MISTER MIRACLE I
MISTER MIRACLE I
Real Name: Scott Free
Class: God (New Gods) technology-user
Occupation: Superhero, escape artist
Group Affiliation: formerly Justice League
Known Relatives: Avia (mother, deceased), Barda (Big Barda, wife), Izaya (Highfather, father), Francine “Fancy“ Goodbody (wife, deceased)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Supertown, formerly mobile throughout America
First Appearance: Mister Miracle I #1 (April, 1971)
Powers: Like all New Gods Mister Miracle was extremely long-lived. Miracle was the world's foremost escape artist, possessing a keen mind and a number of hi-tech devices hidden in his costume. He possessed a Mother Box, a multi-cube that shot laser beams, and aero-discs that gave him the power of flight.
History: (New Gods I #7) - Darkseid made a pact of peace with New Genesis that required him to send his son Orion to be raised on New Genesis. In return Highfather sent his son to Apokolips, and Darkseid handed him over to Granny Goodness to raise in her orphanage. Darkseid told her to train him as a warrior, and to break his spirit. He hoped the boy would eventually try to escape Apokolips, nullifying the pact. In honor of this plan Granny named the boy Scott Free.
(New Gods III #9 (fb)) - Granny had her troops administer regular beatings to Scott Free for minor infractions in hopes of breaking his spirit, but Scott stayed strong through the help of his secret ally Metron. Himon used his phasing tech to infiltrate Granny Goodness’ orphanage and made friends with Scott Free. He gifted Scott with a Mother Box, but told him he could not help him escape Apokolips. If he helped Scott would only be physically free, he needed to strive to be spiritually free as well. When Scott was prepared he escaped the orphanage and fought his way past a troop of Para-Demons with Big Barda’s help. Himon and Metron greeted him and opened up a Boom Tube to Earth.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #6 (fb)) - <1802> Scott Free landed on Earth, in the nation of the UK. He arrived via the Boom Tube in front of an onrushing carriage, but avoided being crushed before blacking out. He was cared for by Francine Goodbody, daughter of an innkeeper, who thought he was a foreigner from Earth. He was unaccustomed to the ways of her planet, but realized he had to blend in, and she gave him some of her brothers clothes. She told him he’d been unconscious for two days, and he realized that if he’d not already been captured that Darkseid allowed his escape.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #7 (fb)) - <1856> Scott and Francine fell in love and were married. She accepted that he was an immortal god, and they kept moving to hide his true nature. After fifty years of marriage she aged while he did not, and he passed her off as his grandmother. They settled in Dover, England, but she grew sick. Metron arrived at their home to inform Scott that with the pact broken, Darkseid was spending decades planning a strike on New Genesis. Fancy had a heart attack, and Scott let Mother Box ease her into shuffling off the mortal coil. He grieved, but allowed Metron to take him to America to prepare for the coming war of worlds. Scott was happy to leave his old life behind since Francine was what made it worthwhile.
(Blood of the Demon #10) - <1885> Scott Free and Metron investigated the American frontier to see if Darkseid had made his influence felt on Earth yet. They found no signs of Darkseid, but helped the Demon destroy a demonic force hiding under a frontier town’s mine.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #8) - <1906> Free and Metron arrived in Dodge City, and when Scott revealed his tech-powers he was branded a witch and attacked by gunslingers. He easily dispatched them, but Metron warned him to not be so free using technology so far advanced over that of Earth’s, and they agreed to hit the road. Scott said brief goodbyes to his lady friend Melinda, while Metron examined the crude (by his standards) combustible engine car they’d use as conveyance. Metron told Scott he should stop avoiding the pleasures of relationships, and Scott replied that it was heartbreaking to love creatures that lived for so brief a span, and he refused to have another love after Fancy. Metron asked him about Barda, and he said that he hadn’t heard from her in over a century, so she’d clearly decided to stay loyal to Darkseid. Metron reminded him that it took him quite a while to find the resolve to defy Darkseid. Metron altered their car so it could fly, and they headed to the west coast, and Gateway City for more adventures.
