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The Wicked + The Divine #1-2
The Wicked + The Divine Deluxe Edition: Year One
Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Matthew Wilson return with an Eisner Award-nominated modern fantasy where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods.
Revel in the opulence of this over-sized hardback! Revel in it!
Collects issues 1 through 11.
Revel in the opulence of this over-sized hardback! Revel in it!
Collects issues 1 through 11.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2016
51 people are currently reading
1535 people want to read
About the author
Kieron Gillen
1,472 books1,907 followersKieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
October 1, 2025
(A-) 82% | Very Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act
- The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 2: Fandemonium
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act
- The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 2: Fandemonium
February 3, 2018
Full review now posted!
Original review can be found at Booknest.
Rating: 3/5 stars (for the art, mainly)
The art is absolutely lovely. The premise, intriguing. The execution, however, leaves much to be desired.
Every 90 years or so, there is a Recurrence. Twelve gods incarnate themselves as humans and walk the earth. Their host bodies are generally teenagers, who are now endowed with amazing powers and the ability to perform miracles. They are here to inspire, and to push back the Darkness. They will be loved. They will be hated.
And in two years, they will be dead.
“Just because you’re immortal doesn’t mean you get to live forever.”
Which twelve gods reincarnate is subject to change every ninety-year cycle. A host of pantheons from all cultures are represented. Sometimes, female deities incarnate in male bodies and vice versa, which mixed with the fact that they are deities and have an incredibly short lifespan makes for a lot of inner struggle and turmoil.
The story takes place in the 2010s, during the first Recurrence since the invention of smart phones and the internet. Needless to say, social media and the fandom generation have fully embraced the incarnated gods, and worship them much as they worship pop stars and actors in reality. The gods have gigs, much as pop stars do, and tens of thousands of fans flock to these shows to experience the gods’ power. It’s at one of these gigs that we meet Laura, our main character and fangirl extraordinaire. But Laura becomes much more than just a fan to the gods; for more than one of them, she becomes a friend.
There is a plot to the tale, though it’s weird and honestly kind of vague. The main purpose behind the comics (especially this first bind-up) appears to be twofold: to showcase exquisite artwork, and to raise the philosophical question of “is power and fame worth the cost of dying painfully young?” Both of these purposes are accomplished.
However, the story was incredibly hard to follow, and too much happened off screen that we as readers are just expected to access unquestioningly. Someone told me that it was like watching a foreign film with no subtitles, and I think that’s an accurate comparison. While the art is indeed beautiful, and the premise is thought-provoking, I more than likely will not be continuing the series. I read (even graphic novels) for story, and if I’m not getting enough story to understand what the author is attempting to convey, even the loveliest of art can’t prevent the experience from feeling pointless to me. If I do pick up the next volume, it will be in hopes of seeing more amazing artwork, with far lower expectations regarding the story.
Original review can be found at Booknest.
Rating: 3/5 stars (for the art, mainly)
The art is absolutely lovely. The premise, intriguing. The execution, however, leaves much to be desired.
Every 90 years or so, there is a Recurrence. Twelve gods incarnate themselves as humans and walk the earth. Their host bodies are generally teenagers, who are now endowed with amazing powers and the ability to perform miracles. They are here to inspire, and to push back the Darkness. They will be loved. They will be hated.
And in two years, they will be dead.
“Just because you’re immortal doesn’t mean you get to live forever.”
Which twelve gods reincarnate is subject to change every ninety-year cycle. A host of pantheons from all cultures are represented. Sometimes, female deities incarnate in male bodies and vice versa, which mixed with the fact that they are deities and have an incredibly short lifespan makes for a lot of inner struggle and turmoil.
The story takes place in the 2010s, during the first Recurrence since the invention of smart phones and the internet. Needless to say, social media and the fandom generation have fully embraced the incarnated gods, and worship them much as they worship pop stars and actors in reality. The gods have gigs, much as pop stars do, and tens of thousands of fans flock to these shows to experience the gods’ power. It’s at one of these gigs that we meet Laura, our main character and fangirl extraordinaire. But Laura becomes much more than just a fan to the gods; for more than one of them, she becomes a friend.
There is a plot to the tale, though it’s weird and honestly kind of vague. The main purpose behind the comics (especially this first bind-up) appears to be twofold: to showcase exquisite artwork, and to raise the philosophical question of “is power and fame worth the cost of dying painfully young?” Both of these purposes are accomplished.
However, the story was incredibly hard to follow, and too much happened off screen that we as readers are just expected to access unquestioningly. Someone told me that it was like watching a foreign film with no subtitles, and I think that’s an accurate comparison. While the art is indeed beautiful, and the premise is thought-provoking, I more than likely will not be continuing the series. I read (even graphic novels) for story, and if I’m not getting enough story to understand what the author is attempting to convey, even the loveliest of art can’t prevent the experience from feeling pointless to me. If I do pick up the next volume, it will be in hopes of seeing more amazing artwork, with far lower expectations regarding the story.
