ISSUE #5 GAIMAN BUCKINGHAM f KLEIN v4 D‘ISRAELIMARVEL COMICS PROUDLY PRESENTS... MIRACLEMAN BOOK FOUR: THE GOLDEN AGE STORY — NEIL GAIMAN ART - MARK BUCKINGHAM Re eee a) Ak a oe Coa | NeW aaa ara Lave sol ee CUCL Boe Grane) NT Re FI Rn So Cd Cu To PE 1] ® RLS ete RR Ne CU Le OR EL} ee Nene as ey CM aN Ca cao Soa on oem eee a eo Ro ROR a Nort Ui nakcUsth eonen onc an ihe a naa ag Bre Auer eat se nai oe Coen ey er GPCL CUR a Un aes an ete eC Ret tar CMC rea at Ra eee Re ee ea nee U Perth Cane Wer ea Cm er oR er a Eone TOM TeA eo cee Cea toe eta) Peo Rn Sees me OE kee iat ase en Ona eae age Een ota ek Tn een tare ce IN 1982, MORAN’S MEMORY RETURNED. AS MIRACLEMAN, HE FATHERED A SUPERHUMAN CHILD, WINTER, AND UNCOVERED. Srna aCe ea ar ee Reon a temas Cat Neue hm Na re ee Oe ei eS rea ie Rea site Rae Ren ee an ROR re en CO esa Re Rec kena RL RT Oey eel ee Ree eee ar UN a eon eC ean hee Rol RAL ROO eee Pe ee a ee ee MIRACLEMAN CREATED By MICK ANGLO CaO ieee ry Dee ae ne eC Cer aera Me eae eT CeO ete eee) Poe ee a Cee ene on Cao eee ee ee eae ceo ee ee oe eC indicia are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons, and/or institutions inthis magazine with ‘those of any living or dead person or institution is intended, and any such similarity which may exis is purely coincidental, WWW.MARVEL.COMBe eeO'SHEA AND I ONL) iq Just GOT OUT WITH ETT al R TAXI. NO WAY, ANYWAY, YOU ET A CERTAIN INT OF PRI ‘ONUT ON VIDEO TUALI Beenaaens 2 DONT BO Tia. chinese: 1 THe AMERICANS. 3 Weeseentrne No PROBLEM,Al uae our Later He WA Oe Won ON, BALLARD WENT . é i. | AND TH CRAZY. JUST . CRACKED COMPLE 5] ALoeRms THE EVEBALLS, UNTIL WE COULD GET HIM BACK ek TO THE U, "| : HAVE BEEN THE : : BF] PREScURE OF KEEPING ALL Biesd HE BALLS IN THE AIR THAT DOWN A CORRIDOR, SMELLING OF FISH; INTO A SMALL SITTING ROOM. THE BLINDS ARE DRAWN, AND THE NYMAN SOUNDTRACK 70 “THE DRAUSHTEMAN'S CONTRACT” PLAYS SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND,i, “WE MADE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SMALL TALK, ‘AND THEN I WENT INTO THE LOUNGE--THIS WAS, (OH, ABOUT 9:00-ISH, AND I DANCED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. VERY WELL, SiR, T TURNED UP TO THE PARTY AT 8:30, CHRIS, THE GUY WHO'D INVITED ME ALONG, HE WAS IN THE KITCHEN. “WHEN THE QUARRY ARRIVED, I EDGED GRADU- ALLY OVER TO HER, AND, ON THE FIRST AVAILABLE PRETEXT, 1 GOT HER A DRINK FROM THE KITCHEN, ‘AND WE WENT ONTO THE STAIRS AND TALKED. “I TOLD HER MY COVER STORY-- ‘AND, OF COURSE, SHE TOLD ME HERS. THEN WE WENT UP TO A BEDROOM AND NECKED FOR A “DD DOPED HER DRINK, WHEN SHE PASSED OUT I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH HER HANDBAG. THE PAPERS WERE THERE.”EXCELLENT WORK, MY DEAR. (WHo Are EXCELLENT | WORK. \ THEY? _— You, sik My H [( pueasure, THERE'S A SHOPPING MALL NEARBY AND I DUCK IN--UP THE ;CALATOR, INTO ONE DEPARTMENT STORE, THROUGH THE WALKWAY, INTO ANOTHER,NostHvesT CH GAZETTE ON THE WAY TO WORK, T CALLISTER! HE'S G PAPERS ON THE STREET CORNER. HE USED TO BE MY HEAD OF O} IN BEIRUT, THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, INA DIFFERENT CITY, ‘LBUy A PAPER FROM HIM; 1 OWE HIM THAT MUCH, USUAL DULL NEWS OF THE CITY NOTHING MUCH EVER HAPPEN. HERE. NOTHING EVER CHANGE IT'S TUESDAY, SO I TURN TO PAGE 25. THE SMALL ADS, A COMPLEX CIPh UST A SET OF CODI 0 INDICATE POINT, A DROP, OR A PHONE: NUMBER, THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO FEEL BAD. BUT x FUNNY, RUNNING INTO HIM HERE, HE DOESN'T APPEAR "TO RECOGNISE ME. = ARR HILD'S BLUE PUSHCHAIR FOR LE, C512.50 OR NEAREST OFFER, | DOES THAT SIGNAL A BREAK-IN? CRACKING UP: DVE BEEN IN THE FIELD TOO LONG. 1 Wisi I COULD GET A RECALL HOME.T SHAKE MY HEAD, TO CLEAR IT. IT'S THE CITY, I MEAN, OF COURSE IT'S THE CITY. THE CITY BUT WHER: THE CITY?TRAINED FoR A LONG TIME, Y ( Howie. No\ LOOK, 1 KNOW YOU'RE UNDER STRESS. WHY DON'T YOU. SHUT UP, HOWARD. ARE YOU A ‘SPY? AND IF IT! ‘ THE WRONG ANSWER, PLL SLIT YOUR FUCKING THROAT. HUE RUTH, ARE you CRAZY? IMA spy; HOWARD. NOW, HOW ABOUT YOUR TIL COUNT TO THREE.TM ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY, BUT UNTIL TODAY T DON'T THINK IT HAD OCCURRED TO ME THERE WAS AN EDGE TO THE CITY IF MY HEAD AND SET ME MORE. BUT RIGHT NOW, T’M SANE AND SAFE INSIDE MY HEAD. esetetes eteteenente es ie Ss ie eae sestestet es 38 5 ss eis RO maeIg THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? 15 THERE ANYBODY LISTENING? I UNDERSTAND IT, REALLY, 1 DO. 1 UNDERSTAND IT THIS PLACE. THIS CITY. IT'S NOT REALLY & CITY. OR IT 1S, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S FOR, WANT TO BO IT we ANYMORE. YOU CAN BRAINWASH ME AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO. YOU CAN DO. A WHATEVER YOu WANT TO ME, BUT I DON'T WANT 70 BE A PART OF IT. 19 WE'RE SPYING ON FIGURED THAT ‘our, AND you've \\ MADE US FORGET ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD. WHILE WE'RE HERE ALL WE KNOW, ALL WE UNDERSTAND, ALL | THAT MATTERS, Is THE CITY. YOU ARE LOOKING AT.ME AS IF YOU ARE SEEING A GHOST, DEAR J LADY. Ha ha ha.CREAME FROM THE SPOOKSHOWE 6UT YOU'RE DEAD... SANDRA WALSH-- UT THAT Is NOTA NAME YOU'VE HEARD FOR QUITE Dr SOME TIME, IST? INDEED 1 AM, BUT AS YOU SEE, THAT DOES NOT PREVENT ME HOLDING DOWN A STEADY 108, Ha ha. RECENTLY, IN FACT, I HAVE ALSO GAINED MOBILITY; WHICH IS