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JACK KIRBY WAY

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“The New York City Council hereby approves the co-naming of Essex Street between Delancey and Rivington Streets Jack Kirby Way, in honor of Jack Kirby, an outstanding New Yorker and a pioneering artist who co-created the Marvel Universe, helped inspire the pop art movement, and immortalized the Lower East Side in his work.” —Dec. 18, 2025

About Jack Kirby

Widely recognized as the most prolific and arguably most important creator in the history of the comic book medium, Jack Kirby (1917–1994) is also one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. As the co-creator of the Marvel Universe and its pantheon of superheroes, as well as a pop art pioneer, Jack Kirby is an unsung founding father of modern popular culture.

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Jack "King of Comics" Kirby is the creator or co-creator of: Captain America, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Ant-Man, Iron Man, Avengers, X-Men, Silver Surfer, Black Panther, New Gods, and countless other characters and concepts. He also played a role in the creation of Spider-Man and Daredevil.

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About Jack Kirby Way

Jack Kirby was born Jacob Kurtzberg on August 28, 1917, at 147 Essex Street on New York City's Lower East Side.

 

Jack Kirby Way is the co-name of Essex Street between Delancey & Rivington Streets, one block south from Kirby’s birthplace. He spent his childhood mostly on Delancey, a more major thoroughfare, and it’s Delancey that he immortalized in his Fantastic Four and other comics as Yancy Street.

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"Jack Kirby Way" was officially dedicated on May 11, 2026. The street sign is on the northwest corner of Essex & Delancey, three blocks away from the Williamsburg Bridge. Nearly 200,000 people pass the corner each day.

Photos from the Jack Kirby Way street naming ceremony and receptions, May 11, 2026 (56)

A recording of the full Jack Kirby Way street naming ceremony, May 11, 2026

Speakers: street naming campaign lead Roy Schwartz, NYC Council Member Christopher Marte, Marvel Comics SVP of Publishing & Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, DC Comics former President and Publisher Paul Levitz, legendary comics artist Jim Steranko, Jillian Kirby, Tracy & Jeremy Kirby, and Rev. Chuck Robertson.

For press inquiries please contact Roy Schwartz, roy@royschwartz.com

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​​CBS NEWS

Oct. 27, 2025

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​​AMNY

Dec. 31, 2025

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​​NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

May 11, 2026

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​​COMICS BEAT

May 12, 2026

​​FOX 5 NEW YORK

May 11, 2026

Related

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​​PBS SPECIAL

COMIC CULTURE - THE JACK KIRBY WAY

TBD, 2026

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EXHIBITION

THE JACK KIRBY WAY: HOW A BOY FROM THE LOWER EAST SIDE BECAME THE KING OF COMICS

May 11–Nov. 30, 2026

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RECEPTION-EXCLUSIVE MARVEL COMIC

CELEBRATING JACK KIRBY WAY

May 11, 2026

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​​THE ROSALIND KIRBY TRUST

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​​THE JACK & ROZ KIRBY AWARDS

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​​THE JACK KIRBY MUSEUM & RESEARCH CENTER

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CBR

Jack Kirby Fan Explains How He Changed New York History And Brought His Marvel Dream To Life

June 11, 2026

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EAST HAMPTON STAR

Gristmill: Kirby’s Way

May 28, 2026

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PBS COMIC CULTURE

Comic Culture Jack Kirby Way Street Dedication

May 27, 2026

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IZZYVERSE

The King of Comics Comes Home

May 25, 2026

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JEWISH STANDARD

Lower East Side street honors Jack Kirby

May 21, 2026

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TACHLES

Jüdischer Comicpionier

May 21, 2026 (Switzerland)

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OUR TOWN

Jack Kirby Way Street Naming Honors LES-Born Comic Book Artist

May 17, 2026

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PW COMICS WORLD: MORE TO COME

More to Come 715: Jack Kirby Way Day

May 15, 2026

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THE COMICS JOURNAL

Jack Kirby’s Way

May 15, 2026

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CÁTEDRA MOEBIUS

Nueva York homenajea al “rey de los cómics” renombrando de manera oficial una de sus calles como Jack Kirby Way

May 14, 2026 (Spain)

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THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

‘King of Comics’ Jack Kirby honoured with NYC street named after him

May 14, 2026 (UK)

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THE TELEGRAPH

Lower East Side street named for ‘King of Comics’ Jack Kirby, a nod to one of the countless kids of immigrants who shaped the genre

May 13, 2026 (UK)

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ASATU NEWS

New York City Names Lower East Side Street After Jack Kirby

May 13, 2026 (Indonesia)

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PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Jack Kirby Gets His Due on the Lower East Side

