Hmmm.... I've heard that Dini statement paraphrased. If he really thinks he brought in Kirby elements, when Kirby himself had them sprout from Jimmy Olsen and they re-emerged in the late 80s, that's kind of odd.
It was the Fleischer cartoon version in a different setting. But he was the most powerful person in the animated universe until maybe the JLU.
Nice. I wonder if they ever did a read along companion series to the episodes somewhere.