Mister Miracle #1 by Tom King and Mitch Gerads hits the local comic book shops on August 9, and to celebrate the new series DC Comics and Monkeys Fighting Robots have teamed up for a NEW GODS Contest.
Vote for your Favorite New God
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The writers of the Monkeys Fighting Robots comic book staff will try to persuade you to vote for their favorite NEW GOD below.
Prizes
DC Comics has sent us three NEW GODS related omnibus as prizes (Orion Omnibus, The Jack Kirby Omnibus Vol. 1: Starring Green Arrow, Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth Omnibus Vol. 1). To qualify, you need to vote for your favorite NEW GOD in the above poll. 2 random winners will be picked on August 9 at 11 a.m. EST. The writer with the most votes will receive an omnibus as well. Thank you for voting and good luck! (Email matt@popaxiom.com with questions)
Darkseid
With his rocky visage, red eyes, imposing bulk and a literal mathematical equation for ‘Anti-Life’, Jack Kirby creation and Fourth World antagonist Darkseid is not only the New Gods’ best character but also the DCU’s greatest villain. He’s fought and defeated everyone from Superman, to the Justice League (multiple times) and even the Legion of Superheroes. He also rules his own planet, Apokolips, with a stone fist.
He’s also responsible for me really becoming a DCU fan. In the summer of 2002, I was going through a hard time with my father’s sickness. And although comics have always been an escape for me, during that time one particular story really resonated and carried me through. On a whim, I picked up a trade-paperback collection of Grant Morrison’s and Howard Porter’s JLA. I started reading the story arc Rock of Ages. If you haven’t read the story, it’s an excellent piece of comic book storytelling. Filled with cliffhangers, twists, time travel, reality altering and cosmic level threats. But the one thing that really shook me was how imposing and threatening Darkseid is in the story. He doesn’t even really have a huge amount of ‘screen time’ but his presence and dread are felt throughout the entire arc. His really big arrival scene is still one of my favorite splash images of all time.
And that’s really why that character works. He can be felt, alluded to, and not seen but still strike fear. He can drive a story without even really being in it. Plus he has also literally thrown Batman back through time and has also been voiced by ‘Weird Al’ Yanchovich. And as far as I know, no other DCU character has that on their resume. Who is the best you ask? “Darkseid Is!”
Death the Black Racer
Death is the one constant across all forms of existence. It comes for us all in the end and it has many forms. Speedsters strive to outrun the Black Flash, but the New Gods know too well the folly of trying to escape the Black Racer. While he may not seem intimidating with a design more suited to a cross-country skier than the avatar of death, the Black Racer knows he doesn’t need to be. It is not his appearance that the New Gods fear, but rather what he represented: the inevitable. There came a time when the Old Gods died and the Black Racer is a reminder that one day the reign of the New Gods shall end. There is something inherently Jack Kirby about that idea of constant destruction and renewal, a cycle that has repeated itself across the millennia. He is, in many ways, the personification of what the story of the Fourth World was all about. The Black Racer is also quintessential Kirby in his design invoking the King’s past work on the Silver Surfer, another cosmic entity with distinctly non-cosmic features. His skis, like the Herald of Galactus’ surfboard, represented the joy of riding the waves or slopes of the universe. The clincher and what truly makes the Black Racer deserving of the title of our favorite New God is his role in the Grant Morrison’s JLA: Rock of Ages storyline that featured a horrific dystopian future where “Darkseid is”. In a brief, but memorable appearance the Black Racer is called upon the unmake all of creation as the power of the Genesis Box is unleashed, resetting the universe. The result is the most poetic page of a comic that I have ever read. In the end, Death is the only winner of this game.
Granny Goodness
What is it about Granny Goodness that makes her such a memorable New God? Perhaps it’s the juxtaposition of a sadist in the guise of a sweet grandmother. There’s something hilariously brilliant about the image of a sweet old woman that’s clad in body armor, clenching a whip and laughing maniacally. Jack Kirby knew how to tap into certain emotions with his characters, and Granny Goodness represents children’s fear of old people. There’s a complexity to her imagery that evokes anxiety, humor, and even a sense of dread. She can be funny to laugh at, but we feel terror when we realize what she can do and what she has done. Terrorizing, and controlling her squad of Female Furies, torturing Mister Miracle when he was a child, and even killing her own dog for Darkseid’s amusement. Darkseid might be the terror of Apokolips, but Granny Goodness is the perfect balance in salty and sweet that makes us shake in our sheets. Also, she was voiced by the great Ed Asner in Superman the Animated Series and Justice League. That alone should make her terrifying.
Metron
My favorite of the New Gods would have to be Metron. The God Of Knowledge has the greatest job of all-time, and one that every person in the internet age thinks they have. Traveling space and time in order to gather every bit of knowledge, all from the comfy confines of the Mobius Chair.
This guy literally sits in a chair, without getting fat, and quenches his never ending thirst for knowledge. It’s the exact position that every person using Wikipedia on their phone to win a Facebook argument thinks they’re in.
