Love it or hate it, Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga introduced a legion of characters and concepts that DC uses to this very day.
The four series (New Gods, Mister Miracle, Forever People, Jimmy Olsen) that encompassed the epic brought to life Darkseid, The Source Wall (Hey there, Mr. Lucas!) Scott Free and Big Barda, the Anti-Life Equation, Orion The Hunter, Project Cadmus …
and, of course, these guys.
What’s so memorable about Vikyn and the Black Racer, you ask?
They’re DC’s first black super-heroes.*
The pair a few months before John Stewart, the first African American Green Lantern, and a several years before Black Lightning, the first black hero in the DC universe to star in his own title.
Neither Vikyn nor the Racer were major players in the saga - although we aways loved the idea of Death flying about on skis - but broke down significant barriers nonetheless.
Aside from tossing the term “black” into the characters’ names - a standard trope in Bronze Age comics - Kirby made a point of emphasizing the duo’s competence over their skin color.
They stood among gods as equals, without any fuss nor muss.**
If memory serves, Black Racer’s human identity was paralyzed in Vietnam. Back in the early days, you didn’t see many Vietnam veterans portrayed admirably anywhere, let alone a super-hero comic.
Another barricade broken, and another example of why Kirby is remembered as the King.
He didn’t introduce Black Racer or Vikyn the Black to fill some quota. He created the characters because, well, Kirby personified the term “creator.”
Whether collaborating with others or working solo, Kirby sought to bring new elements to whichever genre he graced. The King didn’t recycle old stories, devote himself to the nooks and crannies of continuity or give long-standing characters grim re-dos to fit in with popular fads.
He always looked forward; always brought fresh concepts to the table.
Can we truly say the same about anybody else at The Big Two these days?
* Keeper’s Note The First: The accomplishment is even more notable given the fact that Kirby created Marvel’s first black super-hero as well, Black Panther. Thanks for your timely reminder, RAB!
** Keeper’s Note The Second: When The King returned to Captain America a few years later, he made a point of giving Sam Wilson as much attention as the Star Spangled Avenger. In fact, the Falcon counseled Cap and saved the hero’s shield-slinging butt more than once in the Madbomb story.