(Mister Miracle I #1) - Scott Free met escape artist Thaddeus Brown, who wore the colorful garb of Mr. Miracle, and his assistant Oberon. After performing an escape for Scott Intergang thugs arrived to kill Miracle, but Free fought them off. Miracle took Free in and explained that he'd made a bet long ago with Intergang chief Steel Hand that he couldn't devise an inescapable trap. Miracle needed money for a new tour, and was ready for Steel hand's "Big Trap," but Steel Hand was afraid of losing the bet and losing face, so he wanted Miracle dead. Free told Miracle he was also an escape artist, and did a demonstration, being wrapped in chains and freeing himself with a magnetic repulsor. While Miracle was practicing for the "Big Trap" an Intergang sniper killed him. Free dressed in Mr. Miracle's garb and confronted Steel Hand to avenge Brown, but Intergang goons knocked him out and tied him to the "Big Trap," a rocket that shot Miracle into space, and then exploded. The new Mr. Miracle easily escaped the trap, defeated Steel hand, and handed him over to the police. Oberon was pleased that his friend was avenged and agreed to serve as Scott Free's assistant.
(Mister Miracle I #2) - Miracle practiced new escape artists tricks, including being straightjacketed and teetering on unstable objects above a vat of explosives. To aid his efforts he built a Follower, a New Genesis robotic duplicate of Miracle that mirrored his movements. Granny Goodness wanted to kill Miracle for escaping her orphanage, so she sent her soldiers to capture him, but they ended up with Oberon and the Follower instead. Miracle followed them to Granny's lair, but was captured, and he and Oberon were thrown in the X-Pit, a torture device created by Overlord, a gift given to Granny. After going through several torment cycles Miracle attached his Mother Box to the X-Pit, which was linked with Overlord, and the resulting feedback killed overlord. Granny was distraught that her gift was gone, and Miracle warned her to leave him be.
Darkseid sent numerous agents to capture Miracle, but he eventually won his right to be free after a trial by combat on Apokolips. He helped Barda come to Earth and married her.
(DC Comics Presents #12) - Mr. Miracle performed live for the UBC Network, being suspended from a helicopter inside a steel coffin, and still managing to evade two fighter drones. Lola Barnett was covering his stunt, and was thrilled, but admitted that the ratings share would be small because Galaxy Broadcasting was airing a Superman documentary. Miracle was angry, he was a New God, Superman was an alien, yet he’d gained much more public attention. He momentarily doubted himself as cheap and gaudy before spotting Carolyn Dole of Intergang and following her to her hideout to earn his heroic reputation. He overheard Intergang members discuss their Mentropy Machine, with which they’d obliterate Superman’s mind. Miracle tried to apprehend them, but they set off the machine and vanished on a thought wave. He forgot his jealousy and tried to contact Superman, but found that the Mentropy Machine’s effects kept him from warning the hero. He decided to set up a rivalry with Superman to bring out the villains. He arrived in Metropolis and announced himself as the city’s newest hero, beating out Superman on many rescue missions and crimestopping. Superman admitted to Jimmy Olsen, off the record, that Miracle was getting to him, especially when he saw his former fans wearing Mr. Miracle t-shirts. Superman confronted Miracle and told him there were plenty of other cities that needed heroes, but Miracle told Superman he was an old-timer and the one who should find a new city. He goaded Superman into signing up for a highly publicized contest live on TV. They’d meet in Nevada, and the first one back to Las Vegas would be the winner, with no other rules for the challenge. They battled with Superman winning, but when he flew off he found that Miracle had tricked him into flying in the opposite direction as Les Vegas using illusion. He caught up to Miracle who had already destroyed the Mentropy Machine and apprehended the Intergang members after Superman. He explained his actions to Superman, and that he’d gambled that Intergang would be waiting for him at the finish line. Superman was pleased with him, but when he told Superman he threw their fight he greatly vexed the Man of Steel. Superman told him a rematch wasn’t out of the question, but Miracle told him a magician never repeated their tricks.
Miracle joined the Justice League.
(Justice League #1-4) -
(Sandman II #5) - Miracle was visited by Dream, who was trying to find his ruby, which he knew last belonged to a JLA villain. Miracle searched the JLA database and determined that Dr. Destiny was the villain Dream was thinking of, and that the ruby was currently in JLA possession. Miracle brought Dream to Martian Manhunter, who told them the ruby was in storage in a warehouse in Mayhew.
(Justice League Annual #1) -
(Justice League America #31) -
(Justice League Europe #7) -
(Justice League America #32) -
(Justice League Europe #8) -
(Mister Miracle II #19) -
(Superman: The Man of Steel #43) - Miracle pursued Superman into the volcano Haleakala, but was soon caught by one of Deathtrap's snares. The heroes escaped, only to be caught in the Speed Trap, a Boom-Tube connected in a link. Big Barda came to Earth looking for Miracle, and helped them escape, but Haleakea went active. The heroes prevented any loss of life, but there was no sign of Deathtrap, and they didn't suspect Carl Draper, the most likely suspect, of any villainy. Miracle did deem Apokoliptan tech to be too dangerous for Earth, and vowed to confiscate it from Draper Security Technology.