Unfortunately for Metron, the only thing he didn’t do enough homework on was Batman. During ‘Darkseid War’ he found himself out of the chair, with Batman assuming the role of Knowledge God. Right before ‘Rebirth’ started, Metron seemingly met his demise at the hands of the mysterious Watchmen character pulling the universal strings.
I imagine that means the Mobius Chair is just roaming around looking for another God like a Lantern-less power ring. If that’s the case, I’d like to nominate myself to fill the vacant position. I’ve always sympathized with villains who pursue the conquest of knowledge. There really is no stronger weapon, no greater advantage, than ultimate knowledge.
Knowing might be half the battle, but ultimate knowledge is winning without your opponent even becoming aware they’re a threat. Clearly what I’m getting at is stay in school.
Brandon J. Griffin For Mobius Chair 2018.
“I KNOW It’s The Right Choice”
Mister Miracle
Mister Miracle has one of the coolest designs of all the New Gods, and he also has maybe the most interesting backstory (being traded to Darkseid as a child and escaping the fire pits of Apokolips). Tom King describes him as the son of God who was raised by the Devil. If that concept doesn’t hook you, you’re dead inside. And he has the best name that a writer could ever give an escape artist – Scott Free. Everything about his character screams cleverness and originality.
Scott’s willpower and his ability to smile in the face of danger makes him an inspiration to readers of all ages. Just the fact that he’s able to smile after all he’s been through is a testament to his character. He’s the kind of superhero that you want your kids to read about; the kind that shows that you can literally walk through the fires of hell and come out stronger for it.
Plus, I myself am in love with a strong, independent woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone, so I relate to Scott’s relationship with Barda. It gives him yet another layer of depth. Scott has humility, and he’s never resorted to pettiness or sexism even though he was created at a time when the male ego still ran unchecked. He’ll fight for Barda, but he knows (and loves) that she can fight her own battles. He unashamedly respects that his wife can kick his ass. Mister Miracle’s marriage has always been a representation of equality and teamwork, unlike so many of history’s superhero relationships.
He also has one of the best Justice League Unlimited episodes of all time. Seriously, if you’re still unsure who the best New God is, take 20 minutes, head to Netflix, and watch “The Ties That Bind”.
Orion
The phrase about “Sins of the Father visited upon their children” never was more perfect than for Orion. The son of Darkseid does everything he can to oppose his father and his followers whenever he can. Orion knows he is one of the few individuals in the entire universe who can stand against Darkseid. Despite having immortality and the ability to tap into the Astro Force, Orion is hindered by the intense rage he received on a genetic level from his father. His skills have been of value to not only the New Gods but also the Justice League.
Orion has many accomplishments under his belt through his run in comics. He procured the Anti-Life Equation, the power Darkseid was looking for the majority of his life and once he had it, he met with him face to face. Showcasing just how an intense fighter Orion is, he was able to kill Darkseid (for a short time at least). Unfortunately, his Darkseid would return and would find a way to defeat his son thanks to a highly advanced technological bullet. As he was dying from the injury, Orion, in an effort to showcase just intense he is, simply says “Fight” before passing away. Luckily, it was hard to keep a New God down and Orion was able to return and offer Wonder Woman support at the start of her New 52 run of comics. Hence why Orion is one of the best characters to come out of the New Gods.
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About Mister Miracle #1 on sale August 9:
From the team behind THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON and the Hugo Award-nominated writer of Vision comes a unique new take on one of Jack Kirby’s most beloved New Gods.
Scott Free is the greatest escape artist that ever lived. So great that he escaped Granny Goodness’ gruesome orphanage and the dangers of Apokolips to travel across galaxies and set up a new life on Earth with his wife, the former female fury known as Big Barda. Using the stage alter ego of Mister Miracle, he has made a career for himself showing off his acrobatic escape techniques. He even caught the attention of the Justice League, which counted him among its ranks.
You might say Scott Free has everything…so why isn’t it enough? Mister Miracle has mastered every illusion, achieved every stunt, pulled off every trick—except one. He has never escaped death. Is it even possible? Our hero is going to have to kill himself if he wants to find out.
Written by Tom King (BATMAN) and illustrated by Mitch Gerads (The Punisher), this is a MISTER MIRACLE unlike any you’ve read before.
—Brad Meltzer (IDENTITY CRISIS, The Tenth Justice)
“MISTER MIRACLE by King and Gerards will stun you so hard it will knock you to the floor. Then tell you to stand.”
—Declan Shalvey (ALL STAR BATMAN, Injection)
“King and Gerads draw upon the magical lunacy of the Fourth World, while delivering a modern opener that feels like fireworks in the brain.”
—Gail Simone (CLEAN ROOM, BIRDS OF PREY)
“I always light up when I see stellar talent play in the Fourth World playground, so it’s a major thrill to see Tom King and Mitch Gerads tackle and strap a strait jacket to one of the key icons, MISTER MIRACLE.”
—Michael Allred (iZOMBIE, BUG!: THE ADVENTURES OF FORAGER)
