Mister Miracle: Vol. 1

This masterful continuation of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga breathes new life into Scott Free, aka brilliant escape artist Mister Miracle. The book opens with his attempted suicide, and it’s clear that a history of struggle has made its mark on Scott. While he recovers with help from his beloved wife, Big Barda, Scott learns that his father—ruler of the planet New Genesis—has died. While fighting his half-brother, Orion, for the throne, Scott becomes a father himself. Balancing rulership, fatherhood, and war, Scott is forced to question whether he is willing to sacrifice what is most important to him in order to end a cycle of pain. Though there is no shortage of action, the story’s script expertly tackles intense issues of trauma without pandering or offering any easy answers, instead extending a sense of empathy. The writing’s subtlety is aided by Gerads’s impeccable attention to detail and dynamic coloring, which nod to the story’s origins while giving the characters a realistically updated aesthetic. Thoughtful insights connect to the reader on a deeply human level. Fans of Mister Miracle and new readers will be equally enthralled. (Feb.)