A BLESSING. MY COLLEAGUES ARE ENGAGED IN A GRAND AND ( 8UT AT EVERY STEP THEY CONFRONT (WONDERFUL TASK. IT IS GIVEN TO THEM, DEAR NEW CHALLENGES TO BE OVERCOME, LADY, TO PERFECT THE HUMAN RACE. TO USHER / PHILOSOPHICALLY AND ACTUALLY,” INA GOLDEN AGE. THEY HAVE CURED THE Sick, - j EER AEE EEE) : cae BE ES OE NTE ae essen ) Mee EE ee Te Seni ROY at Tne once usieD ae 4 MT oe NW pon een THAT NOW ESCAPE ME, AS INTELLIGENCE. PEOPLE WHO VOYAGE /MY COLLEAGUES COULDN'T MAKE ANY OF YOU FOREVER THROUGH A MILIEU OF HAPPY, IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE. TREACHERY AND ae "AND DOUBLE-DEALING., BETRAYAL WERE WOVEN TOO FINELY INTO YOUR) LIVES: THEY OFFERED YOU PARADISE, BUT g YOU REJECTED I". TO WHOM / TREACHERY |S, AS NATURAL AS BREATHING, AND FOR WHOM LIES AND SUBTERFUGE ARE THE ONLY/ waar AN DEA Ne DRA--IE I CALL YOU MY DEAR. SAN May }OING TO 50 WHAT ARE Ow 3Q = psec eA oi Seceteseeeceseiee . 1 sesacoanaesnsesees : soececeseseaeeteee sosatacarsietctoratennnce UTTLE sey D YOU HAVE: My LLEAGUES az z & HE CITY: AND’ YOU. UNOFFICIAL KING. 3 $ 420 ao 3 is 3s 320 oy ae a >& See 932 g a ES; seiseatiets O32 B y Sa . 5 Ree = 3 = a3 Se ge No See at x> gy Ro ae ~ a8 2z . ad 88 38 a a2 tse 8 eee 33 38 ealIT'S CLEANER AND THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPIER, LESS RUSHED, MORE PEACEFUL. I WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF LIVING ANYWHERE ON EARTH ‘L WISHED. TVE BEGUN A RELATION SHIP. HER NAME IS IDA, AND WE HAVE NO SECRETS, I CHOSE BRISTOL, IN THE ENGLISH SOUTHWEST. 1 WAS BORN HERE AND THE CITY HELD PLEASANT MEMORIES FOR ME. IT HAS CHANGED, + 4 > Feouoe, IN tas NeW ae. | B Coa / TM WORKING AS A LIBRARIAN. IT'S A REWARDING PROFESSION, OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE, LEADING THEM TO THE FICTIONS THEY NEED, I WATCH THE PEOPLE, SOMETIMES I FIND MYSELF LISTENING TO THEIR CONVER- ‘| SATIONS, WONDERING IF THEY [ARE TALKING IN OBLIQUE SIGN ‘AND COUNTERSIGN, IT'S THE FIRST TIME D'VE EVER BEEN COMFORTABLE SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH ANOTHER, INWORRIED ABOUT ANY SECRETS I MIGHT BLURT ‘OUT IN MY SLEEP. ‘1 BUY MY FISH FROM THE FisH- MONGER AND WONDER IF His PROFESSION Is SIMPLY A FLAW- LESSLY MAINTAINED COVER, THE COMPUTER NETS GIVE OPEN INFORMATION ON ANYTHING T CAN IMAGINE. AND STILL T WONDER WHAT SECRETS ARE HIODEN THERE. T THIS MORNING, I CAUGHT MYSELF NOT GETTING IN THE FIRST TAXI THAT CAME ALONS, PERHAPS TOMORROW I WILL WAKE BACK IN THE CITY ONCE MORE, BACK IN THE WILD. WORLD OF MIRRORS AND NUMBERS AND Lies, = =) Ly Buy THAT ISN'T ey fr ae) te : j | WHAT SCARES ME IS THIS: IT's NOT THE WORLD I REMEMBER, MAYBE AT THE EDGE OF