May 9, 2016
I had heard of this series for a while and the covers to the comics had attracted me with the simplicity of the art style. The concept of Gods/Goddess showing up every 90 years as young people who are either hated or loved then in two years they are all dead seemed interesting. WAs expecting something along the lines of maybe DC Comics Vertigo or deeper. I was extremely disappointed. The story starts off with a bang with the mystery of who was killing who. Who killed one "individual god" ? What is the actual point of the gods/goddess and their "inspiring" of people? And i got the collected edition where it had all 11 issues bound in one book as usually stories like these read and make more sense read in one read. I was VERY wrong with this title. Total waste of money for me. I know the title is very popular with others, but there was no real point to any of the story lines or resolution. None of the questions to the story arcs are resolved and you are left with even more questions to the point where I lost interest by the last page with it's "shocking finale". Um….no. It was disappointing, but not shocking to this reader. And in my opinion stupid. I felt like the author had wasted my time by the end of the first book. I didn't expect ALL the mysteries to be answered or resolved, but at least one or two might have been nice after such a slow pace with little action and lots of dialogue and speeches. Frankly, every character was coming off as entitled, lazy and totally lost. No one knew what the point of their existence was really except the one who is "necessary" (what a title…and totally unnecessary). I think (I could be wrong about this) that the author intended for the story to be sort of a way to explain humans fascination with pop culture and the celebrities that people obsess over. The "gods/goddesses" are all "singers" (though you don't know what they are singing as the lead character, Laura, notes) but they make you feel things. That is it. Nothing else. The whole concept seemed so vague that it just sort of drags on with an occasional killing here or there to try to prove that there is a mystery or danger in this story to the characters. Frankly, most seem so bored or unhappy with their existence that there is no real sense of danger or desperation to resolve the deaths. I am surprised to find out how much i disliked the story after finishing it as i did like Mr. Gillen's Loki series well enough. This one just bored me. The art was decent and effective and the hardcover edition is beautiful. Just totally not worth the money unless you are a big fan of the writer or artist or the story. I'll be trying to sell this or trade it as totally not worth a re-read.
August 22, 2016
I picked this up based on the recommendation of Taliesin Jaffe on Signal Boost. It was an intriguing concept - every 90 years, the pantheon of gods are reincarnated as humans for 2 years. They live their lives as superstars, burning brightly then dying 2 years later.
I loved the commentary on how society views our pop stars and how that plays on the idea of them as gods (it also helps that the gods of WicDiv look like Bowie, Prince, and Rihanna). The artwork is gorgeous. I also really liked the main character Laura. She wants to do good and help but she's also very lost. She was flawed and I liked that. The story kind of spins its wheels a little around issues 5-7 but my overall enjoyment of the first 11 issues makes this...
5 out of 5 stars.
I loved the commentary on how society views our pop stars and how that plays on the idea of them as gods (it also helps that the gods of WicDiv look like Bowie, Prince, and Rihanna). The artwork is gorgeous. I also really liked the main character Laura. She wants to do good and help but she's also very lost. She was flawed and I liked that. The story kind of spins its wheels a little around issues 5-7 but my overall enjoyment of the first 11 issues makes this...
5 out of 5 stars.
July 20, 2022
3.5/5
I'm intrigued but not awed. It provides an interesting take on gods (they return every 90 years, live two years as pop stars, then die), but after finishing the book, I still don't know what's the story about.
Anyway, it has brilliant bits, not-so-brilliant bits, and everything in-between. Still, I plan to read on.
I'm intrigued but not awed. It provides an interesting take on gods (they return every 90 years, live two years as pop stars, then die), but after finishing the book, I still don't know what's the story about.
Anyway, it has brilliant bits, not-so-brilliant bits, and everything in-between. Still, I plan to read on.
February 17, 2017
Couldn't finish because I just didn't care. The art is good, but there is not a strong storyline here. It's mostly just "there's gods, look how cool they are!"
November 26, 2019
Wic/Div je serie, ktera patri mezi to nejlepsi, co se urodilo ve "zlate" ere Image (early 2010s), kdy zacali vychazet paradni ongoing serie jako Saga, East of West, Outcast nebo prave The Wicked + The Divine.
Premisa se toci okolo toho, ze jednou za devadesat let se objevi pantheon 12 bohu (z ruznych mytologii), ktery se prevteli do mladych lidi, aby po dvou letech pusobeni na Zemi zase umreli ("Just because you're immortal, doesn't mean you're going to live forever.").
V nasem pripade se tak stane v soucasnym Londne, kde se bohove stanou hudebnima hvezdama (coz ale neni uplne nosnou myslenkou pribehu, aby vas to neodradilo). A tady se opet ukazuje, ze kdyz Gillen pise o necem, kde ma "nacteno", tak to stoji za to (viz Die nebo jeho Star Wars). Gillen cerpa z nejruznejsich zanru a jednotlivi bohove jsou inspirovani napr. Princem, Rihannou, Daft Punk, Davidem Bowiem, Kanye Westem nebo ravem jako takovym. Jedna z postav se jmenuje civilnim jmenem Eleanor Rigby, coz je zase hezka "homáž" na The Beatles.
Ustredni postavou a hybatelkou deje je pak sedmnactileta Laura, ktera je Pantheonem naprosto posedla. Na jednom z koncertu se seznami s Luci (Lucifer) a primota se do zakulisi k interview, ktery je preruseny atentatem. Cela eskapada vyvrcholi tim, ze Luci skonci ve vezeni a Laura se snazi dokazat jeji nevinnu.
