Issues Solved: The Wicked and the Divine

PHOTO CREDIT: IMAGECOMICS.COM

BY CHRISTINA RIVERO

Aside from the major corporations in the comic book world, there are other companies that sell comics you would not find in your typical superhero aisle. One of them is The Wicked + The Divine from Image Comics.

This story takes place in England with “performers” that almost everyone seems to adore. The only catch is that these young artists are actually gods. It is said that every ninety years, gods of any and every culture, religion, or legend are reincarnated into humans. Now our main character, Laura, is on a journey with the fallen angel Luci, the reincarnation of Lucifer, who will take them to meet other gods as well as their fate.

I remember reading the first issue of this series and thinking how different this comic was, it was definitely not something I was used to, but I kept my mind open. After reading the first issue, even though it shook me (in a good way), I wanted more. I continued on and with every issue there were new surprises. This kept me engaged and I found myself trying to sneak reading them in classes.

Since this was an original story without a history I could easily access with a Google search, it did take me some time to understand. However, I caught on very quickly.

Written by Kieron Gillen, the artwork drawn by Jamie McKelvie, and colored by Matt Wilson this comic does pack quite the punch. I was familiar with Gillen’s writing and McKelvie’s artwork through Marvel with their Young Avengers (Marvel) and Phonogram series. I raced to the shop as soon as I heard they would be working together on this story.

Gillen’s interest for younger characters is emphasized in this new series.

“There’s an entire industry about writing what is bracketed as “Young Adult” which warps its presence commercially,” Gillen said on Tumblr. “When you’re writing late teens, you’re basically part of the whole adult literature world. It gets subsumed.”

In that statement, he was referencing his Young Avengers series, but this is equally applicable to The Wicked + The Divine. In this story, the main characters are young adults. Unlike your typical comic where the lead is over the age of 30, the story allows a younger audience to feel more attached and attracted. This complex plot line can appeal to an even older generation of readers as well.

Overall, the comic’s unique and engaging storyline will bring it to new heights, far surpassing your standard comic book clichés.