The Wicked and the Divine Issue 11 Review

2014 comic book

The Wicked + The Divine
Promotional Launch Image. Art past Jamie McKelvie.
Publication information
Publisher	Epitome Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy
Publication date	June 2014 – September 2019
No. of issues	51 (As of September 2019, 45 regular & half dozen specials)
Creative team
Created by	Kieron Gillen Jamie McKelvie
Written by	Kieron Gillen
Creative person(south)	Jamie McKelvie
Letterer(s)	Clayton Cowles
Colorist(s)	Matt Wilson
Editor(s)	Chrissy Williams
Nerveless editions
The Faust Human activity	ISBN 978-1-63215-019-6
Fandemonium	ISBN 978-1-63215-327-2
Commercial Suicide	ISBN 978-ane-63215-631-0
Rising Action	ISBN 978-one-63215-913-seven
Imperial Phase (Role i)	ISBN 978-1-53430-185-6
Imperial Stage (Part 2)	ISBN 978-153430-473-4

The Wicked + The Divine is a gimmicky fantasy comic book series created by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, and published by Image Comics. The serial is largely influenced by pop music and various mythological deities, and includes the themes of life and death in the story.^[ane] The comic 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.

Premise [edit]

The narrative follows a young teenage daughter, 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 dice within two years equally office of a xc-year bike known equally the Recurrence.

Publication history [edit]

The series was announced on nine January 2014,^[2] and the first issue was released in June 2014.^[3] Equally of March 2019, there have been 42 single bug released, four 1-shot specials, one Christmas issue, and 1 comedy upshot. The single bug, excluding the specials, are currently collected across seven trade paperbacks, and three hardcover trades. Prior to the series conclusion, a trade collecting the one-shots, Christmas consequence, and one-act result was released, considered the eighth volume.^[4] The serial is ongoing, intended to run for 45 main problems^[v] and consummate in eight trade-paperback arcs, (plus one for the Specials), bringing the total to nine merchandise paperbacks.^[6]

Author Kieron Gillen'south 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 exist "about life and death."^[1] Further inspiration for Gillen comes from pop music and various pop idols; the Pantheon is based on popular idols, and Gillen has created a playlist of songs to back-trail the comic book.^{[7] [eight]}

The television rights take been optioned past Universal TV.^[nine]

Plot [edit]

The narrative focuses on a group of people with superhuman powers known as "The Pantheon". Each member of The Pantheon was at i point a normal person before beingness called to merge with the spirit of a deity. It is said that each cycle of The Pantheon volition not live past two years from the start of the series, and that every xc years the Pantheon is reincarnated. This cycle is known as the Recurrence. It would besides announced that the person who is the next reincarnation of a particular god does not get the opportunity to reject becoming 1.

Characters [edit]