(Final Night #1, 4) - Superman organized a summit of superheroes, including Miracle, to listen to an alien named Dusk. She'd seen the Sun-Eater snuff out the sun of countless planets, and she was there to warn the heroes that the Sun-Eater was headed towards Earth. Miracle and a team of heroes opened up a Boom Tube to transport the Sun-Eater to the Source, but it overloaded and failed because the Sun-Eater only partially existed in their dimension. The Eater engulfed the sun, freezing Earth, but Earth was saved when Parallax sacrificed his life to dispel the Sun-Eater and reignite the sun.
(Green Lantern III #81) - Coast City; Miracle was among the heroes who attended a memorial service for Green Lantern Hal Jordan.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #2, 3) -With Apokolips and New Genesis merged by Highfather, he sent Mr. Miracle and Big Barda to inspect the barrier between worlds. Miracle apologized for their recent marital issues, and Barda assured him she’d heard it was normal for couples to go through rough times. She wondered if they’d been assigned to investigate the border to keep them from asking questions about why Highfather chose to bring the worlds together. They encountered Tigra and Thor emerging from Apokolips, and after some harsh words Barda engaged Thor in battle. They fought to a standstill until Miracle used his newfound god power to sap Thor’s power and then return it in a burst, leaving him unconscious. Tigra claimed that she’d brought Thor to New Genesis to hide him from Darkseid, who was trying to consolidate his power by stealing the powers of the Norse Gods. Once he regained consciousness Thor revealed that the Norse Gods were vulnerable because Odin had disappeared, and while Highfather put the motion to debate Miracle came up with a plan. He created a tether that would reach the Promethean Galaxy with the help of the Forever People, and together they found Odin trapped in the source wall. Serifan of the Forever People freed him with a cosmic pellet, and brought him to Highfather. They realized they might be too late when Darkseid assembled an armada of ships taken from the various worlds and pantheons he conquered, and aimed them at Earth.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #4) - The New Gods waged war against Darkseid’s armada to keep them from Earth, while Odin brought Metron, Miracle, Takion, and Beautiful Dreamer to Asgard to discuss the situation. Vykin returned from the front to confirm that aboard one of the ships was a doomsday device that could obliterate the universe, and he’d discovered that only the astro-force could contain it. The alien races no longer had hope after Darkseid slew their gods, and they wanted revenge against him and the entire universe. Highfather dared the unimaginable in deciding to resurrect Orion, the only man capable of harnessing the astro-force. He approached the Source, and the Black Rider appeared, warning him that although he would not interfere, Orion’s soul was not at rest, and it was a fool’s errand to play with a tortured soul. Highfather gravely said that he did what he must, and he had Takion communicate with the Source, reach into it, and pull out Orion.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #5) - The explosion was an illusion, the most powerful Dreamer had ever cast, and it left the aliens off-balance. Highfather had Takion communicate with the Source to bestow some of its power on Orion, restoring him to full strength. Lightray, Barda, and some of the Forever People breached the ship where the oblivion bomb was kept, but Darkseid appeared and told the aliens they were foolish to attempt to destroy his universe. He used the omega beam to erase them from existence, but as he faded the captain of the ship activated the oblivion bomb. Orion deactivated it with the astro-force, and Darkseid disappeared. Highfather and the New Gods made a peace with the aliens, allowing them to chose among their ranks for new deities to worship so their lives could have fulfillment. Darkseid met Orion on a nearby asteroid as the alien armada left in peace, and told him he recognized something different, yet familiar in him since he’d returned from the Source. He asked his son how he’d deal with the aliens, and Orion responded by destroying every last ship with the astro-force. Darkseid said he finally felt like he had a son.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #6) - Highfather and company learned that the alien armadas returning to their worlds had been destroyed, and Takion suspected Orion because the wrecked ships contained traces of astro-force. Orion denied his wrongdoing, but Metron told the others he’d witnessed it. Before they could decide what to do next Lonar arrived, telling the New Gods that the Female Furies had tunneled beneath Genesis and killed Harmon, god of music. Barda felt personally responsible for her old charges, and led the strike force into the tunnel the Furies created. The heroes fought bravely, and Orion joined in, slaughtering countless Parademons over Mr. Miracle’s objections. Orion said he never appreciated the gifts Darkseid gave him, but staid his hand when he fought Bernadeth, sister of Desaad. She recognized something familiar in him. Darkseid appeared, and readied to use the omega effect to kill Orioin and release the presence he came back from the Source with, although that defied prophecy. Takion ordered him to stand down, and knowing Takion was the will of the Source Darkseid complied. Takion used his power to release the corrupting influence from Orion, which turned out to be Desaad.