Z toho, co nazacatku vypadalo jako nejaka limonada pro holky se velmi rychle stane murder mystery plny intrik, ktery nechava vyniknout charaktery jednotlivejch postav a postupne se zacnou odhalovat zahady, ktery Pantheon obklopujou.
Gillen ve WicDiv opet navazal na spolupraci s kreslirem Jamie McKelviem, se kterym delali svoji serii Phonogram a Young Avengers pro Marvel. Navic jedoplnuje colorista Matt Wilson, kterej naprosto opravnene sesbiral za praci na WicDiv nekolik oceneni.
McKelvieho kresba tomu neuveritelne sedi a troufnu si rict, ze v mimice zvlada konkurovat i Stjepanovi Sejicovi, coz je v serii, kde se to hemzi edgy lidma kolem dvacitky, naprosto nezbytny. Stejne tak Gillen zvlada tyhle post-pubertaky psat vcelku uveritelne.
Rikal sem si, ze s dalsim bookem trochu pockam a prolozim to necim jinym, aby mi to hezky vyslo do vydani posledniho, ctvrtyho, booku, ale opet sem namotanej, jak kdyz sem serii cetl poprve (tenkrat sem to prerusil okolo 30. cisla).
Premisa se toci okolo toho, ze jednou za devadesat let se objevi pantheon 12 bohu (z ruznych mytologii), ktery se prevteli do mladych lidi, aby po dvou letech pusobeni na Zemi zase umreli ("Just because you're immortal, doesn't mean you're going to live forever.").
V nasem pripade se tak stane v soucasnym Londne, kde se bohove stanou hudebnima hvezdama (coz ale neni uplne nosnou myslenkou pribehu, aby vas to neodradilo). A tady se opet ukazuje, ze kdyz Gillen pise o necem, kde ma "nacteno", tak to stoji za to (viz Die nebo jeho Star Wars). Gillen cerpa z nejruznejsich zanru a jednotlivi bohove jsou inspirovani napr. Princem, Rihannou, Daft Punk, Davidem Bowiem, Kanye Westem nebo ravem jako takovym. Jedna z postav se jmenuje civilnim jmenem Eleanor Rigby, coz je zase hezka "homáž" na The Beatles.
Ustredni postavou a hybatelkou deje je pak sedmnactileta Laura, ktera je Pantheonem naprosto posedla. Na jednom z koncertu se seznami s Luci (Lucifer) a primota se do zakulisi k interview, ktery je preruseny atentatem. Cela eskapada vyvrcholi tim, ze Luci skonci ve vezeni a Laura se snazi dokazat jeji nevinnu.
Z toho, co nazacatku vypadalo jako nejaka limonada pro holky se velmi rychle stane murder mystery plny intrik, ktery nechava vyniknout charaktery jednotlivejch postav a postupne se zacnou odhalovat zahady, ktery Pantheon obklopujou.
Gillen ve WicDiv opet navazal na spolupraci s kreslirem Jamie McKelviem, se kterym delali svoji serii Phonogram a Young Avengers pro Marvel. Navic jedoplnuje colorista Matt Wilson, kterej naprosto opravnene sesbiral za praci na WicDiv nekolik oceneni.
McKelvieho kresba tomu neuveritelne sedi a troufnu si rict, ze v mimice zvlada konkurovat i Stjepanovi Sejicovi, coz je v serii, kde se to hemzi edgy lidma kolem dvacitky, naprosto nezbytny. Stejne tak Gillen zvlada tyhle post-pubertaky psat vcelku uveritelne.
Rikal sem si, ze s dalsim bookem trochu pockam a prolozim to necim jinym, aby mi to hezky vyslo do vydani posledniho, ctvrtyho, booku, ale opet sem namotanej, jak kdyz sem serii cetl poprve (tenkrat sem to prerusil okolo 30. cisla).
August 13, 2019
Read this for the r/Fantasy Bingo challenge, graphic novel square. It's a story of reincarnated gods, pop stars, and fans. Unfortunately, while the art is gorgeous, the story is...kind of aimless? I never got a good sense of who the characters are, or if there's any bigger plot behind it all.
Also, it ends with a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. What the fuck.
Also, it ends with a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. What the fuck.
August 3, 2016
What??? Nooooooo!! It can't leave me hanging like that. I am pretty obsessed with this series. It's hard not to be. The allure of having Gods in our time? And they are all so glamorous. The artwork is gorgeous. It's almost mesmerizing, hypnotic. Man, I cannot wait for the next installment.
September 20, 2017
I read this in singles as it comes out, and have done since it started, but reading it in this collected hardcover is so much better. You can really get into the story and characters better, and I got through it quick because I couldn't put it down. Whole new affection for a book I've been a fan of since day 1.
Looks like I'll be getting the other hardcovers now....
Looks like I'll be getting the other hardcovers now....
December 24, 2025
A dark fantasy/supernatural comic book series exploring themes of fandom, obsession, mortality, and the power that comes with fame.
The plot is pretty straightforward, once every 90 years, twelve out of hundreds of Gods from various cultures and religions worldwide choose to reincarnate into teenage mortal vessels. These reincarnated Gods have become as popular as pop stars, have millions of adoring fans, and use their abilities to perform on stage and for TV, amassing more believers and fans. However, there are those who doubt and even resent them.