• Laura Wilson – The serial' narrator and protagonist. A 17-twelvemonth-erstwhile multiracial teenager who lives in Brockley, Laura is a "fangirl" of the Pantheon, often having to stifle her true emotions in their presence and set up to sacrifice everything to exist associated with the Pantheon. After attending a performance by Amaterasu, she meets several members of the Pantheon for the beginning fourth dimension and befriends Lucifer.^[10] While all previous Pantheons accept consisted of twelve gods, Laura is revealed to possibly be the start thirteenth fellow member, Persephone.^[xi] This was after debunked by the appearance of Persephone in the 1920s Recurrence, which means that she may exist the last god to be incarnated as referenced past Ananke's sister, which ways that in previous Pantheons, either she went unseen past other members of the Pantheon or she was killed immediately by Minerva or Ananke. Becomes the commencement fellow member of the Pantheon ever to see through the trap of godhood, give it up and aid her surviving peers do the aforementioned. Sentenced for killing Ananke, but served her time and later married Cassandra. In the year 2055, calls her peers together for Cassandra's funeral and gives the reader some final advice.
• Laura's Family – Laura'due south mother, father and sister Jenny. Originally not knowing of Laura'south secret other life every bit a friend of the Pantheon, they eventually find out when she is thrust into the spotlight, and learn to support her lifestyle. Killed by Ananke who frames Baphomet for the murder. The fact that Ananke killed Jenny without even realising motivates Laura to kill Ananke.
• 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. Somewhen joins Wōden. Took the name Nike (mythology). Afterwards being controlled by Minerva she still wants godhood and is knocked out past Robin, and so arrested with the others.
• Robin and Toni – Beth's new photographic camera team, operating in the same capacity Beth once did to Cassandra. Work for Wōden in the final stage of his plans. She as Phobos (mythology) and he as Eros (mythology). Leave afterwards being freed from Minerva's command, merely to exist arrested.
• The Valkyries – A group of tall, beautiful, Asian women about always accompanying Wōden. Kerry is one of his sometime valkyries and went by the name Brunhilde while with him, and afterwards attempting to impale Wōden in order to gain his power, is crippled past Minerva; she later rejoined him. Another valkyrie, Eir looks after Sakhmet. A third named valkyrie is Göndul. Controlled past Minerva in the last arc. Freed by Dionysus and go out, only to exist arrested.
• David Blake – An expert in The Pantheon who doesn't believe this generation deserves them, which upsets Laura. He works with Uror to endeavour and place Luci's attackers and has a son chosen Jon who is ane of the true gods. David works with Ananke while pretending to exist Wōden. As Wōden, he is oft accompanied by The Valkryies, a grouping of human women who are all alpine, Asian, and cute. He constantly wears a mask to hide his appearance, which is rumoured to exist hideous. He is very racist, misogynistic, and a pervert. Killed by the Valkyries under Minerva'southward control.
• Minerva's mother and father – Minerva's parents live to profit from their daughter's newfound god-like condition. Killed past Ananke, during Ananke'south "attack" on Minerva. Revealed to be an unrelated couple that had been paid off by Ananke and Minerva to pose as her parents.
• Campbell Family -Valentine/Baal'south parents and younger siblings Alicia and Bobby. His begetter was killed by the Cracking Darkness when Baal first became a god, convincing him to sacrifice children to end it. The remaining family was attacked again at the same time as Minerva. Baal includes his female parent in the crowd of intended sacrifices to stop the Great Darkness once and for all while Minerva watches his siblings. After the gig fails and horrified when he learns the truth, Baal lets the law pick them up.
• Tom – A fan of Persephone'due south who was the first to know she wanted to be known as The Destroyer. Attends Baal's final gig with his friends Nathan and Julie, finding footage of Laura on his phone after the crowd somehow survives.

The Pantheon [edit]

Every Recurrence, 12 split up gods/goddesses reincarnate into bodies of any gender. Friction match has had the most reincarnations, appearing v times in the problems and six altogether. Minerva has appeared five times; Baal, The Morrigan, Dionysus, Inanna, Set, and Woden have appeared three times, and Amaterasu, Mimir and The Norns take appeared twice, with every other god/goddess having at least one known reincarnation. The 2010s Recurrence features the mysterious appearance of a 13th goddess, Persephone. However, information technology was shown during the 1920s Recurrence that Persephone also appeared, her head having been removed prior or during the events of the Recurrence. None of the other gods seemed to recognize her, which indicates either she has been killed immediately by Ananke in the by, or has been subconscious by Ananke from the other gods. It has since been revealed that Minerva is not a proper god, automatically created before long before the next Recurrence begins and working with Ananke the whole time. Thus Persephone is the proper twelfth member.

Ananke appears to human activity along with the Pantheon, serving as their representative to the public, but is also exterior of them. Different the others she is non a teenager and has anile, but still is able to function. She functions nigh as a parent, and reveals that she gave up her divinity during an before bike of The Recurrence to protect hereafter members of The Pantheon. Although she is stern with the deities who are resurrected, she seems to have a genuine maternal connectedness to them, saying that she will miss them before she kills them, and crying subsequently she does so. It is revealed she, working with Minerva, has been removing the heads of gods in the previous cycles in order to prevent the coming of the Darkness by completing a ritual using the intact heads of iv gods. The gods who have had their heads removed previously practise non recall having it occur in past Recurrences, as Inanna, the Morrigan and Lucifer of the 2010s cycle had their heads removed in each of their prior incarnations, but do not flee when Ananke has attempted to remove their heads in the instance of Inanna and Friction match.

