Miracleman: The Silver Age #6 - "Who Is... Dickie Dauntless?"

[laughing_tree]

It’s one of those things where the weirdest part of this for me is knowing that I’ve had the last issue in my head since the beginning. I could write the last page of it now. What’s so strange is the idea that, in the next few years, it will be done and I will be one step further toward the grave. -- Neil Gaiman

Content warning: Child abuse

Comments

[metadronos]

Since Dickie's return, Miracleman has felt more and more like Mike Moran used to

I've noticed that, too. This is in deliberate contrast to Miracleman's portrayal in The Golden Age where, when he's on-panel at all (mainly in the first issue with the pilgrims), we see him through the eyes of mere mortals. There, he comes across as a dispassionate god, certain and unwavering in his judgement.

That he in fact does prove, in the current volume, to have more recognizably human qualities after all -- doubt, worry, regret -- puts him in another sort of contrast, i.e. with two other pantheon members: Miraclewoman and Winter.

Although Avril Lear spent the majority of her post-awakened adult life as her human alter-ego, she, unlike Mike Moran, remained aware the whole time of her superhuman self, whom she'd occasionally turn control over to when alone. It's little wonder, then, that ever since Miraclewoman manifested as herself full-time, she displays much the same degree of cold, removed certainty in private with her cohorts as she does in public with mortals.

As for Winter, she's never had to share a body with a baseline human at all, and thus has never chosen, nor been forced, to, conform outwardly to human mores and customs. Thus her treating full-time nudity, and even casual sex with beings similar to herself, as no big deal. (Even Miracleman is shocked, given her chronological age and outward appearance, when his daughter tells him about the latter.)

Miracleman, despite having chosen, along with Miraclewoman, Winter and others, to oversee a utopia, has more in common with Dickie, who's chosen to oppose and presumably overturn that utopia. Whether the two overmen can build on that similarity, and avoid the mutually assured destruction tcampbell1000 mentions, remains to be seen.