(Genesis #3) -
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #8) - Miracle and the New Gods, alongside Earth’s heroes, continued to fight Darkseid’s Parademon army, but sensed something was amiss. Only Takion knew Highfather was gone, dead at the hands of Ares, who wanted to seize the Source’s power instead of saving it, but at the advice of the last of the Old Gods, chose to keep that a secret, so the heroes wouldn’t lose hope
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #10) - Orion, Big Barda, Beautiful Dreamer and Big Bear surveyed New Genesis, and Orion feared that Darkseid was laughing at them, having a new cosmic clout being part of the Source Wall. Barda boasted that she was a warrior, and not interested in philosophy. Lightray reported after a tour of new Genesis, and was sad to inform them that fire pits had spawned across the landscape, melting the polar regions and doing untold damage. They didn’t know what would make things right, and at that moment Scott Free appeared, dressed in ceremonial robes. He was sure he couldn’t set things straight, despite what everyone thought, and Orion assured him that as Highfather’s scion he had to assume the mantle of leadership. He spent most of his life not even knowing his father, but Barda was impressed with him, and told him not to focus on his limitations. Scott had a secret meeting with Shazam during his coronation. He wished to know if, in addition to granting god power to immortals, he could remove power from gods. Shazam said it was, in theory, possible, and Scott asked him to find a way to remove from him the power he felt unworthy of. Scott attended the coronation, and was crowned by Takion, who promised the New Gods a new age of miracles, while Scott hung his head and scowled.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #11, 12) - Scott Free shed his coronation robes, and Barda noticed that he was agitated. He admitted that once again he felt trapped by destiny into becoming something he wasn’t. She wanted him to achieve whatever he wanted for himself, so he donned his Mr. Miracle garb, and told Takion he was abdicating the throne. Miracle and Barda were returning to Earth, and Miracle wanted Takion to become the new leader of the New Gods. Miracle told Takion that he accepted the logic behind him being an heir since his father was dead, but the fact that he could so coolly state that made him realize he never saw Highfather as a father, and he saw himself as a pawn, not a son. Takion accepted that his connection to the Source could enable him to be a leader. Miracle and Barda used a Boom Tube to Earth, returning to his old circus, and meeting his old friends Oberon, Shilo and Brown. Barda was still skeptical about his decision, and worried about him handing his god powers to Shazam. Miracle assured her that the thrill was his intellect and muscle being used as an escape artist, not relying on his godly nature. Barda lifted her husband up, and gave him a bear hug, warning him to try and not kill himself.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #15) - When Dave Lincoln heard about the healer Sister Sunshine, he suspected she had a connection to the New Gods, and contacted Mr. Miracle. Miracle, Barda, and Ted Brown attended one of her sold out shows, and surmised that she used a mother box for healing, and since the New Gods knew of each other’s presences, they knew she had to be from Apokolips. Barda thought it was another of Darkseid’s ruses, and suggested they destroy Sunshine. Cooler heads prevailed, and Miracle recognized her as Himon’s former ward Aurelie, who Barda took into custody when she first met Miracle. Barda was shaken, and wished she had known better than to oppress the lowlies when she was a Female Fury. Sunlight had come to Earth after Himon gave her a mother box to do good for the sick. Miracle and Barda followed Sister Sunlight to a hospital in Suicide Slum, where she was to heal a young cancer patient named Howard.. Parademons burst in, seeking to return her to Apokolips, and the heroes battled them. They prevailed, but a Parademon ran Miracle through with his weapon, leaving him at death’s door. Sunlight healed him with the last of her power, and because she couldn’t save Howard, she asked Barda to help them both enter the Source. Barda agreed, seeing it fitting that two humble, but great people should have the Source as a reward.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #17) - On Earth Barda also sensed the disturbance in the cosmos of a final confrontation between Orion and Kalibak, though Mr. Miracle told her since he severed his link to godhood such things were beyond him.
(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #19) - Barda and Scott were sleeping when she woke suddenly, sensing a disturbance in the Source. She geared up, and told Scott she had to leave him behind since he was no longer a god. With Darkseid’s return from the Source Wall, war was inevitable, so Highfather appeared from the Source and returned Supertown to New Genesis, giving his children something to rally around.
