Mister Miracle Animated Series Gets Greenlight from DC & WB

Mister Miracle has always held a special place in my heart. Created by the legendary Jack Kirby, it was one of those standout comics from my youth that left a lasting impression. As part of the larger New Gods mythos, the character of Scott Free—essentially a godlike Harry Houdini—captivated my imagination with his daring escapes and deeper existential themes.

Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios have officially greenlit Mister Miracle, an adult animated series inspired by the Eisner Award-winning 12-issue comic run by Tom King and Mitch Gerads. This adaptation promises a modern and mature take on the character, building on the psychological depth and narrative brilliance of the original series.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 12-issue Mister Miracle run by Tom King and Mitch Gerads. The series masterfully revitalized Jack Kirby’s original vision, infusing it with a fresh sense of depth and maturity that speaks directly to modern readers. King and Gerads didn’t just revisit the Fourth World—they reimagined it, exploring its core themes through a more introspective and emotionally nuanced lens. The result is a bold, layered narrative that honors Kirby’s legacy while pushing it into compelling new territory. It’s a powerful reinterpretation that feels not only relevant but richly perfectly suited for an animated adaptation.

Mister Miracle marks the second adult animated project from Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios, following the success of Creature Commandos Season One. A second season of Creature Commandos is already in production and slated for HBO Max.

The announcement comes amid a growing slate of animated projects from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation, including the recently revealed Starfire!, My Adventures with Green Lantern and DC Super Powers. It’s an exciting time for fans of DC animation, and I, for one, can’t wait to see Scott Free make his leap from the Fourth World to the small screen.

The iconic romance between Mister Miracle (Scott Free) and Big Barda in Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga wasn’t just a work of pure imagination—it was deeply rooted in Kirby’s own life. Big Barda, the powerful and imposing warrior who defies Apokolips for love, was visually inspired by American actress and singer Lainie Kazan, known for her vivacious presence and commanding stature. Yet beyond the surface, the emotional core of Barda and Scott’s relationship was modeled after Kirby’s marriage to his wife, Roz Goldstein.

In many ways, Kirby and Roz’s dynamic mirrored that of their fictional couple. Roz, though not as towering as Barda, was physically taller than Jack, a contrast Kirby playfully and affectionately incorporated into his characters. But the similarities ran deeper than appearances. Like Scott and Barda, Jack and Roz shared a relationship built on mutual respect, unwavering support, and a sense of partnership that transcended traditional gender roles, especially notable in an era when such portrayals were rare in comics.

By channeling aspects of his marriage into his storytelling, Kirby added layers of emotional truth and authenticity to the cosmic drama of the Fourth World. The romance between Scott and Barda isn’t just a subplot—it’s a grounding force, a beacon of love and loyalty in a universe defined by conflict and oppression. It’s this fusion of the epic and the personal, the fantastical and the heartfelt, that continues to make Kirby’s work resonate with readers decades later.

No prison can hold him. No trap can contain him. He is Scott Free, the worldwide celebrity sensation known as Mister Miracle, and he is the greatest escape artist who ever lived. But can he pull off the ultimate trick – and escape death itself?

Something has gone wrong with the perfect life that Scott and his warrior wife, Big Barda, have built for themselves on Earth. With war raging between their home worlds of Apocalypse and New Genesis, Scott’s cruel adoptive father, Darkseid, seems to have finally captured the Anti-Life Equation – the ultimate weapon that will give Darkseid total dominance over the universe.

As the mountains of bodies on both sides grow ever higher, only Mister Miracle can stop the slaughter and restore peace. But the terrible power of the Anti-Life Equation may already be at work in his mind, warping his reality, exposing his long-buried pain, and shattering the fragile happiness he’s found with the woman he loves.

And so, begins the odyssey of Scott Free, Mister Miracle: a harrowing, hilarious, heart-wrenching journey across the pitfalls of the ordinary and extraordinary as the son of God raised by the devil tries to save his family, his world, and maybe even himself.