Mister Miracle #12
Joe Bainbridge
Recap
The issue opens at the L.A Condo of Mister Miracle and Big Barda, where the latter has just been woken up by the sound of running water. Whilst Mister Miracle shaves and washes he is confronted by the ‘ghost’ of Granny, who berates him for putting her mirror in the bathroom. She tries to tell him that everything that has happened to him is in his head. That he’s insane and has only made it up to escape from her. Later on, on Apokolips, Barda must face Kanto in King Kalibaks first battle as ruler, but she’s in a hurry for an appointment on Earth, so knocks him out quickly.
At their appointment, Barda is getting an ultrasound for her next baby. With everything okay with their child they leave but Scott sees Orion, who tells him that he has killed himself and gone to heaven. He is trapped in a perfect world, but Orion is disappointed that Scott would pick such an easy life for himself. At their house, Scott sings to Jacob to get him to sleep and rests his legs on the ‘ghost’ of Darkseid.
Scott awakens to the sound of Barda who tells him to go out and get hot dogs. He returns from the store and encounters Highfather. He tells Scott that the Anti-Life equation warped his mind and that though he was too weak he is still proud of his son. Scott punches his father and leaves him on the floor.
Scott returns him and goes into the basement where Oberon is waiting for him. He comforts a confused Mister Miracle and tells him that the world of superheroes who always end up safe is no more real than his wife and kids. Scott then talks to Barda and tells her that looking into the face of his family is like looking into the face of God with all it’s possible futures. Barda asks Scott for the remote which Jacob washed earlier. Saying ‘Darkseid is’, Scott responds with ‘We are too.’
Review
This is an interesting ending to Mister Miracle. The issue builds upon elements that have been laid down in the past and does so with great thought. The story is beautiful with Scott seeing all those who have died in the war he has fought in, but there is more to it than just seeing ghosts. Each person believes something different about Scott’s new life and each could be seen as part of his own mind where he has returned from the dead a broken man and Oberon ends the list of dead as the man who Mister Miracle actually trusted and could confide in. Mister Miracle is very much pushed to the forefront of this comic with others such as Barda becoming a tool used to make Scott believe different things. This is not the greatest use of one of the best characters in the series who has been so fleshed out and grown so much .
Mitch Gerads art as ever is stunning and brings a sense of uneasiness to every dead characters appearance. The angles used when Scott beats down Highfather perfectly show that he has become a leader. The colours are perfect and compliment Mister Miracles colours beautifully.
Final Thoughts
The ending to this series was interesting and thought provoking which was exactly what I expected from this. It was never going to be an easy ending and they did it masterfully. I am upset that it has to end but I hope that something else is released to carry on the story.
Mister Miracle #12: Heaven or Hell?
- Writing - 9.7/109.7/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10
