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The Wicked + The Divine (Issues)
The Wicked + The Divine #26
IMPERIAL PHASE (I), Part Four Once more we return to the polling booth. One god, one vote. I'm sure it'll be fine. Democracy always works, right?
33 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2017
4 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Kieron Gillen
1,474 books1,911 followersKieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 8, 2025
(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues #23-28 can be found here: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 5: Imperial Phase, Part 1.
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues #23-28 can be found here: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 5: Imperial Phase, Part 1.
February 22, 2017
This has been one of the better issues lately without a doubt. I was worried there for a little bit...
We get to see all of the gods in one room and we get to learn a little bit more about them via their decision making process.
I'm also super curious about these strange new creatures?
We get to see all of the gods in one room and we get to learn a little bit more about them via their decision making process.
I'm also super curious about these strange new creatures?
March 21, 2017
Anarchy is the mother of order!
May 13, 2017
Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.
Wow, that was such an incredible issue and a fantastic start to the next story arc with the powerful introduction of the Great Darkness into the comics and back into the gods' lives. While the previous issues have felt a little dry or empty in terms of story and action this issue is all action and there are so many great parts. First, we have a fight in Baal's house, then Amaterasu is called and she takes Persephone to fight and protect Baal's family, then we get to see all of the gods at the round table discussing the new threat. We don't often get to see the gods unleash their powers but this issue was full of beautiful streaks and rays of power!
It seems like everyone else is in the dark (is that a pun?) about the situation, but now they definitely have to unite against it since it doesn't look like it will be an easy fix. The problem with that though is that as a group they are very separated ever since their fantasies and realities of what they are colliding together after the events of Ananke's death. I found this issue to be absolutely delightful and entertaining from the start to the end of it and I'm so happy that the story seems to be going back to what made me fall in love with the world at the start. However, I'm also worried with how their vote turned out because it does not look good for the world. Also, who else loved The Morrigan's Lord of the Rings reference?! Ah, she's amazing.
Wow, that was such an incredible issue and a fantastic start to the next story arc with the powerful introduction of the Great Darkness into the comics and back into the gods' lives. While the previous issues have felt a little dry or empty in terms of story and action this issue is all action and there are so many great parts. First, we have a fight in Baal's house, then Amaterasu is called and she takes Persephone to fight and protect Baal's family, then we get to see all of the gods at the round table discussing the new threat. We don't often get to see the gods unleash their powers but this issue was full of beautiful streaks and rays of power!
It seems like everyone else is in the dark (is that a pun?) about the situation, but now they definitely have to unite against it since it doesn't look like it will be an easy fix. The problem with that though is that as a group they are very separated ever since their fantasies and realities of what they are colliding together after the events of Ananke's death. I found this issue to be absolutely delightful and entertaining from the start to the end of it and I'm so happy that the story seems to be going back to what made me fall in love with the world at the start. However, I'm also worried with how their vote turned out because it does not look good for the world. Also, who else loved The Morrigan's Lord of the Rings reference?! Ah, she's amazing.
April 1, 2017
I just knida sorta want something to happen...
Pop sugar challenge 2017:
A book set around a hoiday other than Christmas
(just after new year)
Pop sugar challenge 2017:
A book set around a hoiday other than Christmas
(just after new year)
April 8, 2025
Persephone continues to be confusing. this book is trying really hard to be a relationship soap opera amongst all the supernatural chaos and sometimes it falls a little flat there. still interesting and good overall
August 3, 2017
Having read Gillen’s writer’s notes for this issue, I LOVE the thought process regarding the revelations about Cassandra.
August 4, 2017
i miss inanna
January 1, 2018
I'm still hooked on this story and these characters
March 21, 2020
I really loved Laura for a while, but now this bitch it is so crazy and she is so dumb and selfish.
She deserves a slow death.
She deserves a slow death.
August 18, 2020
You're lying. You know more than that.
October 22, 2023
Cawpile: 8.14 4.5*
July 3, 2025
Good dialogue, high tension
August 15, 2018
Read this if you like: bloody graphic novels, London, modern gods and their pantheons, teenagers with god complexes (?), rock and roll, seemingly unending plot twists and turns
March 10, 2017
What a stellar issue. Somehow it does so much, but it doesn't feel over-stuffed. Really fascinated by Laura's arc. Will the self-destruction end at some point or will it just keep going? Can't wait to see what this all means for Baal. Excited to see Baphomet potentially become a legit hero. Hope we don't have to wait so long to get the whole gang together again.
February 13, 2017
I have the Nicola Scott variant of this issue and my god it is absolutely gorgeous.
Baal saying all I do is win has just got me thinking of DJ Khaled and just internet culture in general and I love how this comic repeatedly makes pop culture references. It just totally adds to the realistic setting of two years ago. Also Baal is a total badass.
The skulls on the table to signify Lucifer, Tara, and Inanna genuinely made me a little bit sad, and even though some of them have been gone for multiple arcs now, I love that wicdiv regularly makes references to them. Gone but not forgotten.
But holy moly, the one page where Persephone takes up most of it and you see how Baal, Cassandra and Sakhmet react to what she says. A single word and she can change the entire game. The way her hair covers part of them, how she's the strongest out of all of them, and could easily consume and cover them if she wanted to. Honestly the illustrations are just so bloody gorgeous. Jamie McKelvie regularly goes above and beyond for WicDiv.
I just love these characters, I love them so so much. Urdr being revealed as a submissive polyamorous lesbian and Dio coming out as asexual and that being no big deal is just one of the reasons why I love this comic. The representation is incredible. There is no other mainstream comic with this level of LGBTQIA and POC representation. None at all. And the story and how three-dimensional all of the characters are just adds to everything.
This is genuinely my favourite arc since Fandemonium and this comic just seems to go from strength to strength.
Baal saying all I do is win has just got me thinking of DJ Khaled and just internet culture in general and I love how this comic repeatedly makes pop culture references. It just totally adds to the realistic setting of two years ago. Also Baal is a total badass.
The skulls on the table to signify Lucifer, Tara, and Inanna genuinely made me a little bit sad, and even though some of them have been gone for multiple arcs now, I love that wicdiv regularly makes references to them. Gone but not forgotten.
But holy moly, the one page where Persephone takes up most of it and you see how Baal, Cassandra and Sakhmet react to what she says. A single word and she can change the entire game. The way her hair covers part of them, how she's the strongest out of all of them, and could easily consume and cover them if she wanted to. Honestly the illustrations are just so bloody gorgeous. Jamie McKelvie regularly goes above and beyond for WicDiv.
I just love these characters, I love them so so much. Urdr being revealed as a submissive polyamorous lesbian and Dio coming out as asexual and that being no big deal is just one of the reasons why I love this comic. The representation is incredible. There is no other mainstream comic with this level of LGBTQIA and POC representation. None at all. And the story and how three-dimensional all of the characters are just adds to everything.
This is genuinely my favourite arc since Fandemonium and this comic just seems to go from strength to strength.
February 26, 2017
I'm still enjoying this and props to having ace characters. The fight scenes were pretty good and I enjoyed the discussion/vote. For a comic with a lot of politics, I'm enthralled.
February 12, 2017
ANARCHY! What the heck is going on, must know more.
February 12, 2017
I'm still ambivalent about the more superhero direction WicDiv has taken the last several issues. This one wasn't a standout for me.
February 9, 2017
That was- somewhat confusing.
October 8, 2017
How was the last issue so amazing, then this one started great and ended meh.
Dammit Persephone!
Dammit Persephone!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews