Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom #1 spoilers/discussion

[sifighter]

Alright so before I begin I feel I need to give a bit of a warning, so this issue goes a lot into identity and what that means for Shilo Norman as a black man in America. It is very topical to things going on in society today and furthermore it is not just one scene but is actually an important part of the overall story and Shilo as a character himself. I bring it up as a warning not because of people who hate politics in comics, but for those who may see themselves in Shilo in this issue because they see part of what he is dealing with in their own lives. So please be excellent to each other in the conversation following this post okay, because unlike me, a generic 20-something caucasian male, this may mean a lot to people and we should respect their views. Not to mention its just the right thing to do in general.

Now that I got that out of the way, we meet Shilo as he's performing an awesome diving from space stunt and talking to his business manager, because how Shilo differs from some other heroes is that he's trying to be more of a business celebrity. Yes he does save people's lives and stop crime but he's also trying to sell action figures and raise his revenue/brand recognition. Part of that comes a discussion that Shilo should unmask which sets him off, but not because he's ashamed of who he is but in his own words being Mister Terrific is the only time he's ever been free. Because he looks at the state of the world feeling that nothing has changed even since the 60's with how African Americans get treated, police riots, and even how he just goes for a walk and he gets looks as if hes going to steal someone's purse and it gets to him on a personal level. It's very human for a character and its definitely part of the reason I gave the warning that I did.

He then tries to go on a date with a firefighter that he met earlier in the issue after doing some heroing, but it doesn't go well because he talks all business and she leaves him at the park. But it gets worse from there because he gets a call that his bank accounts have been frozen for a fraud investigation. By the way it does get worse from there, because you see this entire time someone has been hounding him calling him a fake mister miracle and that he's using some of the universe greatest tech just to be a showman and it culminates in his house being vandalized and meeting the person who did it which I'm putting in a spoiler box below because its weird and I don't know enough about Mister Miracle lore to get it.

spoilers:

So Shilo gets attacked by a woman in spiked armor who claims that Shilo is a stain on the universe and an imposter because she is the true inheritor of the Mister Miracle name....because she's Big Barda and Scott Free's daughter N'vir Free?!? I'm not sure if that's an actual thing before this and I guess it conflicts with Tom King's mini where he had two kids but hey that story got weird anyway. Not really sure how to feel about this reveal honestly, could be a fake-out for all I know because before this issue I didn't even know Shilo pre-existed.

end of spoilers

Personally I think its a very strong and very fascinating start to learning about Shilo Norman as a character. I think the art for the series is also really good as well and really helps draw some poignant moments here and there for Shilo. I'm probably going to continue following to see what happens after that last page reveal but also just to follow Shilo and learn who he is.