FROM PANEL TO PANEL | Why You Need To Read The Wicked + The Divine

I love comics and graphic novels, so what do I do with that love? Well, I turn it into a new feature!

From Panel to Panel is a new feature where I talk about the awesome (and perhaps not-so awesome) comic books and graphic novels I’ve read. Basically, this will be me pushing them onto your laps. You’re welcome.

The Wicked + The Divine

Holy, fucking shit.

Excuse the language, but holy fuck, The Wicked + The Divine is fucking amazing. For those who have not taken a look at this awesome series, The Wicked + The Divine is a comic created by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (both of Phonogram and Young Avengers fame), and published by Image Comics. It follows twelve gods incarnated as humans, who appear every ninety years, being loved and hated by the public like they are popstars, and when two years pass, they die. You have to “remember: just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re going to live forever.” Eeeeeek.

Are you intrigued? I know I was.This is just the first story arc called the Faust Act (which means there are and will be more comic issues), introducing you to the characters and the world and everything. I was ready for this ride that The Wicked + The Divine was going to take me on, and when I got in, oh boy, this comic has the most gorgeous art and coloring and just awesome characters and storyline. I became sooo obssessed.

 Eight Reasons Why You Need To Read The Wicked + The Divine

• There’s a diverse cast of characters embodying different gods from various religions.

Holy diversity, guys! The gods here aren’t strictly Western ones; they span the entire globe. You have different types—ranging from Eastern Shinto gods to Middle Eastern gods to Irish gods—that are represented in this comic. Not only are they diverse in terms of religion, but there’s also a lot of female characters, people of color, and queer characters, which is frickin’ awesome.

• The illustrations and coloring will mesmerize you.

Bold. Vibrant. Gorgeous. Awesome. Just take a look at the covers (which you can see at the top) or the pictures below (in the other bullet points) or this panel of Amaterasu being mesmerizing or this of Luci falling in front of a lot of Anankes. You’ll recognize the facial similarities to some of your favorite musicians like David Bowie, Rihanna, and Florence + the Machine. Do you see how gorgeous the art is? I can’t even describe how lovely it is in a way that’ll completely do it a justice. I’ll just let the art speak for itself.

• You can read this comic in two ways: Laura, the ultimate fangirl who idolizes these gods, and Cassandra, the reporter and critic of the gods and their “so-called powers.”

The two characters, both incidentally humans, serve as a kind of guide of how you can read The Wicked + The Divine. On one hand, you have Laura, a teenager who dreams of being a god herself and inserts herself into the lives of the gods. She accepts them and fangirls the hell out of them. And on the other hand, you have Cassandra, a reporter and a critic who constantly questions the words and actions of these gods and calls out the problematic stuff. You will find yourself either flailing your arms in delight because of this comic, or taking a sort of analytical stance where you examine everything in close detail.

This comic does a beautiful job of portraying how we experience entertainment and pop culture. You’re either the person who fangirls the hell out of whoever and whatever you stan, or you’re the person who always have some criticism about that whoever/whatever, or you’re both. These characters are like you and me, and I think that’s why this comic is so relatable and awesome.

• Eye makeup is on point. 

It’s not something I would put on my face (if I knew how to put makeup on my face), but mannnn, there’s something so artistic about their eye make-up. If I had that skills, I would rock it too.

• The hair game is so strong.

You will envy them. Just look. I wish my hair was like that. Yeah, it’s a comic and all, but hey, you can’t deny that their hair is so fabulous.

• These gods aren’t exactly in control of their destiny, which makes being one so ironic and beautiful.

I find that so amazingly beautiful because it’s just so ironic. What kind of god doesn’t have control of their destiny? Well, the gods in Wicked + The Divine don’t. Yes, they have powers and ability to do just about anything, but you know what they can’t do? Change the fact that they will die in two years. Their lives are already predefined. They don’t have a choice not to die; they’re rather helpless, and they vocally express their inability to choose, which is rather sad and really pulls on my heartstrings. They also have to follow strict rules they have to abide by, like ones set in their Pantheon and the roles expected of them by the public. It’s rather tragic.

• It’s very aware of death. 

Here’s the thing: these characters know that death is inevitable, especially for them since they’re doomed to die after two years. And what else can they do about? What do you do with the rest of your life when you know Death is around the corner, waiting to knock on your door? Not sit around and wait, that’s for sure. These character can only live their life, and that’s what they do. They make something out of themselves, and in the present day, they become pop stars. What the world decides to do with them is up to them. And this comic is consciously aware of it. Hell, it’s the core of everything for these gods.

• Because I said so.

You won’t regret it. If you’re looking for a comic to introduce you to the graphic novel world, The Wicked + The Divine is one of them. It has me obsessed! There’s sooo many layers and depths to this comic. It’ll leave you pondering for days, and you’ll find yourself theorizing about it. How can you say no to gods who are incarnated into popstars with only two years to live? You can’t!

Well? What are you waiting for? Go pick up a copy! Let these gods into your lives!