Jack Kirby’s name is mostly associated with Marvel, but he left to join DC Comics from 1970 to 1973. During that time, he created the Fourth World Saga. Even if, in the end, The King was not treated better by DC than he was at Marvel, his work there was still heavily influential. In fact, DC would not be what it is today without it.
When he joined DC Comics, Jack Kirby took over Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen and, with issue #133 (Oct. 1970), he began the Fourth World. The three other original titles in which the saga developed were The Forever People, Mister Miracle, and The New Gods. The story is basically about the battle between good and evil as represented by the worlds of New Genesis and Apokolips.
Here is the story: Raised in exile as a living instrument of peace between Apokolips and New Genesis, Orion swore to uphold the life-affirming values of his adopted world. But the bottomless rage and thirst for combat that course through his veins cannot be extinguished. In the end, will he defeat Darkseid and thwart his quest for the Anti-Life Equation–or will he forsake his vow and seize the ultimate power for himself?
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Reading Order
Fourth World Reading Order: The Omnibus Collection
There’s one really big omnibus:
- Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus
Collects Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133–139 and #141–148, The Forever People #1–11, The New Gods #1–11, Mister Miracle #1–18, New Gods vol. 2 #1–6, DC Graphic Novel #4: “The Hunger Dogs”, and Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #2–3, #6, #8–18, #20, #22 and #25.
But also a 4-volume (of approximately 400 pages each) collection:
- Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volume 1
Collects Forever People #1–3, Mister Miracle #1–3, The New Gods #1–3, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133–139. - Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volume 2
Collects Forever People #4–6, Mister Miracle #4–6, The New Gods #4–6, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #141–145. - Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volume 3
Collects Forever People #7–10, Mister Miracle #7–9, The New Gods #7–10, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #146–148. - Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volume 4
Collects Forever People #11; Mister Miracle #10–18; The New Gods #11; “Even Gods Must Die” from The New Gods vol. 2, #6; DC Graphic Novel #4: “The Hunger Dogs”.
The Absolute Fourth World
Another collection, the Absolute Fourth World is a two-volume premium edition for collectors published as part of the celebration of the 100th birthday of Jack Kirby.
- Absolute Fourth World by Jack Kirby Vol. 1
Collects Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133-139 and #141-148, The New Gods #1-11, The Forever People #1-11, Mister Miracle #1-18, plus later stories from New Gods #4 and DC Graphic novel #4. - Absolute Fourth World by Jack Kirby Vol. 2
Collects Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #146-148, The Forever People #7-11, The New Gods #7-11, Mister Miracle #7-18, Jack Kirby’s New Gods (Reprint Series) #6, DC Graphic Novel #4: The Hunger Dogs and Kirby’s lost story “On the Road to Armagetto.”
Fourth World Reading Order: The individual Series
If you only want some but not all of the Fourth World series, they were published independently.
- Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby
Collects Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133–139, #141–148. - New Gods by Jack Kirby
Collects The New Gods #1–11. - The Forever People by Jack Kirby
Collects The Forever People #1–11. - Mister Miracle by Jack Kirby
Collects Mr Miracle #1–18.
Fourth World Reading Order: Issue by Issue
And now, if you want to read the stories following the publication order
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133-135
- Forever People #1
- New Gods #1
- Mister Miracle #1
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #136
- Forever People #2
- New Gods #2
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #137
- Mister Miracle #2
- Forever People #3
- New Gods #3
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #138
- Mister Miracle #3
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #139
- Forever People #4
- New Gods #4
- Mister Miracle #4
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #141
- Forever People #5
- New Gods #5
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #145
- Mister Miracle #5
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #146
- Forever People #6
- New Gods #6
- Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane #117
- Mister Miracle #6
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #145
- Forever People #7
- New Gods #7
- Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane #119
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #146
- Mister Miracle #7
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #147
- Forever People #8
- New Gods #8
- Mister Miracle #8
- Forever People #9
- New Gods #9
- Mister Miracle #9
- Forever People #10
- New Gods #10
- Mister Miracle #10
- Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #152
- Forever People #11
- New Gods #11
- Mister Miracle #11 -18
- New Gods (Reprint Series) #6
- The Hunger Dogs (graphic novel)
What to read after The Fourth World?
Created by Kenner Products in the 1980s, The Super Powers Collection was a line of action figures based on DC Comics superheroes and supervillains that came with tie-ins miniseries. The first series of comics in 1984 was plotted by Jack Kirby, who also provided covers, and went on to pencil the second series. They are not officially part of the Fourth World, but you can read them as a follow-up.
- Super Powers by Jack Kirby
Collects Super Powers Vol. 1 #1-5 and Super Powers Vol. 2 #1-6.
But wait! If you really want to dive more into the Fourth World after Jack Kirby’s run, DC Comics has collected 12 years of stories in one new brand omnibus, including the Great Darkness Saga and Kirby’s Super Powers.
- The Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects Mister Miracle #19-25; The New Gods #12-19; Adventure Comics #459-460; The Brave and the Bold #112, #128, and #138; DC Comics Presents #12; First Issue Special #13; Justice League of America #183-185; Legion of Super-Heroes #290-294; Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #3; Secret Society of Super-Villains #1-5; Super Powers #1-5; Super Powers (vol. 2) #1-6; Super Powers (vol. 3) #1-4; Super Powers Collection #13-23; Super-Team Family #15; and stories from DC Special Series #10 and Legion of Super-Heroes #287.