As shared by Marvel, a plaque commemorating Jack Kirby was unveiled at Avengers Campus, in Disney California Adventure Park (part of the larger Disneyland Resort), to mark the cartoonist’s 109th birthday on August 28. The plaque thanks Kirby, saying, “Avengers Campus owes much to your vision and storytelling. The characters you created populate this campus as a living tribute to you, Jack.”
Placed in-between is a quote from the man 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.” The comment, which originated from a 1982 interview for Entertainment Tonight, previously appeared in the end credits of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Various members of the Kirby family attended the private ceremony, along with Marvel Television, Animation, Comics, and Franchise head Brad Winderbaum; Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Stephen Wacker; park vice president Brent Davies; and Walt Disney Imagineering’s executive creative director Brent Strong. A performer dressed as the MCU’s version of Kirby’s alter-ego, Ben Grimm/The Thing, was also present.
The installation of the plaque comes over four years after frequent Kirby collaborator Stan Lee‘s own plaque was installed at Avengers Campus in 2022, and a few months after a street in New York City was renamed after Kirby (something presumably buoyed by the release of First Steps, which owed more to Kirby than any previous Fantastic Four film, in 2025.) It also, perhaps unintentionally, heralds Marvel Comics’ own move from Kirby’s hometown of New York, to the Greater Los Angeles area (where Disneyland is located) next year.
You can watch a video of the unveiling in an ABC 7 Eyewitness News report here, and check out more photos from Jack’s grandson Jeremy Kirby below.
