The Stitches That Holds Back the Anti-Life Equation
When I put on the suit, I’m reminded of the deep topics explored in Mister Miracle and I believe that “I can escape” my own anti-life equations. Dressing up as Scott Free isn’t just about my passion for cosplay, but a reminder to keep going.
-Nicholas Woody, The Comic Cosplayer
Written by Guest Contributor, Nicholas Woody
I have been cosplaying for over a decade, and while each outfit is special, my favorite of all is Mister Miracle.
Originally created by Jack Kirby, the character of Scott Free is my favorite because of his resilience against impossible challenges.
Despite the cruelty he faces in his history, he holds onto hope while also being a loving husband and a father who carries the weight of New Genesis and Earth on his shoulders. I see a lot of myself in this character as someone who struggles from trauma and mental health challenges and Mister Miracle is who I strive to be.
“I can always escape!” is a trademark phrase of Mister Miracle, but this phrase is more than a mantra. It’s a real belief as he battles in his energetically bold and cosmically styled suit alongside his mighty armor-clad warrior wife, Big Barda.
My favorite interpretation of the character is Mister Miracle written by Tom King and illustrated by Mitch Gerads. This magnificent DC Comics story has inspired my personal tenacity as well as my cosplay journey.
King’s Mister Miracle series captured intense emotions and deeply resonated with me. Seeing a hero who struggles with mental health challenges meant reading a story with very human challenges grounded in reality despite existing in a universe filled with superheroes.
The story focuses on Scott’s battle against his adopted father, Darkseid and internal struggles. Yes, there are cosmic space battles tagged with superhero antics, but at its core are human emotions and challenges such as depression and attempted suicide. There are no pulled punches in this series and for some readers the first issue of a blood soaked Mister Miracle hits very close to home.
I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression in middle school and there’s a weight that people who live with this carry. It’s not easy to talk about it and Mister Miracle captures the feeling of anxiety of discussing heavy topics fluidly. King’s writing and Gerads’ illustrations capture the visceral feelings that come from discussing such topics and readers see this in Mister Miracle when Scott is interviewed on live television about his suicide attempt.
This is further visually displayed through “glitching” that occurs impacting Scott’s reality that is amplified by the anti-life equation. These moments force Scott to confront anxiety that comes from his near-death escapes all while paparazzi and crowds view his successes as entertainment.
The discussion of pushing through the challenges of anti-life equations that haunt readers is a reminder of perseverance and hope for better days ahead.
The story emphasizes how negative emotions embody the anti-life equation and this makes Darkseid’s effort to control it all the scarier as intergalactic war looms throughout the narrative. But despite these challenges, Mister Miracle does what he does best. He escapes.
Which brings me back to my cosplay. Cosplay to me is more than celebrating characters, but also celebrating the traits that inspire.
The Mister Miracle series from King and Gerads made such an impact on me that when I had my suit made by my friend Db Seamstress, I based the design from Gerads’ look.
When I put on the suit, I’m reminded of the deep topics explored in Mister Miracle and I believe that “I can escape” my own anti-life equations. Dressing up as Scott Free isn’t just about my passion for cosplay, but a reminder to keep going.
For anyone who hasn’t read Mister Miracle by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, I encourage you to consider Scott’s story of perseverance. It’s a story I go back to often as it never fails to break my heart and mend it at the same time.
For more on Nicholas Woody, aka The Comic Cosplayer, be sure to follow them on Instagram @thecomiccosplayer. If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health crisis, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
This contribution was written by Nicholas Woody and edited by Seth A. Romo.
