Warner Bros. unveiled that they’re developing an upcoming animated show titled “Mister Miracle,” with renowned comic book scribe Tom King serving as its lead writer. While widely respected for his current work at DC Comics, it’s important to note that he has faced some controversy in the past, dating back to before his tenure at both DC and Marvel.
If you’re unfamiliar with DC’s superhero character, don’t worry. In the original comics, there are three versions of him, but for our upcoming TV series, we’ll focus on Scott Free. The show tagline is: “No prison can hold him. He is Scott Free, the internationally famous sensation known as Mister Miracle, and he is the most skilled escape artist ever. But can he perform the ultimate feat – escaping death itself?
Following the debut of James Gunn’s Creature Commandos, original writer Tom King has been announced as the showrunner for the animation. However, while this may be exciting news for some, it might not be universally welcomed given that King is currently busy with the production of HBO’s Lanterns series.
With this announcement comes the expected backlash, targeting not just King’s work but also his past experiences before joining Marvel and DC. However, what makes Tom King so contentious?
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The announcement has sparked its fair share of criticism, addressing both King’s previous works and his background prior to his tenure at Marvel and DC. So, why is Tom King considered a polarizing figure?
Tom King is an ex-CIA officer
Essentially, King worked as a counterterrorism operations officer for the CIA for a period of seven years, and subsequently decided to pen his first book after leaving the agency.
After the events of 9/11, King felt compelled to switch careers and expressed this to Business Insider: “It struck a chord with me. Much like many others, I sought ways to contribute to the cause.
In 2002, following a year of psychological evaluations, he transitioned into a role as a counter-terrorism officer. During the mid 2000s, his assignments took him to Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. He eventually left this position in approximately 2009, following the arrival of his firstborn child. (More details about Iraq will be discussed later.)
During his journey, instead of using the cover story provided by the CIA to pass through border control, King decided to tell them he was a comic book author. He found this story completely implausible: “Tom, you’re a fictitious chemistry businessman.” He exclaimed, “I don’t have a clue about the chemistry business!” So, he discarded that and instead, he would say, “Oh, I’m a writer of comics.
In case I’m ever questioned, they might say something like, ‘I’d love to discuss comics with you.’ To which I would eagerly respond, ‘That sounds great!’
A post has been circulating that casts doubt on my service at the CIA. That’s peculiar because I did indeed work there, and potential employers (like those in DC) can verify this information. Here’s a photo of me in Iraq from ’04 and an email showing my review by the agency during my tenure as Sheriff.
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) January 2, 2019
In 2019, questions were raised about King’s past, with people claiming that he may not have been employed by the CIA despite some correspondence that didn’t prove his connection. On Twitter, he addressed these rumors, stating, “It’s strange that a post is circulating suggesting I didn’t work for the CIA. However, I did serve there, and employers like DC can verify this information.
Moving on, let me share a photo of myself from ’04 in Iraq and an email about my Sheriff position being evaluated by the agency.”
Or simply:
“Speaking of that, here’s a picture of me in Iraq from ’04 and an email regarding my Sheriff review by the agency.
The second image showcases an email conversation between King and the Prepublication Classification Review Board (PRB), a division within the CIA. In this exchange, King references his past experiences. Notably, King is also the creator of “The Sheriff of Babylon,” a 2015 comic series that spans twelve parts. This narrative centers around a military consultant who investigates the murder of an Iraqi police recruit.
In an unusual turn of events, my wife, Colleen, has asked to speak directly on this feed for the first time. She says, ‘Tell those jerks to give me a call and ask about what it was like living in constant fear every day that something terrible might happen. You served your country. Screw those guys.’
He was “in charge” of the Iraq invasion
In a 2022 YouTube conversation with Word Balloon, King claimed that at the age of 22, he held leadership over the Iraq invasion. This statement has sparked controversy on various online platforms.
King stated, “Prior to my visit to the farm, I had already been involved in the planning stages for the Iraq war. During this time, I was working nights at the CIA, where the team was incredibly small. Typically, there were just three of us – myself, another colleague, and an older individual.” He added that he didn’t sleep well during this period.
Had the elderly individual failed to appear – considering his unreliability – it would have only been myself present. At that point in time, I was 22 years old and responsible for the entire operation, specifically the Iraq invasion.
In an episode of the Ideas Don’t Bleed podcast, he addressed this topic when he was questioned about his alternative career if not writing comic books.
“Oh I really enjoyed the CIA, I’d go back,” he says. “That was a job I loved. I would do it.”
At the New York Comic Con 2017’s 75-year anniversary of Batman panel, King was overheard discussing methods of coercion or duress with Frank Miller during their conversation.
Drawing on personal experience can make writing about being shot more convincing, similar to Batman’s interrogation technique where he makes it seem as if the person is dangling off a building. However, that method doesn’t really work in real life [laughs].
Critics online have been vocal about the King’s association with the Iraq invasion, a sentiment that resurfaced with the news about Mister Miracle.
According to Connor Lālea Hampton at the Poly Post, King is simply one instance of a recurring pattern we’ve grown excessively accustomed to. Those who commit atrocities during wartime often escape the repercussions because such actions have been accepted and normalized within Western society. Sadly, while King can pursue his youthful ambition of becoming a comic writer, child victims of war crimes are unwillingly cast as symbols in a conflict they never sought.
King’s work has also been criticized by fans
As Mister Miracle becomes King’s newest project, a casual internet search reveals that some enthusiasts have issues with his work, which is not connected to his past expertise in any way.
One Reddit user commented, “The main reason is the contentious creative choices he made during his tenure as Batman and in ‘Heroes in Crisis,'” while another expressed, “I’ve always found his conclusions unsatisfying.
While he excels as a comic book writer, his abilities in crafting superhero narratives leave room for improvement. He’s brilliant at exploring character psychology yet falls short when it comes to making those characters engaging or developing their stories further. Essentially, King dissects characters without providing the necessary elements for reconstruction.
Although we don’t have a confirmed release date for Mister Miracle, some fans are starting to express worry that it may not meet their high expectations.
One fan found it surprising that Tom King, despite not being known for writing popular tales or pleasing large audiences, was chosen as the main comic book writer for the DC Universe. His interpretations of established characters are often controversial, and this choice doesn’t seem like a guaranteed success. In other words, he might not be the most reliable pick for this role.
A moment ago, someone added their thoughts, saying, “Admit it or not, when I used to be an avid fan of Tom King’s work, my perception of him was significantly shaped by the notion that as a former CIA agent, much of his work reflected remorse about it. However, it’s clear now that this idea is no longer valid.
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2025-06-13 14:20