THIS WORLD THERE'S A WALL, AND BEYOND IT'S ANOTHER WORLD--EVEN BIGGER AND MORE REAL. ‘AND ONE DAY TLL HAVE 0 GO OVER THE WAL! AND THEY'RE WATCHING ME.THANK you. THANK YOU, THAT Ws BEAUTIFUL, TVE BEEN) DREAMING ABOUT DOING THIS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARSY MY FiRst CIGARETTE. ‘AFTER SEX/ THAT'S THE THIRD IMPORTANT THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I'VE BEEN COUNTING. YAHOOO! 1 WASN'T. LAUGHING, JASON. T THINK YOURE GREAT. I THINK "RE, 1 DUNNO, ULTRA, MAGW/FICENT. I WAS SCARED THE FIRST TIME WOULD BE A. DISAPPOINTMENT...TL MET HIM, THAT WAS THE FIRST IMPORTANT THING. THE SECOND WAS WHEN T WENT TO THE SEASIDE TO Visit MY AUNT. DOES SEX ALWAYS 00 THis? MAKE YOU WANT TO TELL SOMEONE ALL ABOUT yoUuR- ‘SELF? ALL THE ‘STUFF YOU'VE NEVER TOLD ANYONE? THE PERSONAL STUFF. ‘S'FUNNY. wl S ‘esis you WEE FNGS 224 Vol Wes) Stour ny AsouT NeveR, PONT, WORE) ASU THN OSE mes ee eNeiur ne eas BIDING THEIR TIME, T NEVER) EXPECTED THAT, T WANT yOu 70 KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME, 1D MEET HIM, HONEST. I MET HIM BEFORE IT ALL ‘STARTED. BEFORE THE MIRACLES. BEFORE LONDON. BEFORE... LIKE THE JAPANESE, IN THE LAST WAR, THERE THEY WERE, WORRYING ABOUT WHATEVER THEY WORRIED ‘ABOUT, I DON’T KNOW. Loss on HONOU RICE SHORTAGE: WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT VOU.THESE DAYS WE DON’T WORRY ABOUT MUCH. BATES |S DEAD, AND THE BOMBS HAVE GONE, AND THE ASE OF MIRACLES: IS HERE, MU-UMT TE MADE PLANS! ME AND GARRY AND DAVE AND SHARON ARE GOING INTO LONDON THIS WEEKEND! I TOL’ YOU! I TOU YOu AGES ACO! oe as ened ze Pm B\ STEPHANIE WERE GOING TO Know ie NUCH SHE WANTS: STAY WITH YOUR AUNT “A “10 EE YOU... MILLIE. ‘ q ‘SHE KEPT MY TATE UNCLE ‘FRANKLY, EDWIN MUM, DD RATHER GALLSTONES DIE IN ‘ORRIBLE IN A JAR ON ‘AGONY! THE MANTLE~Sia SHARON USED 7 SHOPLIFT A LOT, SHE WAS DEAD GOOD AT IT. SAID. IT WAS A CHALLENGE, LIKE BIG GAME HUNTING. SHE WAS DAVE'S GIRLFRIEND. “ANYWAY, I GOT SENT TO. HAWKING-ON-SEA WITH BLOODY STEPHANIE. _| cgacanrast was roeepce. | EIGHT O'CLOCK, FROM NINE || NTI Four We HAD To Be | OUT OF THE HOUSE. WE HAD | | TO BE BACK BY FOUR, FOR TEA. | | “ME AND GARRY WOULD CHECK OUT THE MARKETS, HUNTING FOR GOOD STUFF. BOOTLEG RECORDS. RARITIES. “GARRY GOT A COPY OF ‘THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD’ WiTH THE BOWiE-IN-A-DRESS COVER. MUST HAVE BEEN WORTH 100 auiD. =p STHEY'D ALL BE THERE, T COULD NEVER REMEMBER THEIR NAMES, “SHE GOT IT FOR THREE POUNDS FIFTY. “THE MOST BORING PLACE IN CREATION, I COULD HAVE ‘SCREAMED. “RIPPING INTO THEIR OATMEAL BISCUITS LIKE SEAGULLS PICKING. APART A DEAD SEAL, ee er erase) ee ata Coe