When Dickie Dauntless shouts “Miracleman,” he becomes a superpowered man and can save the day for those in need. Yet, there was a day when it all ended for him, back in 1963, when he was killed in a “battle” by a nuclear bomb. That would be the end of the world, as Dickie knew it. Things would take a dramatic shift both in terms of the story and real-world publishing of Miracleman and his family. Alan Moore revived the British superheroes with a darker tone, and in that revival story, Dickie wouldn’t make the cut to play along. Luckily, when Neil Gaiman and Marck Buckingham took over the Miracleman series, they brought Dickie back, but it would take 29 years for readers to get a conclusion. Does this continuation by Marvel make the story worth it?
Marvel Comics
This collected edition of the series is very much worth reading. I came into this series after the Golden Age, which was slower, so I was apprehensive about the Silver Age. It is nice that this trade paperback includes the Retrieval story as a prologue presented initially in the Golden Age issues. The opening issue gives us a glimpse into the world Miracleman has created via Young Miracleman’s awakening and introduction to the people and new cultures. At first, you might feel cold toward Young Miracleman as he doesn’t seem very interested in mingling with people different from himself, but he does come around. Sadly, once Young Miracleman feels comfortable, a moment happens between himself and Miracleman, and that pushes Young Miracleman away.
Marvel Comics
As Young Miracleman leaves Miracleman’s Olympus, he becomes his alter ego of Dickie Dauntless and starts on a journey that explores the histories of himself and parts of the new world. This exploration is where Neil Gaiman crafts such an incredible story about the character that I went into this adventure for more Miracleman but instead found myself interested in Dickie’s story. What you learn about Dickie is very heartbreaking, as his life before Project Zarathustra is just a collection of sorrow. When you see the pieces of Dickie’s life come together, eventually leading to Project Zarathustra, you’ll know that his perceived salvation of escaping the boys’ home is still a path toward pain. This self-discovery adventure is such an engaging story that you might not be able to put this trade down.
Marvel Comics
Beautiful art by Mark Buckingham and colors by Jordi Bellaire complement the wonderful story. These two combine perfectly to bask in the subtitle’s idea of a Silver Age. Their collaboration is a beautiful sum of what a perfect world full of miracles would mostly look like. As Dickie continues to explore the world and his memories, Buckingham and Bellaire treat the reader to sights that will invite you to explore the pages so as not to cheat the eye of their artistic talents. Even the parts of the story that are hard to stomach are presented delicately by the art to soften the blow. A fantastic example that comes to mind is when Dickie learns about the ice cream; the way that scene plays out is in a manner that the pain is present without being obscene. This collection will bring you back to the world of Miracleman and make you want the Dark Age to come very soon.
The Silver Age is a fantastic tale about a returned hero who lives in a perfect dream, but as he explores the truth, things become more heartbreaking. Gaiman, Buckingham, and Bellaire ideally give you an entertaining story that won’t let you put the book down. Don’t miss out if you left the world of Miracleman or got tired of waiting, as the return was well worth it. Of course, the wait will begin again as we want the Dark Age to come along for more. Take heart as you explore Dickie Dauntless and the Silver Age.
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