The only disadvantage to the whole thing is that once they take over the bodies of the chosen mortals, they die after two years, killing the vessel and returning to the astral plane where they may choose to return 90 years later if they want. The series explores the interaction between the Gods and the humans, and the nuances and moral complications of whether or not power and fame are worth a tragically short life span.
Pretty interesting and creative premise, I couldn’t stop reading this book until I was done. The writing is very engaging but sometimes confusing, so many gods are referenced and it’s hard to understand their behavior, dialogue, and actions without knowing something about them before reading. The characters are layered and deep, and the world-building is also quite good, but nothing exceptional. Still, something about the book, premise, unique story, and very fast pacing made it impossible for me to stop reading even for a second which I liked.
The Art is just phenomenal, beautiful characters, punchy and contrasty colors, and surprisingly good action. The characters are designed to look very realistic with extremely detailed and expressive faces and bodily features. The artists make use of bold lines and very punchy and vibrant colors, which perfectly bring the luxurious and prominent world of the Gods to life, and on its own is reason enough to read this book. Panels pop out of the pages, explosions and effects have a mesmerizing hue to them, and the covers are works of art on their own.
I’m reading in Trade, a compendium to be exact, which helps with continuous reading so I’m already on the next volume and above. Strongly recommend this book!
The plot is pretty straightforward, once every 90 years, twelve out of hundreds of Gods from various cultures and religions worldwide choose to reincarnate into teenage mortal vessels. These reincarnated Gods have become as popular as pop stars, have millions of adoring fans, and use their abilities to perform on stage and for TV, amassing more believers and fans. However, there are those who doubt and even resent them.
The only disadvantage to the whole thing is that once they take over the bodies of the chosen mortals, they die after two years, killing the vessel and returning to the astral plane where they may choose to return 90 years later if they want. The series explores the interaction between the Gods and the humans, and the nuances and moral complications of whether or not power and fame are worth a tragically short life span.
Pretty interesting and creative premise, I couldn’t stop reading this book until I was done. The writing is very engaging but sometimes confusing, so many gods are referenced and it’s hard to understand their behavior, dialogue, and actions without knowing something about them before reading. The characters are layered and deep, and the world-building is also quite good, but nothing exceptional. Still, something about the book, premise, unique story, and very fast pacing made it impossible for me to stop reading even for a second which I liked.
The Art is just phenomenal, beautiful characters, punchy and contrasty colors, and surprisingly good action. The characters are designed to look very realistic with extremely detailed and expressive faces and bodily features. The artists make use of bold lines and very punchy and vibrant colors, which perfectly bring the luxurious and prominent world of the Gods to life, and on its own is reason enough to read this book. Panels pop out of the pages, explosions and effects have a mesmerizing hue to them, and the covers are works of art on their own.
I’m reading in Trade, a compendium to be exact, which helps with continuous reading so I’m already on the next volume and above. Strongly recommend this book!
September 27, 2019
15/9/19
So good and also so unique! There were a few parts where I had a bit of difficulties following the plot, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. This is the type of comic I'd love to read again!
10/9/19
I bought volume 1 in London a couple of weeks and absolutely loved it, what a crazy story! I can't wait to read what will happen to our gods!
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So good and also so unique! There were a few parts where I had a bit of difficulties following the plot, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. This is the type of comic I'd love to read again!
10/9/19
I bought volume 1 in London a couple of weeks and absolutely loved it, what a crazy story! I can't wait to read what will happen to our gods!
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website
December 12, 2019
A great concept concept executed messily. Do I have a big crush on Luci? Yes, I do.
dropped
July 7, 2020DNF’d at around 35%.
It was beautifully designed but not my cup of tea, plot wise.
It was beautifully designed but not my cup of tea, plot wise.
September 11, 2017
Totally in love with The Wicked + The Divine., but that cliffhanger - whyyyyyy?
April 27, 2018
Gods are so not my thing. This book overflows with pretentious posers with weird names. Could not finish. The art is a bit of all right tho.
April 10, 2020
I finally read The Wicked + The Divine!
I really loved the mythology and the artwork, and I can't wait to check out the second volume! While I am not 100% sure of the chronic problem taking place in the book, the basic concept is that every 90 years there is a recurrence, 12 gods are resurrected and achieve fame/adoration, but within two years, they are all dead.
The reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is that I did guess most of the big plot twists towards the end, it seemed fairly obvious to me and I was sort of like "no duh." But other than that, it is a great story with beautiful illustrations!
I really loved the mythology and the artwork, and I can't wait to check out the second volume! While I am not 100% sure of the chronic problem taking place in the book, the basic concept is that every 90 years there is a recurrence, 12 gods are resurrected and achieve fame/adoration, but within two years, they are all dead.
The reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is that I did guess most of the big plot twists towards the end, it seemed fairly obvious to me and I was sort of like "no duh." But other than that, it is a great story with beautiful illustrations!
May 2, 2022
I fell in love with this as soon as I saw The Morrigan was in this.
Then we see the Gods come through, the complication of being a God in this century, and the darker side of God's life and whatever their helper is planning!
