Synopsis
Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critically thermonuclear floor-fillers YOUNG AVENGERS and PHONOGRAM reunite to start a new ongoing superhero fantasy. Welcome to THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, where gods are the ultimate pop stars. But remember: just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re going to live forever.
From: Image Comics
Notes on This Title
The Wicked + The Divine features an ensemble cast which includes many bisexual characters, a trans woman, and an asexual character, most of whom are characters of color.
Most of the story takes place in present day. However, special one-shot issues depict events that take place in the past. These issues are titled by year (1831, 455 AD, 1373) and are collected in the series’ eighth trade paperback and fourth hardcover volume.
This series is written by Kieron Gillen. Most of the series is drawn by Jamie McKelvie, with colors by Matt Wilson. However, the “Commercial Suicide” arc and the specials feature guest artists.
Awards
2014 Autostraddle Comic and Sequential Art Award Shortlist — Favorite Indie Book
2015 Autostraddle Comic and Sequential Art Awards Shortlist — Favorite Single Issue (The Wicked + The Divine #11)
2014 Broken Frontier Award Nominee for Best New Series
2015 Eisner Award Nominee for Best New Series
2018 Eisner Award Nominee for Best Continuing Series
27th GLAAD Media Award Nominee for Outstanding Comic Book
2020 Hugo Award Nominee for Best Graphic Story or Comic (Volume 9)
Reviews
Starred review: “Gillen and McKelvie are the critically-acclaimed creative team behind Young Avengers and Phonogram, and their newest is a compelling gut punch from the very first panel. Laura serves as the reader’s stand-in as she navigates the bizarre waters of the pantheon’s in-fighting and politics, and Lucifer manages to charm while owing a major fashion debt to David Bowie during his Thin White Duke phase. The rest of the gods are intriguing in their look and character, but why are they here? Little is revealed at this stage of the narrative, but the solid storytelling and clean, gorgeous artwork will keep readers engrossed and eager for more.” (Source: Publishers Weekly, vol 262, issue 09)
“The Wicked + The Divine, Keiron Gillen [sic] and Jamie McKelvie‘s series about a biracial British teen named Laura and a group of gods who reincarnate as teenagers and become superstars every 90 years. One of the main characters who isn’t a part of the pantheon is a journalist named Cassandra, who is also a Japanese-British trans woman. Now, Cassandra is cool. She interviews and writes stories on these gods who, frankly don’t impress her much, and when she comes face-to-face with them as they show off their literally god-level power, she’s still not impressed in the slightest. She’s got ice-cold blood running through her veins, but she’s also one of the only people Laura can trust. There’s even this great moment in issue #5 where Luci, who is literally Lucifer, the devil, apologizes to Cassandra for a transphobic dig she made earlier. Yes, even the literal devil knows that being transphobic is wrong.” (Source: Autostraddle)
“In their quest for one-sided affection, they live the lives of rock-star gurus, gathering crowds of orgasmically adoring humans around them. The hypercocky Lucifer takes a particular liking to one of these humans, teenage Londoner Laura. Laura is consequently plunged into the internal battle that ensues when Lucifer is, ironically enough, framed for murder. In what is more a tour of the Pantheon’s world than a mystery or thriller per se, the gods are all hyperbolic emotion and patronizing disdain and prove difficult to like, but Laura, even amid her devotion, feels authentic and engaging. Gillen’s penchant for fast, sharp dialogue and McKelvie’s razor-lined, intensely colored visuals keep things popping up to the cliffhanger ending.” (Source: Booklist, vol 111, number 13, p40)
Interviews
Multiversity Comics: “Artist Alley: Jamie McKelvie Introduces Us to ‘The Wicked + The Divine’”