COVER STORY: Mister Miracle Special #1

What makes the best comic book covers? It is a great topic for debate. For us, as individuals, there is no wrong answer, of course; it is purely subjective. But, with a little thought it’s possible to explain what it is about a particular image that grabs you. The best images are the ones that make you stop and check out something you weren’t previously planning to purchase – and in some cases, you even end up picking up a title you’ve never even heard of before.

Inspired by the magic of comics grandmaster Jim Steranko, Mister Miracle has been unleashed upon the world by many worthy creators – but none more so than this.

Written by Mark Evanier and illustrated by artist extraordinaire Steve Rude, DC’s Mister Miracle Special #1 (April 1987) was, according to legend, one of the few homages to Jack Kirby and his “Fourth World” that Kirby truly considered worthy of his modern mythos. 

For a company that was once seen arguably turning its back on Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko a decade earlier, “The Original Universe” had these legendary creators’ concepts all over its continuity in the mid to late ‘80s. To that end, within Kirby’s staggering mythology, Mister Miracle (aka Scott Free, originally of New Genesis) was the reluctant warrior while his companions from all points “Fourth World” – Big Barda of Apokolips and Oberon from Earth – fought on the frontlines of Darkseid’s firepit emblazoned death-world’s near invasion of our earth, all while holding sway over the rest of the mythos.

Not easy by any means. Of course, Scott Free isn’t this and any other world’s greatest escape artist for nothing, you know?

Still, there is plenty of magic to be found within this very special comic book. Conjure it for yourself. 

–Scott Braden