Flashbacks shown to the 1923 Recurrence announced to prove that each Minerva uses the power of the ritual to impale the current Ananke (each having been the previous incarnation of Minerva), and take her place for the next bike; remembering every previous Recurrence in the process and taking the proper noun of Ananke for that cycle. Further brief flashbacks to every Recurrence throughout history prove a variety of outcomes for an Ananke awakening a Persephone. In nearly Ananke kills and/or takes the caput of Persephone, (featuring twice where Minerva did this instead of Ananke); in some Ananke embraces Persephone every bit she does with the other gods; a few Persephone escape; some Persephone fight dorsum occasionally wounding Ananke- twice killing Ananke and at least once where they killed each other. A Minerva has never been shown dying so therefore the cycle would proceed through her even if something happened to the current Ananke earlier the ritual could be completed. Flashbacks to 3127 B.C. show the Minerva attempt to use herself in identify of the fourth caput; the ritual turned on her sending her into 90 years of Darkness, until the side by side Minerva appeared swearing to never let that happen again. The 2014 Recurrence with Laura Wilson is the commencement fourth dimension a tertiary party has interfered with Ananke/Minerva and Persephone's run into.

In the concluding arc, Minerva reveals the truth. Ananke and her sister were part of the first group of twelve with minor talents similar to the descended Laura. Her sister discovered that labeling themselves equally "gods" gave them great power, a shortcut. Though "godhood" kills i of their group later two years, Ananke plant a way to crook expiry by creating the Minerva role and sacrificing iv heads of each generation of the twelve. All of it only to prevent the Darkness of her permanent decease. As the Crone and Maiden she traps the twelve in a story, giving them "godhood" with the proper noun of a deity specific to each private's flaws allowing her to manipulate and sacrifice them; while also preventing them from discovering their true ability as regular humans. With no heads sacrificed in the 2010s Recurrence, and both the Ananke and the Minerva having been killed, the cycle is finally free from her corruption and cannot be repeated by anyone else. Laura and her surviving peers went on to commit to the lifetime of work, using their powers without godhood to ameliorate the world. In one case they all pass away naturally, the future will be a blank slate of possibility for future generations.