(New Gods Secret Files #1) - Miracle asked Takion and Metron why they sent his wife off to join the JLA. They revealed that Mageddon was set to attack Earth, and the New Gods were obligated to defend humanity from the threat.(JLA #24) - Mr. Miracle, Orion and Lightray watched Takion communicate with the Source Wall and learned that Mageddon would contact Earth in under two months
(JLA #27) - Mister Miracle was called in as a JLA reservist to battle Amazo. Amazo was programmed to acquire the powers of the JLA, so when Miracle and a number of other heroes temporarily joined the JLA to battle him it just made Amazo more powerful. Amazo decimated the other JLA reservists, and was only defeated when Superman officially disbanded the JLA, leaving Amazo powerless.
(Day of Judgment #1-3, 5) - Mr. Miracle was called in as a JLA reservist to battle Asmodel / Spectre, who'd unleashed Hell on Earth. The Sentinels of Magic separated Asmodel from most of the Spectre-Force, containing it in Madame Xanadu's orb. They knew it was only a temporary measure, so Miracle and a small band of heroes went to Heaven to try to convince Jim Corrigan to reclaim the Spectre-Force. Mr. Miracle unlocked the gates of Heaven, but archangel Michael told them they couldn't enter, and brought Jim Corrigan to them. Jim Corrigan told the heroes his mission of vengeance was over and he couldn't re-bond with the Spectre, and directed the heroes to Purgatory. In Purgatory the heroes met a number of fallen heroes willing to bond with the Spectre, among them Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Hal was chosen as the Spectre's new host, but Keeper angels tried to keep the heroes from leaving with Hal's soul. The fallen heroes of Purgatory battled the Keepers, allowing Hal and the others to return to Earth. Hal took the Spectre-Force, ending Asmodel's threat.
(JLA #34, 36, 38-41) - Mageddon approached Earth, and Miracle reached the JLA Watchtower to warn the JLA. His old Justice League ID wasn’t recognized by the Watchtower, so Miracle was forced to fight off its’ defense system and did an impressive job getting past every last security measure. He called an emergency meeting of the JLA and informed them of Mageddon’s arrival and explained its origins. It was a doomsday weapon of the Old Gods, and it would cause a massive outbreak of wars on Earth, the hatred it spread would keep going until everyone on the planet was dead. Miracle assembled the world’s heroes at the JLA embassy to help deal with Mageddon and the wars it was causing. They took to the field and contained the wars as best they could while the JLA took the fight to Mageddon. The JLA built an anti-war ray, a device that gave all of humanity the ability to resist Mageddon’s urgings for them to destroy each other, as well as temporary superpowers so that they could all help fight Mageddon, and the final blow was delivered when Superman absorbed the anti-sun that powered Mageddon.
(Identity Crisis #1) - Miracle was among a number of heroes that investigated Sue Dibny's murder scene. Later he and Barda attended Sue’s funeral.
(Identity Crisis #4, 7) - Ivy Town; Jean Loring claimed to have been attacked by someone who broke into her apartment so Mr. Miracle, Superman and Green Arrow I investigated the scene. Miracle examined Jean’s JLA-built security system, but couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Miracle learned that Jean Loring was responsible for Dibny’s murder. She used Atom’s suit to shrink herself to microscopic size and cut off the flow of blood in Sue’s brain.
(JLA #120) - Aquaman invited Miracle and other JLAers to Happy Harbor, where the League began, to finalize the team's dissolution. Aquaman hoped that the disagreements and lack of trust that led to the dissolution wouldn't last forever,. and reminded them what the JLA once stood for. Everyone tossed dust into the wind as an act of cleansing and left.
Comments: Created by Jack Kirby.
Mr. Miracle received profiles in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #15, Who's Who in the DC Universe #11 and New Gods Secret Files #1. He received a profile in JLA-Z #2 under the JLA (“The International” Era) entry.
Mister Miracle’s appearance in New Gods I #7 was reprinted in New Gods II #4.
There were pin-ups of Mr. Miracle in the Fourth World Gallery.
Miracle had cameos in Action Comics #650, DC Countdown #1, DC Graphic Novel #4, Detective Comics I #472, Jack Kirby's Fourth World #1, Justice League of America II #1, 7, New Gods III #7, Shadow of the Batman #2.
In Resurrection Man #8 a citizen of Lonesome, VA was dressed up as Mr. Miracle for a Halloween festival
The students of Granny Goodness’ Orphanage fought robot simulacra of several New Gods, including Mister Miracle, during a training exercise in New Gods Secret Files #1.
In Bizarro Comics #1 Mr. Mxyzptlk beamed information about all of Earth’s superheroes into Bizarro-Superman’s mind, hoping to teach him how to be a proper hero. Afterwards Bizarro had images of various heroes, including Mister Miracle, wandering through his head.
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