The Wicked + The Divine #1
Written by Keiron Gillen
Art by Jamie McKelvie
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Image Comics
Release Date: June 18, 2014
Cover Price: $3.50

What if every single one of us possessed something special inside of us? Not a soul, but rather something that made us greater than others around us. The Wicked + The Divine #1 suggests just that, though of course it isn’t as easy as I just made it sound. Because if we were able to harness all of our life force and focus it to become more than mortal, our lifespan would become greatly reduced. Curious? So was I!

Imagine that every century or so the eternal beings of the past chose avatars so that they could once again inhabit the earth, albeit for a brief time. Of course, not everyone is a believer but what does that matter? People would flock to you merely because of the pleasure they get from your presence. Interestingly enough, these new godlings seem to be in the entertainment business, reaching their followers through singing, dancing, or what have you. Don’t we see fans doing some crazy things on a regular basis? Not so farfetched now, is it? But along with their power to entice, excite, and arouse comes the ability to destroy. Just as we are to insects, so are these immortals to us.

This premiere issue really sets up what could potentially be one of the most intriguing stories I’ve read in a long while. The characters are ever so briefly touched upon but just enough that it leaves the reader wanting more. Kieron Gillen really brings his A-game to the comic. He manages to capture lust, death, and pure unadulterated passion on the page with ease. Working alongside him is long time collaborator Jamie McKelvie, whose vibrant artwork really makes this story sing. Strong lines and simple color use goes a long way in the book; each character is quickly and easily recognized. A special salute to the one called Luci; I was impressed at how the art embodied what we could actually expect from this creature.

This issue was more than I expected. With every page it drew me in deeper and kept me entertained, something that doesn’t happen that often. The main concept here is that while they are immortal for all time, the world around them remains the same…forcing them to work within the limitations of our world. There are times that I was reminded of Linsner’s Dawn — a huge compliment from me, by the way. So much so that I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone over the age of fourteen (there is some fairly gory violence from time to time).

Run out and get this from your local comic book shop. I’ll wait right here to hear how much you liked it. Seriously, go get it.