2014 Recurrence

• Amaterasu – Formerly Emily Greenaway, who went by the proper noun Hazel Oak Ash Thorn Greenaway and became Amaterasu at the age of 17. A fan of Shinto culture from her childhood, she is unremarkably accused of cultural appropriation. Before being transformed, she was a fan of Cassandra'due south writing and drew a lot of fan art. Was a close friend of Eleanor before either of them became gods. She has the ability to "step" by sunlight as a fashion to teleport, with Wōden giving her a auto to do it past starlight. She has a very optimistic outlook on life and tries to be kind and friendly, stating that equally a god she must be an inspiration. She also cares deeply for her fellow gods and others, praying for them all. Murdered by Sakhmet slashing her throat. Amaterasu's appearance appears to exist based on Florence Welch.^[12]
• Baal – Formerly Valentine Campbell. Baal was the first god to emerge from the 2014 Recurrence. 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, simply is shown to accept a softer side. His powers are presented as electric in nature, using it to make his car become faster and cock a cage of lightning. He initially claims he is Baal Hadad, simply is actually the heaven and fire god Baal Hammon. He was using sacrificial children once every 4 months to banish the Great Darkness that killed his father. Devastated when he realizes information technology's all a prevarication, only living to stop Minerva. Valentine gives upwards godhood without stating what it meant to him. Commits murder-suicide past falling from a ledge while holding Minerva. Though Zahid, Cassandra and Laura detest what he did, in adulthood they encounter him as a tragic figure trying to protect others for the greater skilful. Baal is visually based on Kanye West.
• Dionysus – Formerly Umar. Has the power to produce a drug-similar euphoria, with the added function to command people afflicted by information technology. He first appears every bit a fan during The Morrigan'south gig, before he is transformed. His powers have consequences though, as he can constantly hear people'southward voices in his head and can't slumber. Declared brain-dead subsequently Wōden took control of a crowd of fans using Dionysus' powers. Equally a fan, Umar met Cameron and gave him a ride to one of The Morrigan'south early gigs. Cameron would become Nergal as a result. Resurrected at the price of Nergal's life. Umar gives upward godhood along with his belief that he has to relieve anybody. Mentioned later in life to be married. The one whom always inspired Cassandra to be kinder. Subconsciously remembers Cameron's terminal words to him and the image of Cassandra dying in a hospital room which he had briefly seen after trying to tape The Morrigan; but cannot remember the source of either memory.
• Inanna – Formerly Zahid. They commencement met Laura at the original Ragnarock before their transformation, where they blended in and more often than not went ignored. Their personality inverse when they were transformed, becoming more approachable and confident. They were too a fan of Cassandra'south writing. They run a Residency which can continue for weeks at a fourth dimension and oftentimes turns into orgies. In the early days of godhood, they were in a relationship with Baal, which ended when Inanna slept with Lucifer. Their powers included Divination and "stepping" (teleporting) by starlight. Murdered by Ananke, who frames the murder on Baphomet. Head is being kept alive in social club to complete the ritual to banish the darkness. Takes the body of Gentle Annie after they were freed by The Norns and Laura. Zahid gives up godhood, which they previously believed was the only way they could stand out. Misses Valentine for the rest of their life. Though disgusted at what Valentine did, they reason merely someone full of love to protect others could accept gone through with information technology. Cassandra mentions she is glad to have known Zahid. In the final issue, Zahid uses they/them pronouns. Innana is based on Prince.^[thirteen]
• Lucifer – Formerly Eleanor Rigby (a reference to the Beatles song of the same proper noun), who was turned into Match at the age of eighteen.^[fourteen] She kickoff meets Laura subsequently an Amaterasu concert and offers Laura divinity in exchange for her help. She enjoys being rebellious against say-so and has a desire for people to find her, which beingness on stage immune her to indulge in. Her powers announced to be fire-based, often demonstrated by causing explosions and lighting cigarettes. Killed past Ananke. Head is existence kept alive in club to complete the ritual to blackball the darkness. Takes the body of Badb after being freed by The Norns and Laura. Eleanor initially refuses to requite up godhood. Laura makes her see her dream of existence on phase isn't worth it and she becomes Eleanor once more. Decades later, she and Laura had tried a relationship but information technology didn't work out. Was never friends with Cassandra only they gained a mutual respect for each other. Eleanor is still sarcastic only gets along well with the balance of her peers later in life. Luci is visually inspired by David Bowie.^[15]
• Minerva – The youngest member of the Pantheon at 12 years sometime, she is kept away from of import discussions past the others despite her want to exist involved. It is indicated that the reason Minerva is so young is that every bit a virgin goddess, her hosts can only be virgins themselves. This seems to be supported past the fact that her previous incarnation in the 1920s was as well a immature girl. Secretly non one of the gods and office of Ananke's class of immortality. Her supposed parents announced to command her every motility, living with her in Valhalla; though they are merely unrelated people paid off by Ananke and Minerva in a ruse. She has a pet mechanical owl she calls Owly. It is revealed that she has all of Ananke's noesis and carries on their plans. Revelations shown in 1923 suggests each Minerva kills each Ananke at the end of each bike, considering themselves one; though the two can disagree with each other. Revealed to take separate minds until the Ananke is killed, the Minerva then gaining everything. This indicates that Minerva takes the role of the Maid and Ananke the function of the Crone. Used applied science like the Valkyries when she needed to pose equally a performing god, and cannot sing anymore. Reveals the truth to the surviving members of the twelve when her plans are foiled. Murdered past Valentine whom deliberately falls from a nifty height with her, killing them both. Minerva'south look is based on the military-mode costumes oftentimes worn by popular stars such as The Beatles, Queen, My Chemical Romance, The Libertines, Manic Street Preachers and Cheryl.^[sixteen]