Then we see the Gods come through, the complication of being a God in this century, and the darker side of God's life and whatever their helper is planning!
November 22, 2022
4.5 stars
A new obsession is born.
A new obsession is born.
June 2, 2019
The art in these comics is just so gorgeous I want to live in it.
August 20, 2016
I picked this one up after reading some good things about it, and sadly it was a let down.
The art is at times very good, specially the covers at the back of the book. However, for the most part it was just acceptable. The line isn't very refined (rarely they play with its thickness) and the colours are just... there? The palette is mediocre. Mostly, no interesting composition either, and very little playing with the vignettes' borders.
There are some very good exceptions to all of this, but definitely not enough to justify the price tag nor the space in your shelf.
Both gods in the real world or a teenager being the protagonist are perfectly valid choices. But the development of the story is rather weak and some mayor characters aren't very consistent. If they are gods and so high and mighty and care so little for the mortals, as we are told, why do many of them go out of their way several times just to get the protagonist involved? More importantly, those gods are here to "inspire" apparently, and should they not be, humanity would go back to a dark past. However, not once we are given a glimpse of this, it feels like a reason thrown around lazily so that the setting may be accepted.
Then there is the matter of having a good chunk of the plot revolving a crime that doesn't really seem to matter at all.
Not to mention minor quibbles like having a good number of gods from around half the world meeting up in London. Why would they all live in the same place? Not even spread throughout the UK? And if it's just in London, why not limit yourself to using the gods of the peoples who have inhabited London/GB, instead of bringing some all the way from Japan or the Middle East, and reduce the scope of the story, with consequences for the UK/Europe? The whole "humanity is doomed without us" is unnecessary. We are never given a reason for why those gods from those cultures specifically, and not the whole pantheon of each of those cultures. It just feels like these gods are there because of some abstract cool factor.
Some other reviews praise this comic as doing some kind of commentary on pop stars/famous socialites and the mass media culture, but any kind of commentary, if there is any, is just crude; "Cult-like adoration of media stars is bad" perhaps?
The art is at times very good, specially the covers at the back of the book. However, for the most part it was just acceptable. The line isn't very refined (rarely they play with its thickness) and the colours are just... there? The palette is mediocre. Mostly, no interesting composition either, and very little playing with the vignettes' borders.
There are some very good exceptions to all of this, but definitely not enough to justify the price tag nor the space in your shelf.
Both gods in the real world or a teenager being the protagonist are perfectly valid choices. But the development of the story is rather weak and some mayor characters aren't very consistent. If they are gods and so high and mighty and care so little for the mortals, as we are told, why do many of them go out of their way several times just to get the protagonist involved? More importantly, those gods are here to "inspire" apparently, and should they not be, humanity would go back to a dark past. However, not once we are given a glimpse of this, it feels like a reason thrown around lazily so that the setting may be accepted.
Then there is the matter of having a good chunk of the plot revolving a crime that doesn't really seem to matter at all.
Not to mention minor quibbles like having a good number of gods from around half the world meeting up in London. Why would they all live in the same place? Not even spread throughout the UK? And if it's just in London, why not limit yourself to using the gods of the peoples who have inhabited London/GB, instead of bringing some all the way from Japan or the Middle East, and reduce the scope of the story, with consequences for the UK/Europe? The whole "humanity is doomed without us" is unnecessary. We are never given a reason for why those gods from those cultures specifically, and not the whole pantheon of each of those cultures. It just feels like these gods are there because of some abstract cool factor.
Some other reviews praise this comic as doing some kind of commentary on pop stars/famous socialites and the mass media culture, but any kind of commentary, if there is any, is just crude; "Cult-like adoration of media stars is bad" perhaps?
June 25, 2019
4.5 stars (man, when is Goodreads going to allow me some half-star ratings?!)
I picked this up because of the cover, while Dan was browsing the graphic novel section at the library. I started flipping through it and found myself actually intrigued by the first few pages. I checked it out, placed it in my to-read pile on my nightstand -- and then forgot about it. Until someone else had it on hold -- and then I was SO MAD I had to return it and hadn't gotten to it.
So, when it came back around to me, I was determined to give it a shot this time before I lost my chance again. I picked it up the other night after finishing something else, and got through it almost in one sitting. It's hard to say how I felt about it - It's such an interesting story concept - gods take human form, but only for two years, and then a break for like 90? Then there's this added mystery element.
I will say I felt like I was in over my head for most of the story - and still felt that way up to the end. I would feel I had caught my bearings for a moment, and then would feel a little lost again. I finally started to get a sense of some of the individual characters, and how they related to one another. I did really appreciate Laura being the grounding force to the story. She's human, but wants to be a god and is drawn to them in this way she can't quite explain. I loved Luci, and love that so much of the story in this first volume kind of revolves around Laura's relationship to Luci in particular.
I found myself getting sucked into this story, even if I didn't totally understand what was happening a fair portion of the time. I enjoyed the characters, and almost think part of the point was to feel out of your element as you read - to constantly be trying to figure out who and what you're dealing with.
Also? The artwork is just freaking breathtaking. And the story ends on one hell of a cliffhanger.
So yeah, the next volume will definitely be a must for me.
