Mister Miracle #8 Review

Writer: Tom King

Pencils, Inks, Colors: Mitch Gerads

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Published by: DC Comics

When reading comics, sometimes you get that indescribable feeling that you know what you are reading good, sometimes great, and very seldom magnificent. That’s the feeling I get every time I read a new issue of Mister Miracle by King and Gerads. They have tapped that “je ne sais quoi” that makes a comic book feel epic and you just know it will on almost everyone’s “Best” lists for years to come.

In this issue, the King and Gerads focuses on the aftermath Jack’s birth (Scott and Barda’s son) and how they cope with having him all while trying to win a war on Apokolips for which they are now the leaders (Scott being Highfather and all). It’s an interesting contrast that is used throughout the entirety of the issue as King bounces back and forth between bedtime and feedings and the atrocities of war.

I think the decision to see almost all the action from one parent’s perspective, Scott in this case, is an interesting choice and allows the readers to better follow along on this journey that Scott and Barda face. The issue starts off innocently enough with Scott reheating baby milk for Jack and feeding him afterwards but it then jumps to him fighting on Apokolips in a violent confrontation where he loses part of his leg - no fear though, New Genesis technology fixes him right back up.

In the moments that you see Scott fighting, without even saying a word for the most part, you see that he is no longer fighting for himself or Barda or even New Genesis. He is now fighting for Jack and to get back home to him. This is where Gerads’s art comes into full display. I’ve sung his praises before, but this issue really hammers home just how good Gerads is at conveying that, once again, “je ne sais quoi” on the page for all to see. The fact that he does it all in the art department also greatly increases how good everything looks.

I’d like to also like to point out the awesome product placement of DC Comics t-shirts that Scott keeps wearing. Hell, I own a few of those myself. I’m not sure if this was Gerads who chose to do this or it was done at King’s suggestion, but it’s a fun little easter egg.