• Mimir- Formerly Jon Blake. Turned into a god confronting his will and imprisoned by Ananke and his begetter David. David pretends to exist the god Wōden while he secretly forces his son to build things for Ananke and his own plans. Jon is freed by The Norns and Laura, taking The Morrigan's trunk. Wōden is killed by the Valkyries under Minerva's influence. Jon gives up godhood, the simply way he could make sense of what his father did to him. Jon never stopped working and built many avant-garde technologies for the earth. May be in a relationship with Aruna. One of Cassandra's closest friends later in life. Visually based on Daft Punk.
• The Morrígan – Formerly Marian. Out of her love for her former beau, 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 photographic camera, they volition come across a vision of a loved one dying. Gentle Annie sacrifices their life to bring back Nergal later Badb kills him. Two of the twelve being as close as Marian and Cameron were earlier discovering their abilities is rare, only Ananke/Minerva used that to her advantage. Visually, the Morrigan is based on PJ Harvey, Kate Bush, Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux and KatieJane Garside.^[17]
• Nergal – Formerly Cameron. After his parents died, he became withdrawn from Marian and cheated on her, simply she later forgave him and asked for him to exist transformed. The graphic symbol goes by name Baphomet (Baph), simply in the 20th consequence, he reveals to Persephone (and Urðr) that he is really the incarnation of the god Nergal. He is very sarcastic and snide equally an endeavour to hide his immense insecurities, especially his fear of death. He tin can summon the spirits of the expressionless. Killed by Badb but resurrected past Gentle Annie at the cost of Marian'due south triple lives. He figures out Marian meant for them to constantly die to each resurrect the other ane, only Laura convinces him to break free of the abuse and instead employ the three bodies equally new hosts for the heads of the other gods. Earlier facing Minerva, he becomes encephalon-dead to bring back Dionysus. Mentioned as deceased in the far time to come of 2055. He is based upon Nick Cavern and Andrew Eldritch.^[18]
• 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 prove others past events. Formerly pregnant with either Baal Haamon or Nergal's kid. Realizes she isn't a god and becomes man again; though can still somehow summon fire and has limited performance powers. The first to descend and give up godhood, Laura helps the rest see the truth. Arrested and put on trial for the murder of Ananke. Freed afterward on and married Cassandra. Meets with anybody for the funeral and gives the reader parting words that the time to come is theirs to make: a blank slate of possibility.
• Sakhmet – Formerly Ruth Clarkson. She admired Egyptian culture from a young historic period. Before Ananke institute 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 downwardly with alcohol. Her behaviour is very catlike and she is ane of the Pantheon's best fighters. Killed by Minerva after Minerva's gaining the knowledge of Ananke. Sakhmet is visually based on Rihanna as well as Gillen'due south cat.^[nineteen]
• Tara – Formerly Aruna. From a young historic period, 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 (there are three options – a Buddhist Tara, a Hindu Tara, and a Polynesian Tara) and is plagued by corruption 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 other gods. Head is being kept alive in guild to complete the ritual to blackball the darkness. Volunteers non to have a trunk subsequently she is freed by The Norns and Laura; to escape the objectification she faced before. Even every bit a head, had the phenomenon of turning into a giantess in battle. Aruna gives upward her godhood; while she hated being special, deep downward she believed she was special in the first place. She is nonetheless a living head. In the futurity she has a mechanical body built by Jon whom she may be in a relationship with. Cassandra mentions Aruna's never committing a crime let her campaign for leniency for the rest of the survivors. Mastered using miracles and her ain voice as 1 which she uses to shut out the funeral. Tara is inspired by Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift every bit well every bit 1950's scientific discipline fiction.
• Urðr – Before her transformation, Urðr was Cassandra Igarashi, a trans woman,^[20] reporter, and a cynical skeptic of the Pantheon's supernatural origins. Equally Urðr, she is revealed to be the 12th member of the Pantheon, and appears along with her ii sisters Verðandi and Skuld, formerly her photographic camera crew members Meredith and Zoe. Together, the three form The Norns. Urðr was not affected by any of the other gods' music apart from Persephone's; until she and Dionysus found a mode for her to hear and feel his. Cassandra sends the other 2 Norns away to protect them. Cassandra gives upward godhood; while she e'er idea the Pantheon'due south miracles were lies, she wanted to evidence it by using miracles and didn't see the contradiction until the true nature of the twelve is revealed. The surviving members agree to her program and get arrested. Passes away at the age of sixty-v in the year 2055, as Laura'south married woman. The survivors of the Pantheon assemble for her funeral as a hologram of Cassandra explains what each of them meant to her. While Meredith and Zoe were never certain they were truly part of the group, Laura thanks them for what they meant to Cassandra. Cassandra says they left her speechless every day she was with them. ^[21]

