Playing another part.
Creative Staff:
Story: Tom King
Art: Mitch Gerards
Colors: Mitch Gerards
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
What They Say:
This issue, it’s back to Apokolips—and a return to war. Scott Free is engaged in a bloody battle against Darkseid’s forces, this time without Barda by his side—because her hands are full, thanks to a domestic situation at home. With his attention split by his concerns for his wife’s commitments back on Earth, can Mister Miracle hold his own against the minions of darkness?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
As we move further into the back half of the series, Mister Miracle continues to show some new sides to it in engaging ways. While part of me is still wondering if this is all some twisted dream or other shenanigan that will allow it to exist separately from everything else, Tom King has made it a thoroughly engaging read as it goes big and small at the same time. And not enough can be said about what Mitch Gerards does here and every other issue in these small boxes to utterly humanize the moments while also showing the brutality of what’s going on. The format is not an easy one to work with, though it’s one that I’ve adored for years through some creative use on the DC Comics publishing side. This series is no exception to that enjoyment.
With the birth of Jack, Scott and Barda have put together a workable plan to deal with their family and the war, resulting in a two-track story that’s nicely blended in its own way. The two alternate going to war which has its pros and cons. The focus on Scott on the war side works well as we see the fight on Apokolips and the struggle that ensues there as the losses are huge on both sides as they wear Scott down. There’s some amusement in that they lose ground at one point because the warrior he faces in single combat is better than him whereas Barda would crush him but it’s her time to be back home. The sharing of videos and pictures across space presents a lot of real family dynamic material and just works to keep Scott grounded, reminds him what he’s fighting for, and gives him that little bit extra amid the carnage around him – especially when he sees what looks like a parademon youngling in the field and the conflict really adds a new layer of weight to it.
The homebound side of the story is a little weaker in a way but it’s critical to showing some of the release that Scott gets there, particularly as Lightray prods him on Apokolips at one point that he’s only playing the part of Highfather in fighting this war. The home side is drawn out in a way that might bother some that just wanted the war but it’s critical to showing another side of Scott, the joys and problems of parenthood, and the way the bond between him and Barda is getting stronger through the adversity of the experience. I’m still less than thrilled with Funky simply because I never liked the character as it always felt too inside baseball to me but having help while there – and Scott sitting with another mom outside as well – is definitely important. As is seeing Scott regularly wearing actual DC branded character logo shirts. That little bit works for me in a weird way.
In Summary:
Mister Miracle continues to be an utter delight in what it does. It’s engaging as it teases out the story and delves deep into the character, touching on interesting areas and providing a great connection to the past through the future with their son, quite the little king of a character. This issue handles its dual aspects very well with each bringing a lot to the table and complementing each other beautifully, both in words and visuals. Mitch Gerards generally impresses me with most of his work but a project like this is just something else entirely and it holds my attention fully because of how he presents it all in working with Tom King. Great stuff from the quiet moments to the big moments.
Grade: A-
Age Rating: 17+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: April 18th, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
