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Summary
Summary
A modern YA reimagining of the iconic Jack Kirby characters that explores identity, trauma, and the sacrifices it takes to be a hero.
"Fresh, Kinetic, and slick as hell." --Ngozi Ukazu, New York Times bestselling author of Check, Please!
From acclaimed author Varian Johnson ( The Parker Inheritance ) and popular sci-fi artist Daniel Isles, a.k.a. DirtyRobot, comes the story of an escape plan that will take a miracle to pull off. Luckily for Scott Free, everyone calls him MISTER MIRACLE! Okay, no one calls him that...yet.
Once Scott pulls off his foolproof plan and becomes the first person to escape the fiery pits of the planet Apokolips, he's sure to be considered one of the greatest superheroes of all time...at least among his friends. The only problem is- his plan never involved falling in love with the head of the Female Furies, Big Barda--the one person tasked with ensuring he never escapes.
Author Notes
Varian Johnson is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Parker Inheritance , which won both Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor awards; The Great Greene Heist , an ALA Notable Children's Book and Kirkus Reviews Best Book; and the graphic novel Twins , illustrated by Shannon Wright, an NPR Best Book. Originally from Florence, South Carolina, he received an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian currently lives outside of Austin, Texas with his family.
Daniel Isles is a professional artist committed to artistic practice, observation, themes, and expression to create entire worlds of his own. His unique illustration style has been used in many industries including fashion, music, authorship, and technology. He has worked and collaborated with Apple, DC Comics, SEGA, Mighty Jaxx, Kidrobot, Timberland, and Owsla. Mister Miracle- The Great Escape is his first full-length graphic novel.
Reviews (2)
Kirkus Review
A teenage upstart desperately attempts to escape the hostile planet of Apokolips. Orphaned and with no memories of his parents, Black student Scott Free has no fondness for Apokolips or the Goodness Academy, Granny Goodness' school where most students end up in military service or, worse, the X-Pit. After surviving the prison maze of beasts and deadly traps, Scott was informally adopted by Himon, a genius Black inventor and the school janitor. Himon's granddaughter, Bekka, is sick and a cure may be available on Earth if Scott can pull off this escape. Scott's roommates believe he can help them get out as well, but they are unaware of Himon's role in the plan. Complicating matters, a new Fury has arrived: Big Barda. The Furies, Granny Goodness' chosen warriors, are an all-female group of students who keep the peace. As Bekka's health declines, Scott will need a miracle to escape from Apokolips. Johnson's sharply observed Mister Miracle origin story flows across each page, enhanced by Isles' surgically precise linework. Johnson's characters struggle with decisions and the weight of their consequences. Not one of them gets it right all the time, but through their attempts, readers witness truth, teamwork, and trust. Isles' future-forward character design and liquid movement reveal in brilliant ways mood, urgency, and the scale of the choices each person makes. This is an exciting read that will leave readers hoping for a continuation of the story. A slick, funny, and fresh revamp of an old hero. (Graphic science fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Best-selling author Johnson and artist Isles have done an excellent job reenvisioning Jack Kirby's iconic Mister Miracle universe for today's young readers. Some things are familiar: versions of such characters as Big Barda, Granny Goodness, Kalibak, and Himon are present and prominent; the setting, the planet of Apokolips, continues to be violent and oppressive; and the main character, Scott Free (aka Mister Miracle), is still determined to escape his troubled circumstances and create a better future. But Johnson and Isles' Scott Free is a young Black student attending a repressive soldier-training school and plotting an escape to Earth, and the story includes several significant themes that will resonate with tween and teen readers. Bullying, class inequity, forbidden love, racism, coping with trauma, and what it means to be a true friend are thoughtfully woven into a plot that is built around a long-standing feature of the Mister Miracle universe--Scott Free and Big Barda's tight friendship, relationship, and steadfast loyalty to each other. Overall, the inclusion of these issues; an action-packed, witty, and well-paced story set in a futuristic world; a diverse and compelling cast of characters; and illustrations combining elements of steampunk, futurism, and manga position this title well to continue DC Comics' recent efforts to recast popular characters from their superhero universe in stories grounded in common teenage concerns. A great entry point for readers interested in superhero comics.