aed“THEY'D GO ON AND OW. AND OW ABOUT WHOEVER WAS IN HOSPITAL THAT WEEK WITH HER LEG OR INSIDES, "YOU COULDN'T BO MUCH. “THEY'D MAKE A FUSS OVER STEPHANIE, AND THEY'D IGNORE ME. “THERE WAS AN OLD PIER THAT WAS CLOSED OFF. UNDER RECONSTRUCTION. IT HAD BEEN UNDER || RECONSTRUCTION 1973. “DD WALK UP AND DOWN THEM, |] LISTENING To THE SCREAMS A MUDDY BROWN, AND THE BEACHES WERE JUST PEBBLE:F's eeaiy oop. 's asour Tals BLOKE AND THE PEBBLES YOu FIND THAT USED TO BE BROKEN MILK BOTTLES AND STUFF, BUT THE ‘SEA WASHES ALL THE HARD EDGES OFF THEM, “I THOUGHT T'D 60 MAD FROM BOREDOM. TD SIT THERE STARING OUT TO SEA, WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY DROPPED THE BOMB, “IMAGINING THE 6EA BOILING, SIMAGINING ALL THE SMUTTY SE SENT A POSTCARD 10 THE ICE CREAMS MELTING IN JOKES AND PICTURES OF THE GARRY. IT SAI, HAVING THEIR CONES, THE POSTCARDS PIER RISING INTO THE Sky IN 4 HORRIBLE TIME, GOING BLACK AND CHARRING. A TOWER OF BLACK ASH AND WISH I WAS THERE WHITE ASH, WITH You.’ “OF COURSE HE NEVER GOT IT.WHERE WERE YOU WHEN LONDON HAPPENED? HN? IN NEPAL, OF COURSE. (OH. YEAH. T SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT, SORRY. 1 OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN IN LONDON. I OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN WITH THEM. WONDER WHAT IT WAS ‘KNOW WHAT HAPPENED 10 GARRY, THOUGH, YOU SAW THE KUBRICK MOVIE, “VENEER? WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTARY FOOTASE? THEY NEVER IDENTIFIED SHARON AND DAVE, T THINK ABOUT THEM, THEY COULD HAVE: BEEN PART OF THE MESS IN OXFORD STREET. YOU KNOW. ALL THE B/TS.. WHEN HE WAS JUST DRAGGING PEOPLE UP IN THE Sky AND PROPPINGHE USED TO. CALL ME ANNIE, WHE! WE WERE YOUNGER, ‘CAUSE OF MY NAME. JASON OAKEY, ANNIE OAKLEY.AND 1 THOUGHT. ASOUT THE FIRST. IMPORTANT THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. DIVE NEVER TOLD ANYONE THIS, BEFORE LONDON, T THOUGHT MAYBE 20 IMAGINED “AND I SAID TO HIM, ‘PROVE TO ME YOU'RE A SUPER HERO,” SO HE WAVES AT THISROCK |R AND... ETER “I WAS NINE OR TEN. LONDON... THOUGHT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD THINK 1'D MADE IT UPTO BE MMPORTANT. “IT EXPLODES. 31 “T HAD THIS PLACE IN EPPING FOREST. IN A HOLLOW TREE, DON'T LAUGH. IT WAS MY BOMB SHELTER,, SIN CASE OF NUCLEAR WAR, THAD HALE A. PACKET OF TOFFOS, A PEA SHOOTER, A COPY OF FIESTA. ‘SOME FASS, “AND I--I CAN'T BELIEVE 1 D1 THis. TASKED IF Z COULD GE HIS BOY PARTNES SHE SAID NO. MAYBE HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. “AND L WENT DOWN. ‘THERE ONE NIGHT AND LSAW HIM. ALL GLITTERY AND SHINY, AND I SPOKE “AND T IF THERE WAS A NUCLEAR Wag, WOULD. HE SAVE ME? “SHE SAID, NO