Religion in Jack Kirby’s Fourth World and Beyond

Editor: Matthew Brake

Jack Kirby needs no introduction. He was one of the most prolific and creative figures in the history of modern mainstream superhero comics and few others have done more to influence the superhero genre in various media across decades. Plenty of ink has been spilt on Kirby’s life as well as the extensions of his influence, including the billion dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe which has propelled a number of his co-creations to international fame. However, there is one corner of Kirby scholarship that has had a dearth of research: the Fourth World. There are certainly plenty of individual book chapters, journal articles, and popular publications about the Fourth World, but there has yet to be a single scholarly volume exclusively dedicated to exploring this part of Kirby’s oeuvre.

This volume for McFarland’s Studies in Comics and Religion series seeks to fill a gap in the scholarship of Kirby’s work, particularly through the lens of religious studies (and related disciplines). This volume will explore the characters and religious themes of the New Gods of Kirby’s Fourth but also in the works of those who followed Kirby in exploring this unique corner of the DC Universe, such as Gerry Conway, Paul Levitz, Mark Evanier, Jim Starlin, Rachel Pollack, John Byrne, Walt Simonson, Grant Morrison, Tom King, Cecil Castellucci, Brandon Easton, and Ram V, among so many others. While the focus of this volume, and of this series in general, is to specifically explore the Fourth World in comics, limited engagement will be encouraged to address the Fourth World’s use in other mediums like television and movies (but always with reference to the comics).

Potential Topics include but are not limited to:

• Judaism within Kirby’s Fourth World
• The Manichean world of the New Gods
• Glorious Godfrey as televangelist
• Hindu Mythology in Ram V’s New Gods
• Grant Morrison’s (Platonic) New Gods
• How Gods are Made: John Byrne’s God Wave
• Hope to Overcome Death: Mister Miracle’s Great Escape
• New Gods: Sci-Fi Aliens or Spiritual Beings?
• Morrison, Hopi Apocalyptic Imagination, and the Birth of the Fifth World
• Racism and Religious Legacies in Brandon Easton’s Mister Miracle

Contributors will submit a 250-500 abstract along with a CV to Matthew Brake at matthew.brake84@gmail.com by October 14, 2025.