[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mitch Gerads
Reviewed By: Derek McNeil
Summary
It’s the trial of Mister Miracle! Orion and Lightray are convinced that Scott has become infected with Anti-Life and is working against them to bring down New Genesis. Scott must succumb to their interrogation and physical challenges to prove he’s not what they say he is…but how do you speak truth to people who don’t want to believe?
Positives
In this issue, Mister Miracle is put on trial by Orion for being an agent of Darkseid. On the face of it, it seems that Orion is infected by the Anti-Life equation as Scott suspects, but the reaction that Orion’s interrogation provokes is an uncharacteristic rage from Scott that shocks even Orion.
There are further hints in this issue that something strange is going on. The opening narration makes reference to Doctor Bedlam, a Fourth World villain that has not actually appeared in this mini so far. The narrator also tells us that “Scott is jammed in a heavily bound trunk!” and “Victim of the most bizarre trap ever conceived by evil design.”
And then there is another appearance of Glorious Godfrey’s late night talk show monologue. In it he makes jokes about the president being in a “tight bind” and that to get out of it, he “doesn’t need a miracle… he needs Mister Miracle.” And why does reality seem to distort like an old VHS movie when Scott answers Orion’s questions?
And then there is the strange interruption of trial by the arrival of a package. The doorbell makes a “Ding Ding” and Barda retrieves a sealed box. Could this mean that a Mother Box is trying to wake Scott from a false reality with its signature “Ping Ping”?
And the book is full of tantalizing religious references. Scott drinks coffee from a mug bearing the motto “I am God.” And it seems bizarre that the cosmic war-god would utter “Jesus” to express his shock at Scott’s outburst. And then there is yet another occurrence of the simple ominous sentence, “Darkseid is.”
Negatives
I have yet to see how this fits into the New Gods as they are being shown elsewhere in the DCU. Tom King has stated that the events are happening in the Rebirth continuity. This interpretation seems a lot closer to Jack Kirby’s original version than their New 52 incarnation was. I hope that this story is part of DC re-establishing the New Gods to their classic form.
Verdict
Reading this series messes with the mind, but in a fun way. We are kept wondering what is wrong with reality. I can’t help but feel compelled to keep reading the series until Scott solves the mystery and escapes the trap.