I picked this up because of the cover, while Dan was browsing the graphic novel section at the library. I started flipping through it and found myself actually intrigued by the first few pages. I checked it out, placed it in my to-read pile on my nightstand -- and then forgot about it. Until someone else had it on hold -- and then I was SO MAD I had to return it and hadn't gotten to it.
So, when it came back around to me, I was determined to give it a shot this time before I lost my chance again. I picked it up the other night after finishing something else, and got through it almost in one sitting. It's hard to say how I felt about it - It's such an interesting story concept - gods take human form, but only for two years, and then a break for like 90? Then there's this added mystery element.
I will say I felt like I was in over my head for most of the story - and still felt that way up to the end. I would feel I had caught my bearings for a moment, and then would feel a little lost again. I finally started to get a sense of some of the individual characters, and how they related to one another. I did really appreciate Laura being the grounding force to the story. She's human, but wants to be a god and is drawn to them in this way she can't quite explain. I loved Luci, and love that so much of the story in this first volume kind of revolves around Laura's relationship to Luci in particular.
I found myself getting sucked into this story, even if I didn't totally understand what was happening a fair portion of the time. I enjoyed the characters, and almost think part of the point was to feel out of your element as you read - to constantly be trying to figure out who and what you're dealing with.
Also? The artwork is just freaking breathtaking. And the story ends on one hell of a cliffhanger.
So yeah, the next volume will definitely be a must for me.
March 7, 2021
See now this is how you start a mystery box comic. As with all mystery-boxy things, there aren't a ton of answers by the end of this first book. There are a few! But I mean, there are 4 total hardcovers, so I don't expect to learn everything here. But while Gillen drops little breadcrumbs about a bigger plot, he spends most of his time exploring the world and building out the characters. By the end of this volume I felt very attached to Laura, the main character, not just because plot stuff happened at her, but also because Gillen does such a great job humanizing her.
He does this for all the central characters, who each, in time, get deeper, emotional development despite the fact that they're almost all straight-up gods. That's because Gillen doesn't just go hog wild making this a superhero-story-by-another-name. This is about youth, the dreams you have when the whole world is ahead of you, the feelings that we all have as teens that maybe we won't ever amount to anything, and what happens when you manage to attain large amounts of fame when you're too young to process it. It's really a series about a bunch of teenage rockstars, a group with a notoriously high fatality rate, who just so happen to be gods, with a mysterious plot who's pulling the levers behind all this running underneath it. It is, very much, my kind of shit.
Also, this book is gorgeous. As always, massive props to Jamie McElvie on his stellar art. This is a perfect book for him, allowing him to really go nuts with his character designs without feeling at all overblown. I mean, these are teenage rockstar gods. They can be anything! And they are!
Anyway, I'm excited to dig deeper into this world. Will all the mystery stuff pay off? Who knows! But at the very least I care very much about the characters, which is something that often does not happen for me with series plotted like this.
He does this for all the central characters, who each, in time, get deeper, emotional development despite the fact that they're almost all straight-up gods. That's because Gillen doesn't just go hog wild making this a superhero-story-by-another-name. This is about youth, the dreams you have when the whole world is ahead of you, the feelings that we all have as teens that maybe we won't ever amount to anything, and what happens when you manage to attain large amounts of fame when you're too young to process it. It's really a series about a bunch of teenage rockstars, a group with a notoriously high fatality rate, who just so happen to be gods, with a mysterious plot who's pulling the levers behind all this running underneath it. It is, very much, my kind of shit.
Also, this book is gorgeous. As always, massive props to Jamie McElvie on his stellar art. This is a perfect book for him, allowing him to really go nuts with his character designs without feeling at all overblown. I mean, these are teenage rockstar gods. They can be anything! And they are!
Anyway, I'm excited to dig deeper into this world. Will all the mystery stuff pay off? Who knows! But at the very least I care very much about the characters, which is something that often does not happen for me with series plotted like this.
August 24, 2018
For personal reasons, I took quite the hiatus from W+D. When it was finally time to come back, I found a set of very pretty hardcovers waiting for me. I'm buying them. I don't know what I'll do once I'm caught up to the trades again, but I'm sure as hell glad I started reading this series once more. I've already read and reviewed the content contained in this book, but needless to say, this is still an incredible title worth every bit of your time.
August 24, 2017
LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. It has turned into one of my fave reads of the year. I can't wait to read more!
5 Star Rating!
5 Star Rating!
September 28, 2019
Ιδανικό ξεκίνημα αλλά και τέλος για τον πρώτο τόμο της σειράς, δεν έχω λόγια, ξεκίνησα ήδη τον δεύτερο και παρήγγειλα τον τρίτο.
November 22, 2020
This was a trip.
I've had this series on my Shelf of Shame for years, and I'm glad to finally be getting into it. After this collection (comprising the first two volumes), I can see why this has become such a classic series. Gillen is at the top of his game here, writing a story that, in many ways, feels too niche to be successful, and yet succeeds in spite of that. The premise is too good to pass up, and it delivers on all of its promise at just about every available opportunity. It grapples with fresh, compelling ideals and philosophies, but never loses sight of the characters that drive the world around them. Everyone feels like they have a voice that's distinctly their own, which is a feat in and of itself, considering how large the cast is.
