The Wicked + The Divine 1831

The Wicked + The Divine (Issues)

by Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans (Illustrator), Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

“MODERN ROMANCE” Critically-acclaimed THE WICKED + THE DIVINE goes back to the nineteenth century, to see what became of the Romantic poets one infamous night on Lake Geneva…

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Mythology, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Historical

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2016

About the author

Kieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues 455 AD, 1373, 1831, 1923, Christmas Annual #1 and The Funnies #1 can be found here: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 8: Old Is the New New.

[maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting take at a prequel to the series. I wasn't sure how I felt about the art at first, but as the issue went on it grew on me! This also had a pretty cool story line, although it was a tad confusing at times.

[Caro the Helmet Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't really love the graphics, but loved everything else.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yay, new artist!



Also new characters and a (somewhat) new story. I don't hate this but I don't love it either. Just have to see how it goes.

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY. SHIT.

LAKE GENEVA. 1831. STORIES. FRANKENSTEIN. MONSTERS. GODS. AWESOMENESS.

JAWS DROPPED. I HAVE CHILLS. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COMIC.

[SMLauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Ojala una serie de los dioses de esta época!

[Helix · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars.

Despite the pretty art and the interesting setting (I surely love /this/ Woden more), and the "new" set of pantheon (new OLD, specifically), it's just...sort of there. The story is interesting and it definitely makes an interesting and engaging quick read, but...there's no clear connection between this oneshot and the main storyline. Is the creature Persephone, created from the ashes of dead Hades and sustained by Woden's lifeforce? That would be poetic. However, this certainly feels like merely an exercise playing with the old pantheon, than something of actual value that contributed to the main storyline in general. Since the main plot is still vague thanks to the messiness of vol 2 & 3 (rising darkness what?), this oneshot also feels pretty vague. I'm just in it for the art and the old pantheon. And it's kind of a pity we never get to see the rest of the pantheon since they're dead already (poor Hades, and there's Morpheus?)...or see them interact with humans in that era.

I can see Inanna as Mary Shelley, Lucifer as Byron, Morrigan as Percy Shelley for some reason...the creature and the setting and the entire "let's tell each other horror stories" vibe makes it easier to imagine that. Why do Inanna murder her children, though? It's a loose end that wasn't in any way explained, just dropped.

Overall: although I enjoyed this, it's still pretty disappointing on several fronts. Thankfully Rising Action is great.

[Bekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting addition to the series, though it does nothing to shed any light on what is happening in the modern day incarnation. It was very beautiful to read, the oil painting look of some panels adding marvelously to the atmosphere of rain and dismal weather. I was also interesting from a literary stance, with hints toward gothic writers but no mention of their names (though the hints were easy enough to follow). While it was nice, I don't think it adds anything to the series, so taking a pass on it won't be a loss.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DEFINITION OF LIT AF

[Kami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll need to re-read it again because I couldn't tell who was who exactly. :D

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art takes some getting used to but I think it really fits the flow and style of the writing for this one. I love the idea of these prequel one-shots to give us a glimpse of the earlier reincarnations of the gods and their relationships with each other and an Annake

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted at least one answer to the various questions I have. This did not deliver. And I'm very disappointed.
Hans is one of my favorite comic artists so on the other hand the art in this issue was a nice treat!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this little taste of the past. It's left me with some questions that I hope are a glimpse into what's coming beginning Issue 23.

[Kirra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucifer, Inanna, The Morrigan and Woden star in the 1831 issue of The Wicked + The Divine. They are nearing the end of their two years as Gods with just weeks to go and they spend a dark night telling everyone their horror stories (with some real facts about each other) with cruel twists. One really interesting thing is that Inanna and Woden are actually sisters by blood, but it took awhile longer for Inanna to be chosen with some special circumstance and they toyed with her before that because I guess no matter what time it is Woden will always be an ass and Lucifer will do whatever the hell they want. There was a lot going on in this issue and some crazy twists so overall I really enjoyed it and it's something you're left wanting more information on.

Is it terrible if I say the artwork of this issue is simply divine? I just loved the watercolour, dreary sort of look it had because it really added to the effect of the time period. The way the characters are drawn gives me chills (The Morrigan is like Sweeney Todd with even more horror!) with the colour and soft definition, but I also love that they use their powers often and they look just as stunning on the page. I think it's good that these special one-shot issues can explore different styles because sometimes it ends up really suiting the story like in this one.

