First Look at Miracleman #1!

Marvel Comics has had the rights to Miracleman (or Marvelman, pick your poison) for quite some time now, and it’s been a waiting game to see what they do with the character. Wait no longer, as we see at least some of what they have in store – here we have our first look at the remastered MIRACLEMAN #1! Meet me after the jump for more…

Originally called Marvelman, the character was a thinly disguised substitute for Captain Marvel created by the Brits when Fawcett Comics went out of business in 1953, and took the Marvel Family with them. British publisher L. Miller & Son quickly created Marvelman to fill the void left by the very popular Captain and friends. Marvelman had a successful run for a decade himself before disappearing into comics limbo.

Then in 1982, a writer who might legally be known as Alan Moore brought the superhero back in Warrior, a black and white anthology comic. This new Marvelman was one of the first deconstructionist protagonists in a new world of comics. Moore was changing the face and style of comics, and Marvelman was one of his first tools. Before Swamp Thing, before Watchmen, there was Marvelman.

As one might imagine, from the character’s very publishing origins, it has been a hotbed of legal problems. The original British comics, themselves a delightfully creative knockoff of Captain Marvel, were also similarly translated to Brazil, Australia, Italy, and other countries. And when Moore resurrected the hero, America got in on the act and started to reprint the British comics, resulting in the barely lawsuit-proof name of Miracleman. And then there’s the fact that Marvel had a trademark on the name Marvel – they weren’t happy either.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are even some folks that say Marvel Comics’ current ownership of the character is iffy. I’m not an attorney, I just read comics, so I’m the wrong person to ask. I just love me some Captain Marvel, no matter what colors he’s wearing or calling himself. And speaking of what people are calling themselves – you might notice Alan Moore being referred to as “The Original Writer.” Don’t ask, just don’t ask, but it’s him.

MIRACLEMAN #1 was written by The Original Writer and Mick Anglo, with art by Garry Leach and Mick Anglo. The regular cover will be illustrated by Joe Quesada, with variants by Mark Buckingham, John Cassaday, Skottie Young, Garry Leach, Jerome Opena, Leinil Yu, and also Joe Quesada. The color and art has been fully remastered, and the comic includes extras like character designs, sketches, a history of Marvelman/Miracleman, and an interview with Mick Anglo.

MIRACLEMAN #1 will be available on January 15, 2014 at comics shops everywhere. Kimota!