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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.
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.
The wicked the divine vol 2 fandemonium
Publication History
Author Kieron Gillen's original and core inspiration for The Wicked + The Divine was his father's diagnosis with terminal cancer. For this reason, Gillen considers the story to be "about life and death." 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.
The series was announced on 9 January 2014, and the first issue was released in June 2014. As of April 2016, there have been 18 single issues released, three trade paperbacks, and one hardcover trade. The series is ongoing, intended to run for between 30 and 60 issues.
The television rights have been optioned by Universal TV.
Plot
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. Each issue is accompanied by a quote from a character, acting as a surrogate name for the issue.
The Faust Act
In Britain on the 1st January 2014, Laura, a young girl and fan of The Pantheon, becomes embroiled in their inner politics after Lucifer takes a shining for her. She teams up with Cassandra, a reporter, to uncover the secrets they hold.
Fandemonium
A month after Lucifer's death, Laura teams up with Inanna to uncover the truth about who framed her, whilst dealing with the emergence of new Gods and her newfound fame as friend of The Pantheon. Meanwhile, Cassandra still seeks her big story about The Pantheon.
Commercial Suicide
The Pantheon is reeling after the events of the last issue and each attempt to deal with their emotions in their individual ways, whilst also dealing with an inner threat unknown to them all. Each issue in this arc focuses on a different character in the comic and most featured an additional artist: Kate Brown (#12), Tula Lotay (#13), Stephanie Hans (#15), Leila del Duca (#16) and Brandon Graham (#17). All issue's back quote is from another character talking about the featured character
Rising Action
A ghost from The Pantheon's past has supposedly come back to haunt them and a Civil War has divided the Gods onto two sides.
Imperial Phase (Part 1)
In the wake of the biggest shock in Pantheon history, the Gods now have no restraints in life. The first issue portrays an in-universe magazine featuring interviews with the Gods written by real journalists.
Specials
Standalone specials written about Pantheons through the ages, featuring contributions by different artists.
Characters
Laura Wilson - The series' narrator and protagonist. A seventeen-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. While all previous Pantheons have consisted of twelve gods, Laura is revealed to possibly be the first thirteenth member, Persephone.
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, who went by Brunhilde whilst with him, who 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 gets on the wrong side of Laura. He works with Urdr to try and identify Luci's attackers.
Minerva's Mother and Father - Minerva's parents live to profit from their daughter's newfound God-like status.
The Pantheon
The 2010s Occurrence:
Amaterasu (Ammy by some) - 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 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 (Dio by some) - Has the power to produce a drug-like euphoria, with the added function to control people effected by it. He first appears as a fan during The Morrigan's gig, before he is transformed. His powers have consequences though, he can constantly hear peoples 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 could go on for weeks at a time, which frequently turned into orgies. In the early days of Godhood, he was in a relationship with Baal which ended when Inanna slept with Luci. His powers included Divination and Stepping by starlight.
Lucifer (Luci by some) - Her original name was Eleanor Rigby (a reference to the Beatles song of the same name) and she was turned into Luci at the age of 18. She first meets Laura after an Amaterasu concert and offers Laura divinity in exchange for her help. She enjoyed being rebellious against authority and had a desire for people to notice her, which being on stage allowed her to divulge in. Her powers appeared to be fire themed, often causing explosions and lightning cigarettes.
Minerva (Minnie by some) - The youngest member of the Pantheon at 12, she is therefore kept away from important issues by the others despite her idea to be involved. Its indicated 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 3 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 #20 issue he reveals to Persephone (and Urdr) who he was really turned into. 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 (Persy by some) - Appears at the end of the eleventh 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 shown to be able to show others past events.
Sakhmet - Formerly Ruth. 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 is one of the Pantheon's best fighters.
Tara - Formerly Aruna. From a young age she has suffered abuse and sexualisation from all around her. She does not know herself which Tara she is and is plagued by abuse for wanting to perform music she wrote before her transformation. 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 reporter and a cynical skeptic of the Pantheon. As Urðr, she is revealed to be the twelfth 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.
Wōden - 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.
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. Reincarnated in the 2010's occurrence.
Wōden - A Goddess based on the author Mary Shelley, made bitter by the death of her three children. Reincarnated in the 2010's Occurrence.
The Morrigan - A God based on the poet Percy Shelley, who feels isolated from his cold wife Woden. Reincarnated in the 2010's Occurrence.
Inanna - A Goddess based on Mary Shelley's step-sister Claire Clairmont. Reincarnated in the 2010's Occurrence.
Hades - A God based on John Keats.
Morpheus - A God possibly based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Thoth - A God possibly based on Edgar Allen Poe.
Hestia - A Goddess possibly based on Jane Austen.
Perun - A God possibly based on Alexander Pushkin.
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 2nd Sack of Rome in 455 AD.
Lucifer
Ananke appears to act along with the group, 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.
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.
Awards
The Wicked + the Divine was the winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards. The series has also been nominated for the 2015 Eisner Awards in three categories: Best New Series, Best Cover Artist, and Best Coloring.
Collected Editions
The first four volumes have been collected as trade paperbacks (TPB) and a "Deluxe Edition" hardcover (HC):
