Warning! Spoilers for Green Lantern #12
While both DC Comics and Marvel Comics have paid tribute to legendary comic book artist and creator Jack Kirby, he has now reached a god-like status in both distinct universes.
Among comic book readers, Kirby is already an iconic figure for his contributions to the medium, ranging from New Gods to Doctor Doom to Iron Man, and many more. Aside from Stan Lee, Jack Kirby is one of the most prolific creators to work in the industry. As the Fantastic Four ventured into the afterlife, they faced a recognizable face in Fantastic Four #511, written by Mark Waid with art by Mike Wieringo, inks by Karl Kesel, and colors by Paul Mounts. The issue featured a cameo of Jack Kirby in a meta reveal, as he played the role of the Marvel Universe’s true creator. After Reed Richards opened the door in deep space to reveal what he assumed would be God, he stepped into a room belonging to Kirby, sitting at his drawing desk. The scene doesn’t necessarily break the fourth wall, but it does infer that Marvel’s version of an omnipotent creator is just the creative teams behind a book.
It turns out that Jack Kirby’s god-like status extends to both the Marvel Universe and the DC Universe. Recently, Green Lantern #12 revealed that similarly, Kirby exists as a god-like being in the cosmos. As Green Lantern John Stewart ventures into deep space and meets the Source, familiar readers will easily recognize Jack Kirby’s likeness.
At one point in time, “the Source” was the power source in Kirby’s creation New Gods. As a way to explain how the DC Universe came into being, mentions of the Source often sufficed. Through the years, creators characterized the being in a variety of forms. However, this latest iteration is the most resonate, as writer Geoffrey Thorne and artists Marco Santucci and Tom Raney pay tribute to Kirby’s legacy. The reveal isn’t meta to the same degree that Waid presented Kirby’s presence in Fantastic Four #511, but it could be perceived as an in-universe acknowledgeable that Green Lantern is in a comic book.
The Source is subject to evolve and change in future renditions. However, Jack Kirby’s likeness is a tasteful way to reincorporate his image in new stories that have been influenced by his innovations. If the Marvel Universe and the DC Universe should have a bridge, Jack Kirby’s shared influence is a heartfelt solution.