Mister Miracle #2 Poster (1971) Jack Kirby

Description

Mister Miracle finds himself stuck in a moment he can’t get out of on this classic Jack “the King” Kirby cover. Never fear. The unusual super hero, an escape artist who combined the resourcefulness of MacGyver with the showmanship of Harry Houdini, had a knack for busting out of traps. In 1970, when Kirby was recuited by DC to create a tetralogy of interlocking comics under the rubric of the Fourth World, Mister Miracle was one of his flagship titles – and arguably the most interesting work he’d done in years. Chock full of colorful characters – like the title character’s dwarf assistant, Oberon – and inventive situations, Mister Miracle lasted only eighteen issues, but its hero lived on to be revived on numerous occasions. The series also opened a fascinating window on Kirby’s creative process. The King based the character of Mister Miracle and his alter ego, Scott Free on his colleague Jim Steranko, a former escape artist. The villain in this issue, an elderly harridan named Granny Goodness, was said to have been loosely modeled on comedienne Phyllis Diller. Chesty actress Lainie Kazan who had recently posed nude for the October 1970 issue of Playboy, was rumored to have provided the visual inspiration for Free’s buxom wife, Big Barda. The byplay between Barda and Free was based on Kiry’s relationship with his real-life wife, Rosalind. Mister Miracle (Scott Free) is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Mister Miracle #1 (April 1971) and was created by Jack Kirby. Mister Miracle was one of four series in Kirby’s ambitious but short-lived Fourth World saga. The character was inspired by the early illusionist career of comic book artist Jim Steranko, while the character’s relationship with Big Barda is based on Kirby’s relationship with his own wife. Scott Free is the son of Izaya (Highfather), the ruler of New Genesis, and his wife named Avia. As part of a diplomatic move to stop a destructive war against the planet Apokolips, Highfather agreed to an exchange of heirs with the galactic tyrant Darkseid; the exchange of heirs guaranteed that neither side would attack the other. Scott traded places with Darkseid’s second-born son Orion. Scott grew up in one of Granny Goodness’ “Terror Orphanages” with no knowledge of his own heritage. As he matured, Scott rebelled against the totalitarian ideology of Apokolips. Hating himself for being unable to fit in, he was influenced by Metron to see a future beyond Darkseid. Scott became part of a small band of pupils who were tutored in secret by the rebel Himon, a New Genesian living as a “Hunger Dog” on Apokolips. It was at these meetings that he met fellow pupil Big Barda, who would later become his wife. Eventually, Scott Free escaped and fled to Earth. His escape, long anticipated and planned for by Darkseid, nullified the pact between Darkseid and Highfather and gave Darkseid the excuse he needed to revive the war with New Genesis. Once on Earth, he became the protégé of a circus escape artist, Thaddeus Brown, whose stage name was Mister Miracle. Brown was impressed with Scott’s skills (especially as supplemented with various advanced devices he had taken from his previous home). Scott befriended Brown’s assistant, a dwarf named Oberon. When Thaddeus Brown was murdered, Scott Free assumed the identity of Mister Miracle. Barda later followed Scott to Earth, and the two used their powers, equipment, and skills in the war against Darkseid, who was still interested in recapturing both of them. Eventually, tired of being chased on Earth by Darkseid’s servants, Scott returned to Apokolips and won his freedom by legal means, through trial by combat. The Mister Miracle series (plus Forever People, New Gods, and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen) earned Jack Kirby the 1971 Shazam Award for Special Achievement by an Individual in the comic industry. Jack Kirby (August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994), born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium. After serving in World War II, Kirby returned to comics and worked in a variety of genres. He produced work for a number of publishers, including DC, Harvey Comics, Hillman Periodicals and Crestwood Publications, where he and Simon created the genre of romance comics. He and Simon also launched their own short-lived comic company, Mainline Publications. Kirby co-created with writers Dick and Dave Wood the non-superpowered adventuring quartet the Challengers of the Unknown in Showcase #6 (Feb. 1957), while also contributing to such anthologies as House of Mystery.