May 13, 2026

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AMNY

Hometown hero: Lower East Side street named for superhero co-creator Jack Kirby

May 13, 2026

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THE FORWARD

Jack Kirby finally gets his corner of the city that made him super

May 13, 2026

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KHOU 11

Jack Kirby Way unveiled in New York City

May 12, 2026

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FORTUNE

The ‘King of Comics’ finally gets his due as New York names a Lower East Side street after Jack Kirby

May 12, 2026

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BLEEDING COOL

Watch The Unveiling Of Jack Kirby Way, At His Birthplace In New York

May 12, 2026 (UK)

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JNS (JEWISH NEWS SYNDICATE)

‘King of Comics’ Jack Kirby honored with NYC street renaming

May 12, 2026

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COMICS BEAT

The Jack Kirby Way: a day of joy

May 12, 2026

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1010 WINS

LES street corner renamed ‘Jack Kirby Way’ to honor comic artist

May 11, 2026

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FV DIGITAL

Aficionados disfrazados de Marvel toman calle de Nueva York renombrada en honor a Jack Kirby, el relegado socio de Stan Lee

May 11, 2026 (Dominican Republic)

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TRIPWIRE

New York Officially Renames Corner Of Streets After Jack Kirby

May 11, 2026 (UK)

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PIX 11 NEWS

Comic pioneer Jack Kirby honored with street naming near NYC childhood home (video)

May 11, 2026

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PIX 11 NEWS

Comic pioneer Jack Kirby honored with street naming near NYC childhood home (article)

May 11, 2026

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NEW YORK POST

Cosplaying Marvel fans take over NYC street as it’s renamed for Jack Kirby, scorned partner of Stan Lee

May 11, 2026

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

‘Jack Kirby Way’: Comic book legend honored with street name on Lower East Side

May 11, 2026

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FOX 5 NEW YORK

Comic book legend Jack Kirby honored with NYC street name

May 11, 2026

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CBS NEWS

Comic book legend Jack Kirby honored with NYC street renaming

May 11, 2026

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PW COMICS WORLD: MORE TO COME

More to Come 714: Roy Schwartz Interview

May 8, 2026

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MARVELOUS NEWS

NYC Renaming Street After Iconic Artist Jack Kirby

May 8, 2026

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SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE

Jack Kirby Was a Kid From the Lower East Side Who Became the ‘King of Comics’ and Made Superhero Mythology. Now, New York City Has Named a Street After Him

May 7, 2026

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THE CONVERSATION

Lower East Side street named for ‘King of Comics’ Jack Kirby, a nod to one of the countless kids of immigrants who shaped the genre

May 7, 2026

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FOX 5 NEW YORK

NYC renaming street 'Jack Kirby Way' in honor of famed comic book artist

May 6, 2026

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QUEENS GAZETTE

Jack Kirby Way

April 30, 2026

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THE DAILY CARTOONIST

Jack Kirby Street Sign Unveiling Date Announced

April 14, 2026

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COMICS BEAT

Jack Kirby Way street naming to take place May 11th

April 13, 2026

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BOOK RIOT

Jack Kirby Way: How It Got Renamed and Why it Matters

March 27, 2026

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SUPERMAN SUPER SITE

Jack Kirby Honored with "Jack Kirby Way" Street Co-Naming in Manhattan's Lower East Side

March 27, 2026

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SUPERMAN HOMEPAGE

A Block of Essex Street in Manhattan Is Becoming Jack Kirby Way

March 26, 2026

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AMNY

City Council approves co-naming street for superhero co-creator Jack Kirby on Lower East Side

Dec. 31, 2025

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BOING BOING

Marvel creator Jack Kirby gets the NYC street of his childhood named after him

Dec. 22, 2025

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GRAPHIC POLICY

The NYC Council Votes Jack Kirby Way into Law

Dec. 20, 2025​

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COMICS BEAT

NYC Council approves JACK KIRBY WAY street

Dec. 19, 2025​

 

AMNY

Comic book co-creator and Lower East Side native Jack Kirby street co-naming advances, art exhibit opens

Nov. 12, 2025​

 

NERDIST

Comic Book Legend Jack Kirby May Get a NY Street Named for Him

Oct. 29, 2025

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CBS NEWS

Push on to rename NYC street in honor of Jack Kirby, one of the godfathers of comic books

Oct. 27, 2025

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COMICS BEAT

Efforts to get a street named after Jack Kirby are making progress!

Oct. 22, 2025

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GOTHAMIST

A bid to honor the NYC co-creator of a host of Marvel Comics heroes

Oct. 19, 2025

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WNYC/NPR

All Things Considered: Comic book artist Jack Kirby may get a street in the Lower East Side named after him. We talk to the man behind the effort.

Oct. 17, 2025​​​​​

 

AMNY

A human superhero: Push to honor Lower East Sider and Superhero co-creator Jack Kirby

Oct. 7, 2025

©2026 Roy Schwartz

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