PROMISES, BUT HED TRY. IF HE FLIES OFF INTO THE SKY.”MAYBE HE ‘ p IT Wa DID ALOT OF THAT. THAT. WAS : RAINBOWS. MY OWN LITTLE. JUST 2OINS ROUND WHEN THE AGE OF ‘ co MEO of MIRACLE. “A AND MEETING REAL , MIRACLES STARTED FOR GOLD At TAF END OF THEM, PEOPLE... ME. NOT WITH BATES, THS TOTAL ECLIPSE NOBODY WITH HUM. EXPECTED, THAT MOUSE IN Now JAPAN. THE DIAMOND THERE'S MIRACLES TREE. EVERYWHERE. THE WORLD'S CHANG- BEING PAIRED UP WITH YOU By HER COMPUTER... THAT'S, A MIRACLE, AND SOMETINGS A hance Was te f ARE YOU LOVE LOOKING OR ME? ASLEEP? 1, a Ij THAT Wi 8 ese Thar eut oO EVE YOu ceNT, TO iT TUE ee SEASIDE? LisTeN JO THE WIND. QUT THERE. IT's WILD TONIGHT. IT MAKES, SCREAMING... I MET HIM, 1 SHOULD TALKED 10 Him, HAVE BEEN IN LONDON dUsT LIKE YOU'D TALK WHEN IT HAPPENED. AND | #f “70, 1 DUNNO, AWY- 1 WASN'T. THATS A ONE. WHAT DO YOU MIRACLE. GODS KEEP THINK ABOUT THEIR PROMISES, .THAT'S THAT, THEN? WHY THEY'RE GODS,J: $2 its Bs [9 Eo hig Ee Fepee ea a eee eek Ty Se eke ae ed ee) ee ee ee eet ySe ae eee fe irr ial acalal Ma = THA pam PER | muwanes Sofas (waiee Wes wet 19 TELl) \ | (apie \ | (eRe, mi. | (Hercemee sts) (Sagas) / “Ye WORRIED ABOUT, , P| DES WH |] i >) 1 on | | A geey \ ee (ities) INTERESTS HOGPTALS. Fea (Ce) Pe Noeerect ae any spl eee) Re saucd [revo 40 wan on, iroeee [AND on mH HER [Fee acer reece a | | tees awernte cea. i Dire Mudie BEN) BeAonte wee oer PEBBLES,* page é-original artwork (pencil, Indie I ee everair 'S REALLY GOOD, ABGUT THs SORE BND Pere ena ede tet Tiel] Cee ce pega IMAGINING AL THE SUITE ORES ONE Dicrnes Coe Pree BiGiNG WD Tie oxy i fotien ox BLACK aert AND WHERE WERE ‘YOU WHEN WeNBOr (oe? IN. NEPAL OF \eoure Pbeieo Baar ce. nie kobe He mane GARRY THOUGH THERES A SCENE IN THAT, feparree te Seceaca| "AND He's BEEN CUT ie MIDOLE. AN Nia INGIDES. ‘BEEN RIPPED OUT.eee ee ee oe eo ee na See ccc | ee ec ee eg ee ee ht eee ete Denes te te eit cas eat sag rs Eine ea TS Tse UAREON Pie Top OF A CHURCH WIN His a ae : Bor Ire usr ime mine “HAD THe PLACEIN | Rarrline recuse Hrs VOICEBOX. eppINe FoReer NA | Pane, Fell “IN CABE OF NUCLEAR Weegee Beet ekes Ber matine Meets eee Pena fifa Liga waves. Berner ID MIRACLENAN cnerer. THERE'S BEEN, ‘SOME TROUBLEIN) LONDON.) COAKLEY. ‘SAID SHE THOUGHT T Wa Tle RUBBIANG. THERE SWEELAGH ON. RADIO 2, AND THENT WENT ‘DeaD. eens tar THEY IDNT KNOW WAT Rea ee "E WENT UP TO MY ROOM” Sis oP een He ea volar no. GOING 10 HAbrEN. |ee a eee ey gee ee ce ee Sele pect rect eee ean orien eter eo ge Eee Dene een ge ae ea gece oon eet se cae ed Dre cu eae laa HAVE A GR=pT TiME at GLASGOW 91 FROM THE MIRACLEMAN PsMIRACLEMAN #6 eaeBOOK FOUR: THE GOLDEN AGE COVER ART Dae ir