Marvel unveiled a plaque honoring legendary creator Jack Kirby at Avengers Campus, with The Thing on hand for the tribute.
Marvel has officially unveiled a special plaque honoring the legendary comic book creator Jack Kirby at Avengers Campus, located within Disney's California Adventure. The tribute took place on what would have been Kirby's 109th birthday, celebrating his immense contributions to the world of comics. Notably, Ben Grimm, also known as The Thing, was present for the significant moment.
Kirby's influence on the comic book landscape is undeniable, having co-created iconic characters such as Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, and the original X-Men for Marvel, alongside his work on DC's New Gods. The newly installed plaque reads, "Avengers Campus owes much to your vision and storytelling. The characters you created populate this campus as a living tribute to you, Jack." It also features a quote from Kirby himself: "If you look at my characters, you will find me. No matter what kind of character you create or assume, a little of yourself must remain there."
While some might have expected heroes like Captain America or Iron Man to be part of the celebration at Avengers Campus, The Thing was considered the most fitting choice. Despite his primary affiliation with the Fantastic Four, Ben Grimm holds a unique connection to Kirby. This choice underscores the profound personal influence Kirby imbued into the character, making The Thing a reflection of the creator's own life and experiences.
The parallels between Ben Grimm and Jack Kirby are extensive. The Thing's personality mirrored Kirby's, and his full name, Benjamin Jacob, was derived from Kirby's own birth name and his father's name. Both shared a history of growing up poor on the Lower East Side and were involved in youth gangs. Furthermore, Ben Grimm was Jewish, just like Kirby, cementing the character as perhaps Kirby's most personal creation.
This deeply personal connection made The Thing the ideal hero to commemorate Kirby's legacy. As Kirby himself stated, a part of him resides in all his characters, and this plaque will serve as a constant reminder to all visitors of Avengers Campus. The timing of the unveiling is also significant, coinciding not only with Kirby's birthday but also with the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday in December, bringing another of his epic creations to the big screen.
