation atDC Comicsand anywhere else.
