Mister Miracle #4

Written by: Tom King
Art by: Mitch Gerards
Published by: DC Comics

I am not one prone to hyperbole when writing my reviews, but hyperbole is warranted when writing about Mister Miracle. It is not often that you get to read such an intricate, loving, painful, hopeful, insert a thousand other adjectives here, type of book. Mister Miracle is becoming, since it still has 8 more issues to go, one of the year’s, if not decades, best books on the shelves. If you aren’t reading this book, you are clearly doing yourself a disservice. Hyperbolic enough?

What King and Gerards have crafted here, especially in issue 4, is a perfect demonstration of character study. And the best part? It’s not just a character study of Mister Miracle but one of this comic’s supporting cast. We get to learn more about who Lightray, Orion, and especially Barda, are in the context of King and Gerards’s vision. I had previously written about how this comic deals with Scott Free’s post-traumatic stress disorder, which he clearly is suffering from, and in this issue, the PTSD is brought to forefront. Why? It’s the trial of Scott Free by his appointed Judge, Jury and Executioner: Orion, new Highfather to the new gods.

I am purposefully avoiding talking too much about the ins and outs of this issue because I cannot stress enough how important it is to read and experience this issue first hand. This is the issue of Scott’s trial, yes, but how it comes about and proceeds is too good to spoil. King continues to add incredible emotional depth in his writing in this series, that you can’t help but cheer or boo throughout this issue. Coupled with the emotional scenes are great character moments that never feel out of place within the larger narrative.

King and Gerards have proven time and time again in these four issues that they clearly have a deep love for these characters and want to do right by them. We, as the readers, are just lucky enough that we get to experience this ride with them. We’re a third through this series and I for one cannot wait to see what comes next.