Mister Miracle #21

Mister Miracle issue 21 was published in 1977 as part of the revival of the character originally created by Jack Kirby. Following the conclusion of Kirby’s initial Fourth World saga, the title returned to the newsstands with a new creative team, as DC Comics looked to capitalize on the enduring popularity of the escape artist Scott Free and his cohorts from Apokolips. This era of the series focused on maintaining the high-stakes cosmic adventure established in the early 1970s while adapting the narrative to the shifting tonal sensibilities of late-seventies superhero comics.

The issue features artwork and narrative contributions consistent with the house style of the period, reflecting an effort to keep the Fourth World mythos relevant within the broader DC Universe. While Kirby’s original run is heralded as a landmark of mid-century comic book design, this revival was received by fans as a dedicated continuation that bridged the gap between the experimental, auteur-driven origins of the New Gods and the more conventional editorial direction the series took in the years that followed.