Previous Recurrences

1922 Recurrence

This Recurrence concluded on the 31st of December 1923. Unusually, the twelve gods all lived close to the cease of the Recurrence, forcing Ananke to take drastic measures to complete the ceremony to stop the Great Darkness. It is revealed that Ananke has found and imprisoned the creature that Woden merged with in the previous Recurrence in the lighthouse near Lucifer'southward island. This effect ends with the events of the first upshot of the comic.

• Amaterasu – A goddess based on silent-era film actresses like Louise Brooks, whose miracles involve impersonation and screen projection. She kills Baal using a project of a steam train. Killed by Amon-Ra in suicide pact. She is later reincarnated in the next recurrence.
• Amun Ra – A god based on Langston Hughes and other Harlem Renaissance-era artists. In honey with Amaterasu. Killed by Susanoo in suicide pact. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Baal – A god based on T. S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, in alliance with Fix to plunge the world into darkness and preserve the cultural dominance of literature. Killed past Amaterasu. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Dionysus – A god based on Pablo Picasso during his Cubist period, and equally such is a living apotheosis of the movement. Dies by a laser rigged by Wōden. He is afterward reincarnated in the adjacent Recurrence.
• Lucifer – A god based on F. Scott Fitzgerald, who lives on an island mansion attended but past a magical project of a butler. Murdered by Set. He is later reincarnated in the next Recurrence.
• Minerva – A goddess based on Shirley Temple, she is more upbeat and immature, and ofttimes has to be shielded when her fellow gods are murdered. Enlightened of Ananke'due south ritual and obtains the heads of Set and Susanoo to consummate it. She kills Ananke and takes her place, obtaining the power of the Ritual. She lived till the 2010s Recurrence, which would take made her 87 years former at this time, and 30 years old at the time of her conversation with author Robert Graves.
• The Morrigan – A god based on James Joyce. He speaks of himself in the third person in a mixture of script and prose format. Murdered by Ananke to draw the surviving Pantheon towards the rebels. 2d head used in the ritual. He is afterward reincarnated in the side by side Recurrence.
• Neptune – A god based on Ernest Hemingway, and visually resembling Captain Nemo. Despite being a bounding main god, he is unable to swim. Dies past Baal drowning him. Non reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• The Norns – 3 gods based on George Orwell, H.K. Wells, and Aldous Huxley. Verðandi is murdered for not wanting to join in the darkness programme. Skuld and Urðr are later killed by Set. They are later reincarnated in the next Recurrence.
• Gear up – A goddess based on Virginia Woolf and other members of the Bloomsbury Grouping. Mentions previous incarnations having taken identify during the reign of Ramses II and during the life of Jesus, similar to Woolf'due south grapheme Orlando. Killed by Minerva. Third head used in the ritual. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Susanoo – A god based on silent-era picture comedians like Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, who is attracted to his "sister" Amaterasu. Decapitated past Minerva later on the suicide pact for the fourth head of the ritual. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Wōden – A god based on Joseph Goebbels, who appears to accept vast mechanical and technological powers, simply to be revealed to exist a sham god and a fraud, likely past draining Mimir, whose head he kept in a box. Both Mimir and Wōden are killed by Ananke. Circumstances repeated by David and Jon Blake in the next Recurrence.
• Persephone – A goddess based on Josephine Baker. Her head was removed by Ananke in 1922, a year before the events on Match'south isle. Head present every bit the first sacrifice for the ritual.