Granted, a lot of the characters most meaningful personality traits can be summed up with "asshole," which doesn't give them tremendous depth right off the bat. But Gillen pulls up just enough layers to convince me that there's more to the supporting cast than that, and his (wise) decision to designate a genuinely lovable character as the protagonist helps carry the story in a lot of ways. You see the world through Laura's eyes, and even when you're frustrated or annoyed at the behaviors of the gods she interacts with, her wide-eyed wonder is easy to get sucked into.
There are moments where Gillen skirts the line on indulgence, though, which is a tendency he has in all his work. It's in those moments where the actual narrative he's penning get a bit lost in the nitty-gritty details that are meaningful to him and other history buffs, but go over the heads of commoners like myself. I don't entirely hold that against him, though, but it was a little disorienting to read this and know that there was a lot of depth I missed simply because I'm not thoroughly well-versed in the histories behind the pantheon of gods Gillen is playing with here.
Despite my (usual) issues with bits of Gillen's writing, it really is McKelvie and Wilson's art that elevate the series into a whole other realm. The vivid, sharp colors; the immaculate character designs; the simple-yet-dazzling layouts; every visual beat of The Wicked + The Divine is next-level brilliance. It's the art that truly sells the world and its characters, and it somehow manages to gracefully skirt the line between realism and fantasy in a way I don't think anyone has surpassed or will ever be able to surpass.
I may have rated this a bit lower if it hadn't been for the plot twist that bookends the second volume. No spoilers, obviously, but the story pulls the rug out from under you in such a bold, brilliant and unexpected way that I have no idea where the story could possibly go next. But I can't wait to find out.
I've had this series on my Shelf of Shame for years, and I'm glad to finally be getting into it. After this collection (comprising the first two volumes), I can see why this has become such a classic series. Gillen is at the top of his game here, writing a story that, in many ways, feels too niche to be successful, and yet succeeds in spite of that. The premise is too good to pass up, and it delivers on all of its promise at just about every available opportunity. It grapples with fresh, compelling ideals and philosophies, but never loses sight of the characters that drive the world around them. Everyone feels like they have a voice that's distinctly their own, which is a feat in and of itself, considering how large the cast is.
Granted, a lot of the characters most meaningful personality traits can be summed up with "asshole," which doesn't give them tremendous depth right off the bat. But Gillen pulls up just enough layers to convince me that there's more to the supporting cast than that, and his (wise) decision to designate a genuinely lovable character as the protagonist helps carry the story in a lot of ways. You see the world through Laura's eyes, and even when you're frustrated or annoyed at the behaviors of the gods she interacts with, her wide-eyed wonder is easy to get sucked into.
There are moments where Gillen skirts the line on indulgence, though, which is a tendency he has in all his work. It's in those moments where the actual narrative he's penning get a bit lost in the nitty-gritty details that are meaningful to him and other history buffs, but go over the heads of commoners like myself. I don't entirely hold that against him, though, but it was a little disorienting to read this and know that there was a lot of depth I missed simply because I'm not thoroughly well-versed in the histories behind the pantheon of gods Gillen is playing with here.
Despite my (usual) issues with bits of Gillen's writing, it really is McKelvie and Wilson's art that elevate the series into a whole other realm. The vivid, sharp colors; the immaculate character designs; the simple-yet-dazzling layouts; every visual beat of The Wicked + The Divine is next-level brilliance. It's the art that truly sells the world and its characters, and it somehow manages to gracefully skirt the line between realism and fantasy in a way I don't think anyone has surpassed or will ever be able to surpass.
I may have rated this a bit lower if it hadn't been for the plot twist that bookends the second volume. No spoilers, obviously, but the story pulls the rug out from under you in such a bold, brilliant and unexpected way that I have no idea where the story could possibly go next. But I can't wait to find out.
September 3, 2018
Se fosse para resumir em poucas palavras, The Wicked + The Divine é uma espécie de American Gods para a geração dos millenials. E isso não é necessariamente uma coisa ruim. "TW+TD" apresenta um mundo em que a cada 90 anos ocorre uma Recorrência, ou seja, um panteão de deuses é reencarnado em adolescentes concedendo poderes e fama para todos aqueles que receberam o privilégio.
O grande problema é que essa dádiva só dura dois anos. Passado esse período, as deidades morrem e só podem retornar no próximo século. Enquanto isso não ocorre, eles aproveitam a vida como ídolos pop, levando multidões aos seus shows que tem certo caráter orgiástico (um dos deuses é o próprio Dionísio inclusive), desafiando as regras da sociedade e fazendo o que bem entendem.
Tudo começa a dar errado quando Lúcifer (sim, quem você pensou mesmo, mas aqui o diabo assume a forma de mulher carismática e é uma das melhores personagens da série) é acusada injustamente de um assassinato e precisa da ajuda de Laura, a protagonista e narradora da história, para se salvar. Laura começa como uma grande fã do Panteão e vai se transformando a medida que passa a conviver com os deuses. Mitologia egípcia, greco-romana, mesopotâmica, nórdica, cartaginesa, japonesa e outras são misturadas nessa história muito interessante que repagina a discussão sobre a vida eterna em uma abordagem inédita.
