Warning! Spoilers for Timeless #1 by Marvel Comics
As Marvel Comics teased several new storylines coming in 2022, the publisher also hinted at the potential return of a long-lost character: Miracleman. In Timeless #1, the book ends with Anatoly Petrov returning on a quest through space and time, with the historian seeing what Kang the Conqueror was capable of. However, as the book comes to a close, Petrov can't help but shake a particular vision he saw as Miracleman's logo is revealed.
The new one-shot starred Kang the Conqueror and showed what's coming to the future of the Marvel Universe. The main story by Jed MacKay, Kev Walker, Greg Land, Jay Leisten, Mark Bagley, Andrew Hennessy, Marte Gracia, and VC's Ariana Maher featured Kang teaming up with historian Anatoly Petrov. Kang wants to show Petrov that his writing that Doctor Doom was the villain who shaped history and had the biggest impact on the 21st Century was false. So he takes Petrov to his Oracle Base, where he shows how he manages the timeline and sees what's happening in the universe, both past and present.
Once aboard his observation station, Kang the Conqueror looks at moments currently happening all at once across time. Readers see the ultimate version of Thanos from Thor's dark visions wielding an Infinity Stone-powered Mjolnir, the return of a new Young Avengers team, and the possible death of Captain America at the hands of the Winter Soldier. However, it's what Petrov sees after the mission that's possibly the most exciting tease of future Marvel storylines. He opens his notebook and sees the logo for Miracleman, a hero who's long been missing in the comics.
Miracleman was created in the 1950s by Mick Anglo to tell new Captain Marvel-like stories after the hero stopped appearing in comics after DC Comics sued Fawcett Comics. Michael Moran is a reporter who had similar powers to Captain Marvel, becoming the hero (originally named Marvelman) after saying "Kimota," which is atomic backwards. The character was repopularized again by Alan Moore and Garry Leach, who deconstructed the '50s hero in the character's most iconic run to date in the '80s. Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham would continue the series after Moore left the title. The character's name was changed to Miracleman to avoid issues with Marvel Comics and would ironically later be purchased by Marvel in 2013.
While there have been rumors for years that Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham would continue their Miracleman run for Marvel Comics, the character has yet to make an official appearance in main continuity in the Marvel Universe. However, that seems to be destined to change soon, as the reveal in Timeless suggests Miracleman has a significant future in upcoming Marvel stories. Miracleman fans looking for new adventures might be in luck. Timeless #1 is in comic book stores now.