The Wicked + The Divine

The Wicked + The Divine is a contemporary fantasy comic book series written by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Jamie McKelvie, and published monthly by American company Image Comics. The series is largely influenced by pop music and various mythological deities. Gillen's core inspiration for the series came after his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and includes the themes of life and death in the story.^[1]

The narrative follows a young teenage girl, Laura, as she interacts with the Pantheon, a group of twelve people who discover that they are reincarnated deities. This discovery grants them fame and supernatural powers, with the stipulation that they will die within two years – part of a ninety-year cycle known as the Recurrence.

The Wicked + The Divine has received positive reviews, and was the winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards. It has also been noted for its diverse portrayal of ethnicity, sexuality and gender social roles.

Publication History

Author Kieron Gillen's original and core inspiration for The Wicked + The Divine was his father's diagnosis with terminal cancer.^[1] For this reason, Gillen considers the story to be "about life and death."^[1] Further inspiration for Gillen comes from pop music and various pop idols; the Pantheon is based on pop idols, and Gillen has created a playlist of songs to accompany the comic book.^[2][3]

The series was announced on 9 January 2014,^[4] and the first issue was released in June 2014.^[5] As of April 2017, there have been 28 single issues released, one one-shot special, four trade paperbacks, and one hardcover trade. The series is ongoing, intended to run for between 30 and 60 issues.^[6]

The television rights have been optioned by Universal TV.^[7]

Plot

Main article: List of The Wicked and The Divine story arcs

The narrative focuses on a group of people with superhuman powers known as "The Pantheon". Each member of The Pantheon was at one point a normal person before being chosen to merge with the spirit of a deity. It is said that each cycle of The Pantheon will not live past two years from the start of the series, and that every 90 years the Pantheon is reincarnated. This cycle is known as the Recurrence. It has currently not been revealed how which deities are chosen to be reincarnated in each occurrence. To the Gods that are resurrected, it feels as if no time has passed since their death in the previous Recurrence, when they are awakened by Ananke. It would also appear that the person who is the next reincarnation of a particular God does not get the opportunity to refuse becoming one.

Characters

• Laura Wilson - The series' narrator and protagonist. A 17 year-old multiracial teenager who lives in Brockley, Laura is a "fangirl" of the Pantheon, often having to stifle her true emotions in their presence and ready to sacrifice everything to be associated with the Pantheon. After attending a performance by Amaterasu, she meets several members of the Pantheon for the first time and befriends Lucifer.^[8] While all previous Pantheons have consisted of twelve gods, Laura is revealed to possibly be the first thirteenth member, Persephone.^[9]
• Laura's Family - Laura's mother, father and sister Jenny. Originally not knowing of Laura's secret other life as a friend of the Pantheon, they eventually find out when she is thrust into the spotlight, and learn to support her lifestyle.
• Beth - Originally one of Cassandra's interns, she is fired after leaking Cassandra and Laura's location to Baal and sets out on her own, with a grudge.
• Robin and Toni - Beth's new camera team, operating in the same capacity Beth once did to Cassandra.
• The Valkyries - A group of tall, beautiful, Asian women that Wōden is almost always accompanied by. Kerry is one of his former valkyries and went by then name Brunhilde whilst with him, and after attempting to kill Wōden in order to gain his power, is crippled by Minerva. Another valkyrie, Eir looks after Sakhmet. A third named valkyrie is Göndul.
• David Blake - An expert in The Pantheon who doesn't believe this generation deserves them, which upsets Laura. He works with Urdr to try and identify Luci's attackers and has a son called Jon.
• Minerva's mother and father - Minerva's parents live to profit from their daughter's newfound God-like status.

The Pantheon

Every Occurrence, 12 separate Gods/Goddesses reincarnate into either gender. Lucifer, Inanna and Minerva have had the most known reincarnations with three each, while Amaterasu, Baal, Dionysus, The Morrigan and Woden have two known reincarnations, with every other God/Goddess having at least one known reincarnation. The 2010s occurrence features the mysterious appearance of a 13th Goddess, Persephone.

Ananke appears to act along with the Pantheon, serving as their representative to the public, but is also outside of them. Unlike the others she is not a teenager and has aged, but still is able to function. She functions almost as a parent, and reveals that she gave up her divinity during an earlier cycle of The Recurrence to protect future members of The Pantheon. Although she is stern with the deities who are resurrected, she seems to have a genuine maternal connection to them, saying that she will miss them before she kills them, and crying after she does so.

