The Wicked + The Divine #1 (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
Interesting story, though I can't really relate to being so "obsessed" with a celebrity figure (but I guess fans would "worship" Gods even more so than the celebrities/rich/athletes/etc that our culture thrives on nowadays).Artwork and color is good except for the graphic head explosions with 80's blues and pinks, but that's OK... I guess I like more "realistic" violence, but then again this is a COMIC that has to deal with GODS, hehe. What an incredible start. I'm so glad my friend sent this over to read. Before I opened it, I had a basic knowledge of the plot. The idea that gods are on multi-year cycles and come back, with the focus being on them as modern-day rock stars for this time around. Right. And it is that--but that's really reductive. Instead, this first issue was so packed with excitement that I look forward to taking a long time to exhaust this series. Like, it has that feel, that "Buckle up and get ready for a fantastic ride," kinda feel. Here's why (at least for me):1. So far, all of the major players are women. Girls. Women. Ancient women. Supernatural incarnations in womens' bodies. I don't anticipate it staying that way but kudos to having this begin with women being so central to the narrative from the get. And that being female didn't interfere with their divinity in the slightest. ---1a. Lucifer is a woman (Luci). Fuck yes. And dead sexy to boot. And I'm pretty ecstatic that the Be All and End All of Evil is a strong female player who isn't necessarily a noble character (can't be--the devil, yeah?). Impish and mischievous at times--fully malevolent in other moments. And it takes artistic courage to create a multi-dimensional female baddiegyal who isn't dependent on her sexuality to be effective (which, frankly, makes her sexy as all hell to me lol). Well, I don't really think it's really hard to do, but I don't usually see a female villain with agency that often so I'm really happy when I do.2. The gods!! Portrayed in both their majestic glory and as still grappling with their humanness (the interview scene where the reporter was badgering the gods was pretty dope--you could feel the tension crescendo to that finger-snapping explosion). There's a fair amount of exposition in the first issue, which is great because it's like the series pre-show "This is what happened last week" wrap-up without there being a last week. But the cool thing is that this is all part of the set up into feeling like this is a rollercoaster dangling over the first free-fall: you can actually feel the momentum, the energy converting from potential to kinetic. We have a glimpse of the backstory; now let's watch what happens next!3. The colors!! The colors are FANTASTIC!!! So bright! So vibrant! I think the colors add to a sense of charged anticipation. It's all so surreal and engaging. And it just makes it so pleasant to read. I really love the color palette used during the concert--it really added to the ethereal feeling of being enraptured in Amaterasu's powerful supernatural presence. The colors are just striking.Aaaand yeah. Everyone should read this. I'm really looking forward to future issues. If the pace and the storytelling and the art continue along at this well-controlled yet frenetic rate, this is going to be a fantastic whirlwind that leaves you breathless each month and counting the days between issues. The beginning is that good. No, really. And I'm excited!
What do You think about The Wicked + The Divine #1 (2014)?
David Bowie reference... swooooon. Not to mention some bad ass ladies.
—ritzcrackers08