Vale muito a pena ler essa HQ também pelas partes técnicas. O desenho é lindo e a coloração é de tirar o fôlego, nunca tinha visto algo parecido antes na nona arte. Para aqueles que não gostam ou nunca leram alguma HQ é certamente um bom ponto de entrada. Uma fantasia adulta sobre temas mitológicos e deuses que parecem nossos astros da música. O que mais poderia pedir?
O grande problema é que essa dádiva só dura dois anos. Passado esse período, as deidades morrem e só podem retornar no próximo século. Enquanto isso não ocorre, eles aproveitam a vida como ídolos pop, levando multidões aos seus shows que tem certo caráter orgiástico (um dos deuses é o próprio Dionísio inclusive), desafiando as regras da sociedade e fazendo o que bem entendem.
Tudo começa a dar errado quando Lúcifer (sim, quem você pensou mesmo, mas aqui o diabo assume a forma de mulher carismática e é uma das melhores personagens da série) é acusada injustamente de um assassinato e precisa da ajuda de Laura, a protagonista e narradora da história, para se salvar. Laura começa como uma grande fã do Panteão e vai se transformando a medida que passa a conviver com os deuses. Mitologia egípcia, greco-romana, mesopotâmica, nórdica, cartaginesa, japonesa e outras são misturadas nessa história muito interessante que repagina a discussão sobre a vida eterna em uma abordagem inédita.
Vale muito a pena ler essa HQ também pelas partes técnicas. O desenho é lindo e a coloração é de tirar o fôlego, nunca tinha visto algo parecido antes na nona arte. Para aqueles que não gostam ou nunca leram alguma HQ é certamente um bom ponto de entrada. Uma fantasia adulta sobre temas mitológicos e deuses que parecem nossos astros da música. O que mais poderia pedir?
May 22, 2020
I'd heard some good things about this series and it was the hard recommendation of a friend whose taste I trust that finally sold me. Firstly, the physical object here is beautiful. It's a hardback book with a minimalist black cover showing the logos of the twelve gods who have been reincarnated for this Recurrence.
The art is of a style that I generally enjoy and I really liked it here. The story is intriguing and has kept me engaged the whole way through: every ninety years, twelve gods return as young people, help inspire and change the world, and within two years, they're all dead. That's quite the hook, and Gillen and co make good on it. This time round, the gods are all pop stars, allowing the writers to talk about our culture through that lens. Our PoV character is Laura, a fan, maybe acolyte, of all of them who Lucifer (aka Luci) takes a shine to. This is followed by attempted murder, actual murder and a mystery over a death.
Gillen is happy to build up his mystery slowly, as he builds his world. And you can't help but get drawn in. With such a large cast, to start with, it is sometimes difficult to remember who is who and what their shtick is. This gets easier as the book goes on, and it ends on a heck of a cliffhanger, that completely threw me.
I'm definitely going to be picking up more WicDiv, and how can I not get these gorgeous hardbacks? My favourite 'extra' in this volume is the writer's commentary at the back. Gillen goes through pretty much the entire comic, page by page, with his own thoughts and analysis, pointing out things that I missed in my first desperate rush to read the next page. It's a great way to read the whole thing again in a more thoughtful manner.
The art is of a style that I generally enjoy and I really liked it here. The story is intriguing and has kept me engaged the whole way through: every ninety years, twelve gods return as young people, help inspire and change the world, and within two years, they're all dead. That's quite the hook, and Gillen and co make good on it. This time round, the gods are all pop stars, allowing the writers to talk about our culture through that lens. Our PoV character is Laura, a fan, maybe acolyte, of all of them who Lucifer (aka Luci) takes a shine to. This is followed by attempted murder, actual murder and a mystery over a death.
Gillen is happy to build up his mystery slowly, as he builds his world. And you can't help but get drawn in. With such a large cast, to start with, it is sometimes difficult to remember who is who and what their shtick is. This gets easier as the book goes on, and it ends on a heck of a cliffhanger, that completely threw me.
I'm definitely going to be picking up more WicDiv, and how can I not get these gorgeous hardbacks? My favourite 'extra' in this volume is the writer's commentary at the back. Gillen goes through pretty much the entire comic, page by page, with his own thoughts and analysis, pointing out things that I missed in my first desperate rush to read the next page. It's a great way to read the whole thing again in a more thoughtful manner.
May 22, 2018
The art is so beautiful! It took me longer to read this because I had to stop and stare at every cover! And the premise is really intriguing.
The only reason this isnt 5 stars for me, is because I found the story a little hard to follow at times, I kept expecting to be filled in at some point, but I just had this overall feeling that I'd missed an issue at the beginning.
I was also a bit disappointed with some of the character building; some of them went so quickly but I hardly knew anything about them, so I really didn't care, even though I knew I probably should have.
I'll probably continue with the issues to see where it goes and if it gets better.
The only reason this isnt 5 stars for me, is because I found the story a little hard to follow at times, I kept expecting to be filled in at some point, but I just had this overall feeling that I'd missed an issue at the beginning.
I was also a bit disappointed with some of the character building; some of them went so quickly but I hardly knew anything about them, so I really didn't care, even though I knew I probably should have.
I'll probably continue with the issues to see where it goes and if it gets better.
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