With his comic book clout already undeniable, but a Hollywood movie career currently in the works, here's everything you need to know about DC's Mister Miracle, one of Jack Kirby's greatest comic creations.
After creating the likes of Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and Black Panther, Kirby left Marvel and brought an originally intended Thor arc into another epic altogether called the Fourth World Saga. His second title in the series was Mister Miracle starring a former New God who ended up on Earth and became the greatest escape artist ever known.
Mister Miracle has always been caught in the crosshairs of the New Genesis/Apokolips conflict. Scott Free escapes his version of Hell and becomes a God living among humans. With Big Barda by his side and some incredible powers at his disposal, Mister Miracle is one of the most interesting characters in the DC Universe. Let's take a closer look at his origin and powers.
Scott Free AKA Mister Miracle Origins
Out of every single DC character in existence, Scott Free might have gotten the shortest end of the stick when it comes to his childhood. Born as the son of Highfather, the ruler of New Genesis, Scott is involved in a peace offering trade to stop the war with Darkseid and Apokolips as he's exchanged for Orion. Instead of living in a Utopia, Scott is raised in the hell pits of Apokolips. Despite growing up tortured and groomed into a soldier for Darkseid, Scott gets tutored by Apokolips Resistance leader Himon in rebellion and advanced tech such as Mother Box device. He also meets Big Barda, one of Darkseid's Female Furies
Eventually, Scott manages to escape and flees to Earth where he encounters Thaddeus Brown, an escape artist who goes by the stage name Mister Miracle. Scott assumes his identity after Brown is murdered. Brown's close friend Oberon helps in his adventures. Barda joins him on Earth and the two are continually torn from the war of their home planets.
In the excellent Mister Miracle run by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, which might be the most important superhero comic of the decade, Scott is suicidal and can't escape the one thing he wants to, life. Once Highfather is murdered and Darkseid acquires the Anti-Life Equation, Scott and Barda are called into action. Scott might be the solution to stopping the war, but his reality and worldview are warped; he could be under the power of the equation and his mental state is in trouble. Scott is an unreliable narrator whose reality isn't exactly clear. Thankfully, Barda is by his side as the two fight Darkseid and Apokolips while starting a family of their own. King and Gerads' take is completely different from Kirby's original story, but it honors his work and moves Mister Miracle into interesting new territory.
Mister Miracle's Powers
Mister Miracle is a God for good reason. His powerset dwarves even the Earth's most powerful beings. Scott Free is basically immortal and has superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, and agility. Thanks to growing up in the Pits of Apokolips, he's developed a resistance to certain conditions, is skilled in combat, and is a master escape artist.
Intellectually, Mister Miracle is a genius. His time with Himon taught him how to use Fourth World tech. His equipment includes a Mother Box, aero discs that allow flight (but also can be used as weapons), and a costume that allows the acrobat and escape artist to easily get out of any situation.
Being the son of Darkseid, he does have a similar ability to Darkseid's Omega Effect. Mister Miracle's "Alpha Effect" allows him to manipulate energy, time and space, and can heal and (in special cases) resurrect the dead. Scott is also able to harness the Anti-Life Equation.
Mister Miracle has been around a long time but has gained popularity more recently. Both Scott and Big Barda are reportedly going to be the focus of Ava Duvernay's New Gods movie, which is said to draw inspiration from King (who is co-writing the film) and Gerads' recent run. Mister Miracle is a great character who is finally getting his due.