The 2010s Occurrence:

• Amaterasu - Formerly Emily Greenaway, who went by the name Hazel Oak Ash Thorn Greenaway and became Amaterasu at the age of 17. A fan of Shinto culture from her childhood, she is commonly accused of cultural appropriation. Before being transformed, she was a fan of Cassandra's writing and drew a lot of fan art. She has the ability to "step" by sunlight as a way to teleport, with Wōden giving her a machine to do it by starlight. She has a very optimistic outlook on life and tries to be kind and friendly, stating that as a God she must be an inspiration. She also cares deeply for her fellow Gods and others, praying for them all.
• Baal - Formerly Valentine Campbell. Baal was the first God to emerge from the 2014 Occurrence. He was once with Inanna, before Inanna cheated on him with Lucifer, making him overly aggressive, but still not over him. He presents himself as aggressive, but is shown to have a softer side. His powers are electrical in nature, using it to make his car go faster and erect a cage of lightning.
• Dionysus - Has the power to produce a drug-like euphoria, with the added function to control people affected by it. He first appears as a fan during The Morrigan's gig, before he is transformed. His powers have consequences though, as he can constantly hear people's voices in his head and can't sleep.
• Inanna - Formerly Zahid. He first met Laura at the original Ragnarock when he was still human, where he blended in and mostly went ignored, but his personality changed when he was transformed, becoming a lot more outgoing. He was also a fan of Cassandra's writing. He runs a Residency which can go on for weeks at a time and frequently turns into orgies. In the early days of Godhood, he was in a relationship with Baal, which ended when Inanna slept with Lucifer. His powers included Divination and "stepping" (teleporting) by starlight.
• Lucifer - Her original name was Eleanor Rigby (a reference to the Beatles song of the same name) and she was turned into Lucifer at the age of 18.^[10] She first meets Laura after an Amaterasu concert and offers Laura divinity in exchange for her help. She enjoys being rebellious against authority and has a desire for people to notice her, which being on stage allowed her to indulge in. Her powers appeared to be fire-based, often demonstrated by causing explosions and lighting cigarettes.
• Minerva - The youngest member of the Pantheon at 12 years old, she is kept away from important discussions by the others despite her desire to be involved. It is indicated that the reason Minerva is so young is that as a virgin Goddess, her hosts can only be virgins themselves. This seems to be supported by the fact that her previous incarnation in the 1920s was also a young girl. Her parents control her every move, living with her in Valhalla. She has a pet mechanical owl she calls Owly.
• The Morrígan - Formerly Marian. Out of her love for her former boyfriend, she requests Ananke turn him into Baphomet. She appears in three incarnations, which have so far been named as "Badb", "Gentle Annie" (possibly Anand), and simply "Morrígan" (The Morrígan)). Her personality depends on which incarnation she is in: Gentle Annie is more kind, while Badb is overly aggressive. Her powers include summoning crows as a weapon and, as Gentle Annie, she can heal. If a person tries to capture The Morrígan on camera, they will see a vision of a loved one dying.
• Nergal - Formerly Cameron. After his parents died, he became withdrawn from Marian and cheated on her, but she later forgave him and asked for him to be transformed. The character goes by name Baphomet (Baph), but in the 20th issue, he reveals to Persephone (and Urdr) that he is actually the incarnation of the god Nergal. He is very sarcastic and snide as an attempt to hide his immense insecurities, particularly his fear of death. He can summon the spirits of the dead.
• Persephone - Appears at the end of the 11th issue when Ananke seemingly transforms Laura Wilson into this previously unknown member of the Pantheon. Her powers include summoning vines that burst out the ground and is also able to show others past events.
• Sakhmet - Formerly Ruth Clarkson. She admired Egyptian culture from a young age. Before Ananke found her, it was hinted she was homeless, an alcoholic, and that her father abused her. When sober, she becomes murderous and cannibalistic and can only be calmed down with alcohol. Her behaviour is very catlike and she is one of the Pantheon's best fighters.
• Tara - Formerly Aruna. From a young age, she suffered abuse and sexualization from all around her. She does not know which specific goddess "Tara" she is supposed to be an incarnation of and is plagued by abuse and derision from the public for refusing to perform miracles during her performances, instead performing music she wrote before her transformation. Constantly receiving rape threats and death threats, she begs Ananke to end her life and torment. She is very dismissive and withdrawn from the rest of the Gods.
• Urðr - Before her transformation, Urðr was Cassandra Igarashi, a trans woman,^[11] reporter, and a cynical skeptic of the Pantheon's supernatural origins. As Urðr, she is revealed to be the 12th member of the Pantheon, and appears along with her two sisters Verðandi and Skuld, formerly her camera crew. Together, the three form The Norns. Urðr is not affected by any of the other Gods' miracles apart from Persephone's.^[12]
• Wōden - Formerly Jon. He is often accompanied by The Valkryies, a group of human women who are all tall, Asian, and beautiful. He constantly wears a mask to hide his appearance, which is rumoured to be hideous. He is very racist, misogynistic, and a pervert.

