1. Miracleman #1 by The Original Writer and Garry Leach (Marvel)
Let's get this out of the way first "The Original Writer" is Alan Moore. He's credited otherwise in the comic because he wants no part of this re-launch of his lauded early '80s superhero comic, Miracleman, but that label he's chosen is just pretentious. I know he doesn't like superhero comics anymore but come on Alan. You wrote a great superhero comic, be proud! Moore's Miracleman, or Marvelman as he was known when Moore began writing the character, is considered one of the greatest superhero stories ever written. It's been out of print for years thanks to numerous legal problems over the copyright (particularly the name hence the change to Miracleman) but Marvel have acquired all of the rights and have begun reprinting the series, starting with the first part of Miracleman, Book 1: A Dream of Flying. Marvel have really gone all out to make sure anyone picking up this comic knows all they need to know to enjoy it. There's a prologue written by Miracleman creator Mick Anglo from 1986, drawn in a retro Golden Age style by Don Lawrence which introduces Miracleman and the Miracleman Family, which is really funny in its way but ends on a remarkably ominous tone, perfectly setting the stage for Moore's innovative and haunting take on the character. A Dream of Flying from Warrior #1 and #2 from 1982 is reprinted with a fresh new look to it making Garry Leach's art look all the more impressive and striking. Mick Moran is a freelance journalist who has nightmares of a past life - he can't remember being Miracleman or the magic word that transforms him into the superhero: KIMOTA! (atomic backwards and with a "k"). But during a peaceful protest, armed terrorists attack the plant and he glimpses the word backwards through some glass, returning triumphantly as Miracleman to save the day! Given the somewhat corny original material, Moore does an amazing job with giving the book a sense of seriousness and gravity. He does this partly by echoing the readers' inevitably mocking reactions to villains like Young Nastyman and Kid Miracleman and then addressing them through Miracleman. It's dark tone is similar to Moore's best known superhero book, Watchmen, but there's definitely a reverence for the material here that stands in stark contrast to his position on superheroes today. Also included are pages from Leach's sketchbooks, an essay on Marvelman's origins by Mike Conroy, and an interview with Miracleman creator Mick Anglo by Joe Quesada. The extra-long first issue finishes with some of Mick Anglo's original Marvelman stories from 1954 which, if you love Golden Age comics like me, you'll get a real kick out of. Like a lot of people, I've been curious about reading this near-mythical comic but haven't been able to because the books literally go for hundreds online and it's just not affordable. Thanks to Marvel, those of us who're curious about this book can finally get to read it at a decent price once again, and with a ton of extras thrown in too for those who want a fully immersive experience. Miracleman #1 is a fascinating comic that every superhero fan should read. * Those are my picks for the week and, as always, let me know what your favourite comics of the week were. I hope I pointed you in the direction of some good stuff! Follow me on Twitter, @NoelThorne, and I'll see you guys next week!