Divinity: The Complete Trilogy

Divinity #1-3

by Matt Kindt, Trevor Hairsine (Artist), Ryan Wynn

For the first time anywhere, experience all three sold-out volumes of the visionary science-fiction saga that refined the Valiant Universe for the 21st century in one stunning, oversized deluxe hardcover!

At the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union – determined to win the Space Race at any cost – green lit a dangerously advanced mission. They sent a man farther into the cosmos than anyone has gone before or since. Lost in the stars, he encountered something unknown. Something that…changed him.

Long thought lost and erased from the history books, he has suddenly returned, crash-landing in the Australian Outback. The few that have been able to reach him believe him to be a deity -– one who turned the scorched desert into a lush oasis. They say he can bend matter, space, and even time to his will. Earth is about to meet a new god. And he’s a communist. How long can it be before the first confrontation between mankind and DIVINITY begins?

From the minds of New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (X-O MANOWAR, Mind MGMT) and superstar artist Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis) – plus special guests Jeff Lemire (BLOODSHOT REBORN, Black Hammer), Joe Harris (Great Pacific), Clayton Crain (RAI), Juan José Ryp (BRITANNIA), and more – comes the first complete collection of the multiple Harvey Award-nominated series that Entertainment Weekly calls “a mind bending battle for the ages”!

Collecting DIVINITY #1–4, DIVINITY II #1–4, DIVINITY III: STALINVERSE #1–4, DIVINITY III: KOMANDAR BLOODSHOT #1, DIVINITY III: ARIC, SON OF THE REVOLUTION #1, DIVINITY III: SHADOWMAN & THE BATTLE OF NEW STALINGRAD #1, and DIVINITY III: ESCAPE FROM GULAG 396 #1, along with the never-before-collected DIVINITY #0, and over 20+ pages of rarely seen art and extras!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Fiction

528 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2018

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong collection of the three Divinity miniseries plus all of the Stalinverse one-shots and a Divinity #0 which is previously uncollected. Also included is around 50 pages of commentary on the art process from the creators.

The series is pretty great. Three cosmonauts from the 60's encounter an entity that gives them God-like powers. There's lots of conflict and debates on different ideologies while warping through time and space. Highly recommended. You don't even need to be familiar with the rest of the Valiant universe to enjoy.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will be the first time I've read Valient comic, new or old.

Great art! Story a bit thin. Got the feeling I came into the cinema at the wrong time and left early. Only got a piece of the story in the middle. A very basic story. Perhaps I'll try another Valient book.

[Tony Laplume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Kindt’s answer to Doctor Manhattan, whom Alan Moore leaves bereft of interest in the messy affairs of man, Abram Adams has every opportunity (including Eternity, omitted from this volume but I read again to round out my own rereading) to reach the same conclusion but stubbornly resists, seeing instead every opportunity of beauty rather than despair.

A poetic, philosophical mediation on the medium, the unquestioned high point of this era in Valiant superhero comics.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Divinity feels like the epitome of Matt Kindt's writing style that leans on heavy-handed metaphors and mysterious narrators to distance the reader from the action. It's kind of a slog, particularly when the basic idea is compelling and easy to understand - a trio of cosmonauts travel to the far end of the universe and come back with indescribable powers and varying allegiances. But because they have God-like powers, Kindt seems to think he must write as if Divinity were a modern Bible rather than a comic book. Like, give me some scenes of this superpowered individuals using those superpowers! Instead, everything is written as if a distant narrator is looking back on this weird thing that happened once to someone else. It's not propulsive at all when it seems like it would be so easy to write a fast-paced, exciting narrative based on the same general idea.

It doesn't help that Divinity III takes place in an alternate Stalinverse that requires the reader to have some knowledge of the larger Valiant universe. Additional back-up stories to that volume also require Valiant knowledge. So this "Complete Trilogy" is divided between a mostly dull story of God-powered heroes/villains and slightly more exciting stories of characters I know nothing about. Not the best introduction to Valiant's line-up.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divinity I. The first Divinity mini-series could have been an arc in the Unity comic, but instead Kindt and Valiant decided to focus more on the "antagonist", Divinity, and the result is entirely enthralling. Not only is Divinity an interesting character, but his story is told in an interesting way, full of flashbacks and uncertain reality alike. Though they aren't the stars of the show, the Unity members are interesting to watch as well. (As usual, Aric steals the show, even if Ninjak is the most competent person in the room.) Overall, a enthralling and thoughtful mini-series that shows what a superhero comic company can do when they're not bound by the rules of what "should" be [5/5].

