Despite holding prominent roles in both the Justice League and Justice Society, Mr. Terrific is not one of DC Comics‘ more famous heroes. However, with his big-screen debut in the DC Universe‘s Superman movie approaching, interest in the champion of Fair Play has never been higher. To that end, DC is publishing a new miniseries that will reboot the origins of Michael Holt and introduce him to new audiences.
The legacy of Mister Terrific is one of excellence and public service. The original Mr. Terrific, Terry Sloan, was a self-made millionaire who turned to crime-fighting out of boredom. Yet he also sought to set a positive example for children, giving them a better role-model than the high-rolling neighborhood gangsters.
Decades later, Olympic athlete and scientist Michael Holt was contemplating ending his life after his wife’s death in a car crash. He was approached by The Spectre, who told him of Terry Sloan’s life and death. This inspired Holt to take up Sloan’s mantle as the new Mister Terrific.
(Image Source: DC Comics / Dave Gibbons)
Mr. Terrific: Year One will reboot some aspects of Michael Holt’s origin story. Chief among these will be the role of the Spectre and Michael Holt’s ignorance that his wife was pregnant at the time of her death. The miniseries will also give him a dangerous new archenemy in the form of craven tech billionaire Athena Prescott.
A four page preview of Mister Terrific: Year One #1 may be viewed below.
Beyond rebooting his origin story, Mr. Terrific: Year One will also continue the ongoing mysteries of DC All-In. One recurring thread through several titles has involved the apparent death of Darkseid and the effect on the DC Universe. Michael Holt has been shown investigating this mystery and not liking what he has found.
The new miniseries will contain sequences set in the modern day continuing the investigation. At the same time, flashbacks to Michael Holt’s past will detail his revised origins. Both stories will become linked, as Mr. Terrific’s searching for understanding comes full circle.
Mister Terrific: Year One #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on May 28, 2025.