#IReadsYou Review: MIRACLEMAN #1 (Eclipse Comics)

MIRACLEMAN #1
ECLIPSE COMICS

STORY: Alan Moore
PENCILS: Alan Davis; Garry Leach
INKS: Garry Leach
COLORS: Ron Courtney
LETTERS: Garry Leach; G. George
EDITORS: Dez Skinn and catherine yronwode
COVER: Alan Davis and Garry Leach
32pp, Color, .75¢ U.S., $1.00 CAN, 50p U.K. (August 1985)

Book One: Chapters 1 to 4

Marvelman created by Mick Anglo

Marvelman is a British superhero character created in 1954 by writer-artist Mick Anglo for British publisher, L. Miller & Son.  The character was originally created as a substitute for the American character, Captain Marvel (Fawcett Comics), in the U.K.  Marvelman comic books were published until 1963, but the character was revived in 1982 by writer Alan Moore, who offered a darker, post-modern take on the character.

In March 1982, Warrior, a British monthly, black-and-white anthology comics magazine, was launched by editor and publisher Dez Skinn, who also decided to revive Marvelman.  Warrior published the new and darker version of Marvelman, written by Alan Moore and initially illustrated by Garry Leach and later by Alan Davis, beginning in Warrior #1 (cover dated: March 1982).  In August 1985, Eclipse Comics began reprinting the Marvelman stories from Warrior (in color) in a comic book entitled, “Miracleman” (to avoid legal problems with Marvel Comics).

Miracleman #1 is comprised of four chapters.  The opening chapter, “Prologue: 1956 – The Invaders from the Future,” looks like a vintage, 1950s Mick Anglo Marvelman story.  Miracleman and his young compatriots, Young Miracleman and Kid Miracleman, take on an invasion from the future year of 1981.  The invaders, led by Kommandant Garrer and his “Atomic Storm Troopers,” want to conquer the world of yesterday.  Ultimately, the heroes defeat Garrer and his “Science Gestapo,” but perhaps, this adventure is merely

“…A Dream of Flying.” is the next chapter.  It opens in Great Britain in 1982 and introduces Michael Moran, a 41-year-old freelance journalist, who has been having a bad time lately.  The strange dreams that have plagued him for years are worse, and he suffers from migraine headaches.  If only he could remember “the damn word” that is at the edge of his dreams/nightmares.

Moran travels to Larksmere for the opening of a nuclear power plant, and that is where it all changes.  Miracleman is back!  Mike Moran will have a great story to tell his wife of 16 years, Liz Sullivan, but will she believe it?  Can Mike believe it?  And does anyone else share that story?

THE LOWDOWN:  As some of you already know, Eclipse Comics' Miracleman #1-6 reprinted all the Marvelman content from Warrior magazine.  Then, Eclipse began publishing new Miracleman stories written by Alan Moore and drawn initially by artist Chuck Beckum and later by Rick Veitch and then John Totleben.  Moore wrote the series until issue #16; Neil Gaiman took over with issue #17.  Gaiman continued to write the series, but Miracleman ceased publication with issue #24 when Eclipse closed due to financial difficulties.

Marvel Comics obtained the rights to the character Marvelman and brought Eclipse Comics’ Miracleman series back into print.  Marvel reprinted each issue of Alan Moore's Miracleman as a special edition with “extras.”  Marvel did the same with the Eclipse issues of Neil Gaiman and artist Mark Buckingham's Miracleman, and recently began publishing Gaiman-Buckingham's long-awaited conclusion to their Miracleman arc.

When I read Marvel's Miracleman #1 (cover dated: March 2014), it was the first time in well over a quarter-century since I had read Eclipse's Miracleman #1.  It had been so many years (so so so many) that I didn't remember exactly what I thought about the Eclipse debut.  I know that I really liked it, but my memory is telling me (or lying to me) that I liked Eclipse's series even more as it progressed.  I enjoyed reading the Marvel first issue, but that time, I was not overly impressed with Alan Moore’s story, although I did like it.  I imagine that once upon a time, I was more in awe of Miracleman #1.  After all, it was like nothing I had read up to that point in 1985.

Recently (October 2022), I read the Eclipse Miracleman #1 again, and for whatever reason, I am suddenly impressed again.  I like Moore's measured pace, as he focuses on establishing Mike Moran's life and situation and also providing a glimpse into the relationship between Mike and his wife, Liz.  Moore is patient even in that last chapter, which ends with the explosive reveal of Kid Miracleman.  I think Moore was patient because he was building something entirely new.  His modernization of Marvelman for all practical purposes had no relation to the original 1950s-60s comic book.

I am always impressed by the fantastic art of the late Garry Leach (1954-2022).  His delicate line is meshed into lush brushwork on the inking.  Supple forms and advanced draftsmanship yield impressive compositions.  Did Leach know that he was only drawing a comic book?  Seriously, he put his heart and talent into this story, and the result is a moody, atmospheric story.  Each panel is packed with what feels like a surge of energy that wants to break the borders of the panels.

Maybe, something in me is put off by Marvel Comics' Miracleman, but that something seems to embrace Eclipse Comics' Miracleman.  I've obtained a few more issues of the Eclipse run, so I'll find out for sure.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Alan Moore, Garry Leach, Dez Skinn, Marvelman, Miracleman, and Eclipse Comics will want to read the Eclipse run of Miracleman.

A
★★★★+ out of 4 stars

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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