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars. This might even have been 4 stars, but for that the panels were too large (the art is great) and thus the story too slim. What was given was very conflicting and interesting, though.

[Bel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was always sad that The Wicked + The Divine was going to be severely constrained by the two year limit, but what a fantastic way to get around it. Gillen twists some facts and timelines to reimagine the genesis of Frankenstein. The art is lovely. The only problem is that it was too short. (Also, my first digital comic, which I read on Comixology. Worked well on a laptop in tablet mode.)

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I was expecting something...different, I guess. I never got drawn into this story. Maybe because I didn't get to spend as much time with this incarnation of the gods. Maybe there's something about the time period or the setting this takes place in that I don't get. Or maybe it's because we don't get to see these gods interact with mortals, only each other, and I find that interaction to be one of the best parts of the main story. Overall I feel like this is a throw away story. Unless Woden's creature that disappears into the fog at the end makes an appearance in the main story, 1831 doesn't seem to add anything substantial.

Read if you're a completionist, otherwise I would wait to see if this blurb of a comic will have an effect over on the main story line.

[Andre Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legal pra cacete.
32 páginas que valem por 100.

Melhor coisa de "one shots" e coisas do gênero é que os bons pegam uma premissa já estabelecida em algum outro lugar já "mostram ao que vieram" de cara.

Conciso, denso, divertido, triste e deprimente ao mesmo tempo.

10/10 deveriam lançar "Wicked Divine através das Eras"

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but does basically nothing to add to the story itself. You don't lose anything if you don't read this, but on the other hand, if you're waiting for chapters to come out and craving for more, might enjoy this.

[ashes ➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely art, lovely story, lovely choices as inspirations for the gods. I'll note that this doesn't really provide relevant information for the modern Pantheon, but it provides information nonetheless.

[Rocío]

Spin-off de lectura casi obligatoria por todas las hipótesis que presenta y/o refuerza.

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Lima · Rating 2 out of 5]

The graphics are not bad, but the story is kind of meh

[Hanneleele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oi.
Oi.
Oi.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this step back in time. Gorgeous coloring and interesting story. So is this the start of Persephone?

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my most favorite thing that has ever happened.

[Sana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hauntingly stunning! Hell yeah to gender bending the gods and the Frankenstein twist.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

AH, as if you needed to sell me on the series any further. Gorgeous, gorgeous art.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

1831 is a short story that belongs to the world of the Wicked + the Divine; though the setting and cast (well, most of the cast) are different. It’s set in nineteenth century (you may be shocked to hear that it was likely set in exactly 1831), with a different set of humans showing us the reincarnated gods. Everyone with the exception of Ananke is different, and not every god/goddess is shown.
This was a really interesting take for a prequel. It doesn’t exactly tell us anything new, but it does shine a light on some things we may have previously glossed over. It was fun seeing the gender swapped gods (well, gender swapped again in some cases?) and the slightly different temperaments and hobbies taken up.
I read this slightly out of order, but I still have some passing theories about the story that was told here. There are a couple of potential theories we can run off of. One theory is to look at this as further proof that Ananke does whatever she wants – and that she has been plotting something for centuries. The other way to look at this? The potential creation of the Destroyer perhaps? We know something new was created; though up until this point I actually had the feeling that the Destroyer was something Ananke had been dealing with for quite a bit longer than this, but time is funny like that.
I wouldn’t mind seeing more short stories like these, even if the endings will all likely be as depressing (kind of hard to avoid the bit where they all are supposed to die after two years). It’s fun seeing the world through a new artists’ eyes and a slightly different interpretation.

For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Paola Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Kieron Gillen stop making references to literature someday? Gosh, I hope not. Here we have it, Romanticism and the Gothic in comics. Yes, there is a big Frankenstein reference as well as hints of other works and writers.

Anyways. I love when gods genderbend, but I wasn't expecting them conceive and marry between them. Woden's character design was incredible; Hades was a nice addition to the pantheon.

I might be a little biased, but this issue's at was something else. Yes, I love Stephanie Hans' art with savage intensity.