1830 Recurrence

This Recurrence ended on the 19th of March 1831.

• Hades – A god based on John Keats. Ravaged past illness, he is killed past Ananke with his body then taken by Lucifer and The Morrígan to effort a resurrection. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Hestia – A goddess possibly based on Jane Austen. Consumed by a pride of suitors at a ball. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Inanna – A goddess based on Mary Shelley's pace-sis Claire Clairmont. In render for godhood, she kills Wōden's children. The last survivor of this Recurrence, her head was removed past Ananke at the conclusion of the Recurrence. According to the 1831 creature, Inanna was a plagiarist whom used stolen ability. Revealed in Kieron Gillen's Author's Notes that she was a false god whom drew power from the necklace she wore; similar to both of the Wōden'south in the post-obit two Recurrences. Reincarnated next in the 2010s Recurrence.
• Lucifer – A god based on the poet Lord Byron, who does not want to have his fate. Killed by a creature of his own making while attempting to resurrect Hades. Next reincarnated in the 1920s Recurrence.
• Morpheus – A god possibly based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Died explaining a vision. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• The Morrígan – A god based on the poet Percy Shelley, who feels isolated from his cold wife, Woden. Killed past a creature of his ain making while attempting to resurrect Hades. Adjacent reincarnated in the 1920s Recurrence.
• Perun – A god possibly based on Alexander Pushkin. Dies in Petersburg. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Thoth – A god possibly based on Edgar Allan Poe. Killed by an ape stealing his heart. Not reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Wōden – A goddess based on the author Mary Shelley, made bitter by the death of her three children. To save Inanna, she merges with the beast created by Match and The Morrígan. Proper noun next used in the 1920s Recurence. Thus far, this is the simply Recurrence of Woden that has not included a link to Mimir. Killed past Baal every bit a mercy in 2015.
• 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 every bit 'The Three Lone Sisters of the Parsonage', mayhap the Brontë sisters.
• 1 Unknown god/goddess deceased by the end of the Recurrence. Likely a Minerva who murders Ananke and takes her persona. Lived until the 1923 Wheel, which would take made her 92 at the time of her death.
• Persephone – Head removed by Ananke in Paris, France in 1830.

1738 Recurrence

• 11 unknown gods and goddess dead past the end of the bike.
• Minerva – the Ananke of the 1830s cycle.
• Persephone – killed in 1738 by Ananke in North America. Attempted to attack Ananke while her head was being removed from her body.

1371 Recurrence

This Recurrence takes place in France, a few decades afterward the plague known as The Black Expiry. Concluded on the 2nd of March 1373.

• 10 unknown gods and goddesses dead by the end of the wheel.
• Lucifer -a nun whom maintained control after exceeding her 2 years. Kills Ananke whom admitted to creating the plague; when Friction match finally allows godhood to consume her. Next known reincarnation in the 1830s Recurrence.
• Minerva – a girl with skin deformities. Recruited people for Ananke to transform into gods. Watches Lucifer and Ananke burn, so leaves with a sack of heads.
• Persephone – head removed by Ananke in 1371.

453 Recurrence

This Recurrence occurs during the second Sack of Rome in 455 Advertisement. Ended on the 16th of August 455 Advertising.