The 1900s Occurrence:

This Occurrence ended on the 31st of December 1923.

• Susanoo - A God who appears to be of Asian descent and represents his heritage as the God of the storms through a lightning bolt on his tie. Not reincarnated since this Occurrence.
• Baal - A God who appears to be of African descent. He is later reincarnated in the next occurrence.
• Amaterasu - A Goddess with an Asian appearance, dressed as a 1920s flapper. She is later reincarnated in the next occurrence.
• Minerva - A Goddess with the appearance of a young girl with black and white makeup. She is later reincarnated in the next occurrence.
• 8 Gods deceased by the end of the Occurrence.

The 1800s Occurrence:

This Occurrence ended on the 19th of March 1831.

• Lucifer - A God based on the poet Lord Byron, who does not want to accept his fate. Killed by a creature of his own making while attempting to resurrect Hades. Next reincarnated in the 2010s occurrence.
• Wōden - A Goddess based on the author Mary Shelley, made bitter by the death of her three children. TO save Inanna, she merges with creature created by Lucifer and The Morrígan. Next reincarnated in the 2010s Occurrence.
• The Morrígan - A God based on the poet Percy Shelley, who feels isolated from his cold wife, Woden. Killed by a creature of his own making while attempting to resurrect Hades. Next reincarnated in the 2010s Occurrence.
• Inanna - A Goddess based on Mary Shelley's step-sister Claire Clairmont. In return for Godhood, she kills Wōden's children. The last survivor of this occurrence, she is killed by Ananke. Next reincarnated in the 2010s Occurrence.
• Hades - A God based on John Keats. Ravaged by illness, he is killed by Ananke with his body then taken by Lucifer and The Morrígan to attempt a resurrection. Not reincarnated since this Occurrence.
• Morpheus - A God possibly based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Died explaining a vision. Not reincarnated since this Occurrence.
• Thoth - A God possibly based on Edgar Allen Poe. Killed by an ape stealing his heart. Not reincarnated since this Occurrence.
• Hestia - A Goddess possibly based on Jane Austen. Consumed by a pride of suitors at a ball.
• Perun - A God possibly based on Alexander Pushkin. Dies in Petersburg. Not reincarnated since this Occurrence.
• Unknown God who went by 'The Angel of Soho', Urizen, Enitharmon, and Orc. These are all characters from William Blake's mythology.
• Unknown Goddesses described as 'The Three Lonely Sisters of the Parsonage', possibly the Brontë sisters.

The 455 Occurrence

This Occurrence occurs during the second Sack of Rome in 455 AD.

• Lucifer - A lower actor made God, he calls himself Julius Caesar when he rejects his Godhood. The last survivor of this occurrence, killed by unknown causes. The next known reincarnation is the 1830s Occurrence.
• Mithras - According to Ananke, died by feeding his flesh to a legion. Not known to have reincarnated since this Occurrence.
• Morai - According to Ananke, their fate was predetermined. Not known to have reincarnated since this Occurrence.
• Minerva - According to Ananke, lost in an attempt at finding the Alexandrian Library. Next known reincarnation in the 1920s Occurrence.
• Inanna - Married Attila the Hun and killed him during sex, stopping his rise. Next known reincarnation in the 1830s Occurrence.
• Dionysus/Bacchus - A lover of Lucifer who relates more to the Roman God Bacchus than Dionysus. Lucifer wishes he was with him at the end of his life. Next known reincarnation in the 2010s Occurrence.
• Baal - A Carthaginian whom Geiseric mentions seeing perform and who was later killed. Next known reincarnation in the 1920s Occurrence.
• 5 unknown Gods/Goddesses deceased by the end of the Occurrence.

In addition, a Pantheon officially occurred in the 1640s, and a lost pantheon at one point took place in South America.

Reception

The Wicked + the Divine has received generally positive reviews. The review aggregation website Comic Book Roundup reports that the series holds an average score of 8.5 out of 10.^[13]

Awards

The Wicked + the Divine was the winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards.^[14] The series has also been nominated for the 2015 Eisner Awards in three categories: Best New Series, Best Cover Artist, and Best Coloring.^[15]

Collected editions

The first five volumes have been collected as trade paperbacks (TPB) and a "Deluxe Edition" hardcover (HC):

References

External links

• Official website