Divinity II. The second Divinity mini-series has a pretty great premise. It goes back to the beginning and reminds us that there were two other compatriots abandoned in the Beyond and asks what happens when one of them returns. The actual results of that aren't as interesting as the fantastic Divinity, because there's a lot more superheroic fighting. But there's also nice backstory, fun timeywimeyness, a good conclusion, and of course the twist that leads to Divinity III [4/5].

Divinity III. A good reality-has-changed comic can be an absolute joy, and Kindt manages to capture that in an alternate VEI-verse where Russia is the world superpower. We get to see all of the universe's major characters in dramatically different situations. The cause of course is Divinity, and Kindt also carries that plotline to its obvious third act conclusion. Overall, not as great as the amazing Divinity I, but still a strong conclusion to the trilogy [5/5].

Divinity III: Heroes. These hero one-offs that seem to have become de rigeur for Valiant's crossovers, and they're always the least bit of them. This is no exception. There's an Archer & Armstrong issue which is brilliant, because it really goes to the heart of Archer's character, and a Bloodshot issue that's good. The X-O and Shadowman stories helped to explain their places in the Stalinverse, but weren't notable otherwise. Each issue also has a short origin of one of the new Stalinverse characters, and they're interesting [4/5].

Divinity #0. Despite the numbering, this is an epilogue, but it's mainly just an excuse to walk through the Valiant universe. [2/5]

This volume runs right down the line at 4.5 stars, but overall it's something very different from your standard fare, so I gave it the higher value.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5. This trilogy is full of good ideas, and some really excellent character studies, a bit bogged down by superheroics and punching. The main plotline, Divinity, Divinity III, and Divinity III, form a nice trilogy, with poetic similarities but differences brought about by the different characters. The backup stuff is a little hit or miss, but overall the book contributes something new and different to the Valiant stable.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first dip into this version of Valiant, after reading some of the late 90s runs (Busiek's NINJAK, Priest's QUANTUM & WOODY).

Boy, did I love it. So smart, and while it's obviously a riff on other ideas it makes great use of them. Went in with no familiarity other than a vague idea of their earlier versions, but everything was laid out well and I didn't feel I was missing much. And while I never really noticed Trevor Hairsine before, I sure will now.

[Johan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I read something from Valiant. I recognized Ninjak and X-O Manowar, but I had no idea who the others were and I have no idea what the role of Divinity in the Valiant Universe is. Mediocre artwork and a confusing story.
The past part, was the last part with the origin stories of the heroes of the glorious Stalinverse

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, though it was rather slow-moving and episodic (and, ultimately, not a whole lot happened). The art's good and you really don't need to know the Valiant universe and characters to understand this (though it might add some extra subtlety).

[Mark Ames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this is actually twelve comic books combined. Pretty different take on superhero tropes with Russia figuring very highly throughout. First 3rd requires patience but the payoff at the end was a good one.

[Jordan Fort · Rating 5 out of 5]

P

[Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once they start getting into the Soviet era history alteration, this volume really shines.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

🤷🏻‍♂️ it was nice filler. 2.5/5.

[Ed Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storyline was interesting and I could follow the sequence. Much easier read than Sandman and the artwork was too shelf

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Very fun book. It reads fast but its worth the read. Don't let the page count intimidate you. Very good work.

[Abu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great replacement for the Solar Man of the Atom, very interesting character development and story. Another star in the expanding Valiant Universe.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's tough to get into a new comic "universe," and I've never really liked what little of Valiant I had read (aggro Bloodshot nonsense), but Divinity was pretty good. I love a good "lost astronaut/cosmonaut" story - and to top it off, the art in many of the stories was incredible (with a real Heavy Metal kind of vibe).