Mister Miracle #4

[laughing_tree]

I’ve been at this long enough and I know a lot of the creators, and I can see behind comics. I see what you’re trying to do, I see how they did this. I read Kirby’s stuff and I don’t see how they did this. He touched the id of America and let it flow through his fingers. There are a thousand ideas on one page and they don’t add up and then they do add up and they come apart and they come back together. Half of them are an easy metaphor to see and then the metaphor falls apart. It’s just utter insanity. Yet somehow, that utter insanity became the modern myth of America.

You read New Gods, and you say that’s where Star Wars came from. It’s 100%. You can just see it on the page. This is why my kids wear Fantastic Four pajamas. This is why when I walk out in the street every day, I see half of the people wearing superhero t-shirts. This is the spine of our modern American myth, and it came from this outpouring of insanity from a man who, for all accounts and purposes, should have been past his prime. He should have done his best work, but instead, he channeled the energy of this new generation that was rebelling against this new perceived fascism into a child art form. How can you not try to catch that in your hands and do something with it? -- Tom King

Comments

[donnblake]

God damn it, King, *you* have something in your eye!

(I don't even really care about Scott Free...)

[starwolf_oakley]

Some "takes" back in the 80s or 90s said that Scott had the Anti-Life Equation in his head, or at least a part of it Darkseid needed. Is this a nod to that?

Also, the Anti-Life Equation isn't hate. It's... uh... Hmm. Like, everyone living and dying for Darkseid? Or something?

[shadowpsykie]

mmmmm the Anti-life equation is.... complicated...

[glprime]

It's whatever the hell the writer feels like during their own run, apparently. Keeps changing every time it's mentioned.

[miss_abnormal]

I thought the Anti-Life Equation was basically absolute control over time, space, and existence itself. So, if Darkseid got a hold of it, then existence would be defined by his terms--by his way of viewing the Universe.

Or maybe I'm wrong.

[broblawsky]

It's hatred that serves Darkseid. It isn't just mind control; it's generally been portrayed as turning people into zombies or hateful fanatics (the Justifiers). "The cosmic hunting license! The right to point the finger or the gun!"

[ekrolo2]

That might be the Byrne stuff which is somewhat controversial with New Gods people due to some characterization that's very similar to what King's doing here.

The Anti-Life Equation is a big sorted mess, in Cosmic Odyssey it's a cosmic force from a dead universe that wants to eat and destroy our own (it's very similar to the dark multiverse concept in Metal now) but then in other versions like Final Crisis, it really is such absolute subjugation of everyone into believing Darkseid IS all there is. DCAUs turned it into some kind of vaguely cosmic force that made Luthor and Darkseid vanish.... somewhere, my guess is the Source Wall.

[starwolf_oakley]

It is vague. Somewhere, it said "The Anti-Life Equation isn't death. Otherwise it would be called the Death Equation."

[shadowpsykie]

oh this is Tom King? can some one give me an over view what this series is about? is this a current series... and why is my face wet....

[zachbeacon]

Its current. Mostly it seems to be about depression

[leoboiko]

It's Tom King, who cares what's it about? Characters are the New Gods, I don't even know who are the New Gods and I'm having a blast. Tom King could write the Barney the Purple Dinosaur comic adaptation and I'd read it.

[every_spiegel]

Haven't caught up to the series yet, but this quote about Jack Kirby is the best love confession I've ever heard.

[glprime]

I just love how outside of his work/battle Scott likes to wear other superhero t-shirts.

[adnor]

So this brings a question I've had about Scott for a while.

The Pact was made when he was only a baby, and he grew up in Granny's orphanage. When exactly did he learn that the Highfater was his dad?

[zylly]

...I can’t believe I never thought to question what Scott’s birth name might have been before this.

[strejdaking]

I dunno if "hating everything" is a good way to describe depression.

[theflames]

The point's about 'Scott's' name is a great observation.

New Gods speaking like robot's is tiresome, I guess it represents detachment well, but it seems like an easy cop out. The dialogue was intense enough to be annoyed by that 'true or false' back and forth though! So job well done i guess.