Miracleman Book 2: The Red King Syndrome Hardcover – January 1, 2014

Even though it took 6 issues to tell and filled over 100 pages, Miracleman, Book Two: The Red King Syndrome really isn’t about much. The gist of the plot is this: Dr. Gargunza (Miracleman’s arch enemy from the 50s and 60s) has kidnapped Mike Moran’s wife Liz and Miracleman must save her. That’s it. Six issues. A hundred pages. Right there.There is more to it, of course, there’s Dr. Gargunza’s origin, how he came to the position he held, how he created Miracleman after studying a downed spacecraft and its dead pilot, how his only hope in creating this legend was that it might breed and Dr. Gargunza could use that child, imprint his consciousness on it and live forever. It’s about five months since the end of Book One and Miracleman and Mike Moran are slowly growing apart (“I don’t trust Moran in a crisis” Miracleman says at one point) as the hero is slowly becoming more godlike in his powers and behavior.Liz gives birth to Miracleman’s daughter in what’s probably the most graphically rendered birthing scene ever to appear in a comic book. And two mysterious beings appear toward the end of the book in search of . . . well, I’m not really sure WHAT they were searching for. No, that’s not true, I do know what they were looking for, but there’s no way to explain it without giving you the entire history on how Dr. Gargunza created Miracleman, and that would take some time. Suffice it to say, Mike Moran and Miracleman ARE two different beings even though, genetically, they share the same DNA and memories.The title of Book Two, “The Red King Syndrome”, is taken from Alice in Wonderland. Dr. Gargunza asks his assistant one day when it seems the Miracles are about to wake up from their hypnotic slumber, “Tell me, Dr. Fabian...have you ever read ‘Alice in Wonderland’? You have? Do you remember the Red King? He slept and dreamed, and no-one dared wake him. They were afraid, you see, that they were all part of his dream, and that were he to wake the whole of existence would simply vanish.” If you remember from Book One, Miracleman’s entire history was nothing more than a computer-generated dream he and the other two heroes, Young Miracleman and Kid Miracleman, were having, created by Dr. Gargunza in the Project Zarathustra labs and Gargunza realizes one day that if these three were to wake up, considering they’re the most powerful creatures on the planet, things could get very bad for him.Alan Moore’s writing is still, in Book Two, just as poetic and beautiful as in Book One, funny in places, terrifying in others. The art is split once again, Alan Davis in the beginning, then taken over by Chuck Austen, then Rick Veitch. I found none of them to be particularly dazzling, even though I’ve always like Alan Davis. His work in here just seemed kind of average, considering how good I know he is. But Miracleman was originally published in the early 80s, so maybe he just hadn’t reached his peak yet. The way the stories are told, the layouts of each issue, seemed very purposeful and I’d be willing to bet that had a lot to do with Moore’s script; I love his attention to that kind of detail at times.Considering the character development as well as what’s happened in the plot--especially the birth of Winter who, at only a few weeks old, doesn’t cry, but said “Ma-ma” five minutes after being born and has a full set of teeth and eats four tins of solid food at a time--I can’t wait to get into Book Three and see what happens next.Miracleman is just what I’d hoped it would be, amazing. I read these stories originally 25 years ago, probably longer, and was just hoping they were still as great as I’d remembered. They’re even better. I was right all those years when I said Miracleman was the best comic book ever created.That’s not to say I don’t have issue with this new hardcover collection. I do, very much.I understand Marvel is trying to make these new collections as appealing as possible, and also trying to make enough money to justify publication of the book, all of it in hopes of FINALLY bringing to light those lost Neil Gaiman issues, and I am ALL for that. It’s the entire reason I buy this book monthly as Marvel publishes it and still buy these collected editions when they come out. I just want to do what I can, do my part, to help make this book a success because I’ve been waiting over two decades for those lost issues (written, but never published because the publisher at the time went bankrupt). But let’s dial it back a little.This book is 224 pages with a cover price of $34.99 US. “The Red King Syndrome” ends on page 116. We then have two VERY short back-up stories (a 5-page Young Marvelman story by Alan Moore from 1983, and a 4-page insert from 1986). The rest of the book, pages 127-224, are original art reproductions and a cover gallery. It’s billed as a “behind the scenes look”, but does anyone care? They’re just black and white copies of the original sketches and panel layouts, but they add absolutely zero to the experience here. I’m not sure I could care any less about these pages, and to me they’re just filler so Marvel can say “Pay us $35, a lot went into this book.”No, it didn’t. It’s a book full of reprint material that was originally created 30 years ago.That being said, I can’t say don’t buy this book. Because the story, man. Alan Moore’s story is still the best I’ve read in this format. One of the best I’ve read in ANY format, really. So, yeah, get this book, even if you have to pay that insane price for a book half full of old sketches.

I am giving this 4 stars for the content. Good Alan Moore writing but not his best.I already had the Eclipse edition of books 1,2, and 4. Needed 3, glad for the new edition, and I also got the the new hardcover of #2, to compare.Wow the coloring and lettering is so different in the new Marvel editions! And, tbh, better. Broader color palette, clearer, highly readable lettering. But does it hurt the authenticity? I don't know. I preferred to read the new edition!I heard a word, (the n-word) was removed from the new edition and it is true. I hope this was the only change. I am uncertain if that was the right move. The word had perhaps a legitimate literary a purpose to be used in the book. Then again, Alan Moore is sort of hit or miss when it comes to political stuff, gender stuff, etc. Evelyn Cream dealing with his own racial background, I felt a little uncertain whether the storyline in general was perfectly handled. Anyway...!Wow they really rearranged the order of the stories! But it all seems to be there, in both editions. There are a couple decent bonuses in the new edition, some young miracle man story. It isn't essential. And then, there are like 100 pages of sketches. I thought it felt like padding to lengthen the book and justify a higher price! A few pages of the sketches are fine I dont need to see every page of the book in an unfinished state! Just give me a few pages of that please. I give the bonus material a D- for wasting trees and our money.But I found the hardcover edition printing to be superior to the eclipse tpb, glossy pages, much easier to read than the original.Funny they can't use Alan Moore's name on it. But it seems Alan Moore is taking a stand that the original creator of Marvel Man from the 50's should be paid, or something. With the edition costing this much, you'd think Marvel could get a satisfying enough amount of money in the original MM creator's hands, or their estate's hands, or whatever, to make everyone happy? Is a bit weird.Oh there are a couple things missing from the new edition. An introduction which discusses the controversy around the childbirth scene. And also a 2 page summary of previous events (not really needed). Not essential.I don't think the extras are a big factor here. The biggest difference between the two editions is that the lettering and coloring are so different!

Well, this was a bit of a disappointment. Loved the first volume - Moore at his best with some stunning artwork and intelligent examination of the superhero in (then) contempororay Britain. I loved this way back when I first read it and it stood up wonderfully twenty odd years later - but not this volume. Oh, the first bit's fine, recognisable characters, the same tight humour and beautiful, fluid artwork and Moran led into a neat trap - but then its time to kill off a couple of characters (who look totally different) and "with one leap Jack was fee." Not to mention a range of different artists who seem to be drawing bad waxwork mannequins of the original characters; everything's suddenly stiff and awkward - conventional, even, which the original artwork never was. And the story is just baffling. Such a shame

Excellent read; incredible characters and story

I first read this in Warrior , I’m so glad it has been reprinted.

Not as good as volume 1. It goes a bit off tangent, thought i think it's going to set up volume 3 very well.

A brilliant story let down by a shift in art that nonetheless is still essential reading.