The [Fourth] World of Jack Kirby

Panel and visual presentation at ArtCenter College of Design!

News! This Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 7:00 to 9:00 pm, ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena (located here) will present a panel on Jack Kirby’s legendary Fourth World project. I’m proud to be part of that panel and can’t wait for the conversation!

Graphic designer, historian, veteran ArtCenter teacher, and former Eisner Award judge Michael Dooley is moderating and co-organizing the panel. I’ve been a guest of Michael’s at ArtCenter a number of time, usually in his Design History of Comics class, and always I’ve come away with new knowledge and new things to think about. I mean, every time. Michael’s work knocks me out: his many presentations at scholarly and fan events, his contributions to Print magazine, his tireless enthusiasm for documenting comics culture here in southern California. Plus, he is a faithful friend, bon vivant, and troublemaker of the best sort.

Joining us on the panel are:

Kevin Dooley, retired educator and former editor and writer for DC Comics, whom I first met at CSUN years ago. Kevin’s work at DC included editing storied runs of Green Lantern and Aquaman and writing and editing runs of the Mister Miracle series, part of Kirby’s Fourth World. He also edited Fantagraphics’ fondly remembered magazine Amazing Heroes for several years.

Tony Puryear, a Renaissance man if there every was one: artist, writer, comics maker, and more. Tony draws, paints, and designs; he writes for page and screen; he was the first African American screenwriter to script a summer blockbuster (Eraser, 1996). He co-created the comic book series Concrete Park, a polycultural urban dystopia steeped in the influence of Kirby.

Jim Thompson and Alonso Nuñez, both former Eisner judges (like Michael and me) and now co-chairs of the Eisner Hall of Fame judging committee. Jim, who is co-organizing this panel, is a brilliant comics historian and the founder-moderator of the popular and eye-opening Facebook group “A People’s History of Comics.” Alonso is co-founder and executive director of the educational nonprofit Little Fish Comic Studio.

Delighted to be in this good company! This event is free and open to all. Free parking is conveniently available not far from our venue, the ArtCenter Library (many thanks to librarian Mark Parsons for welcoming us).

I hope to see some of you readers there!