• Baal – A Carthaginian whom Geiseric mentions seeing perform and who was afterward killed. Next known reincarnation in the 1920s Recurrence.
• Dionysus/Bacchus – A lover of Lucifer who relates more to the Roman god Bacchus than Dionysus. Friction match wishes he was with him at the stop of his life. Adjacent known reincarnation in the 1920s Recurrence.
• Inanna – Married Attila the Hun and killed him during sex activity, stopping his rising. Next known reincarnation in the 1830s Recurrence.
• Friction match – A lower actor made god, he calls himself Julius Caesar when he rejects his godhood. The last survivor of this Recurrence, killed past unknown causes. (Inferred later in the story as his use of godhood and miracles burning him out afterwards 2 years of time). The next known reincarnation is the 1370s Recurrence.
• Mithras – According to Ananke, died by feeding his flesh to a legion. Not known to have reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Minerva – According to Ananke, lost in an endeavour at finding the Alexandrian Library. Would have actually survived due to the fact that each Minerva kills the previous Ananke and takes on Ananke's memories and persona. Side by side known reincarnation in the 1370s Recurrence.
• Morai – According to Ananke, their fate was predetermined. Not known to have reincarnated since this Recurrence.
• Persephone – head removed in Germania by Ananke during 454 Advertizement, a twelvemonth before Lucifer dies.
• 5 unknown gods/goddesses deceased by the stop of the Recurrence.

List of All Recurrences

This is a list of all Recurrences and the time and place they occurred. Unless otherwise stated the Persephone ends each cycle with her head being removed. The only ii Persephones to really kill Ananke were the 2483 BC incarnation (where she used the vines to destroy Ananke's head) and the 820 Advertising incarnation (where Persephone cut Ananke in one-half and ran away).

4000 BC – The start successful Recurrence, of which Ananke corrupts and makes the rules with her Sister thus creating the beginning Minerva.

3862 BC – Recurrence takes place in the Upper Nile Valley.

3770 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Mesopotamia.

3678 BC – Recurrence takes place in the Indus Valley.

3586 BC – Recurrence takes place along the Yellow River.

3495 BC – Recurrence takes place in Uruk in Sumer. Persephone fought back against Ananke during this Recurrence, injuring her shoulder, but had function of her head removed in the try.

3403 BC – Recurrence takes place in the Fortaleza Valley in Peru.

3311 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Western Europe.

3219 BC – 2d Recurrence to take identify in the Indus Valley.

3128 BC – Recurrence takes place in Arab republic of egypt. This Minerva could only gather iii heads and was swallowed by the Ritual until the adjacent Recurrence.

3036 BC – Recurrence takes place in Crete. No Ananke in the cycle. Persephone killed by Minerva.

2942 BC – Recurrence takes place in Japan.

2849 BC – Recurrence takes place in Northern China.

2757 BC – 2nd Recurrence to accept place in Egypt.

2666 BC – Second Recurrence to have place in Northern Mainland china.

2574 BC – 3rd Recurrence to have place in Egypt. Persephone fought back, impaling Ananke with her vines.

2483 BC – Recurrence takes identify on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean. Persephone obliterated Ananke'due south caput.

2391 BC – Recurrence takes place in Harappa in the area known as Pakistan today.

2299 BC – Recurrence takes place around the urban center of Akkad.

2207 BC – Recurrence takes place in the British Isles.

2115 BC – Recurrence takes place in Canaan.

2024 BC – Tertiary Recurrence to take place in Northern Communist china.

1932 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Australasia.

1840 BC – Fourth Recurrence to accept place in Arab republic of egypt.

1748 BC – Recurrence takes place in Babylon. Persephone's head is removed at the aforementioned fourth dimension she kills Ananke with her vines.

1657 BC – Recurrence takes place in North America.

1565 BC – 4th Recurrence to have identify in Northern Mainland china.

1473 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Northern Indus Valley region.

1381 BC – Recurrence takes place in Primal America.

1289 BC – Fifth Recurrence to have place in Arab republic of egypt, during the reign of Ramses the Two. Persephone fought dorsum against Ananke. Set is too known to take appeared during this Recurrence.

1197 BC – Recurrence takes place around Hattusa during the Hittite Empire. This Persephone also fought back against Ananke.

1106 BC – Recurrence takes place in Greece.

1014 BC – Recurrence takes place in Central Red china. Persephone attempted to fight, only had office of her head removed.

922 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Assyria.

830 BC – Recurrence takes place in Carthage.

739 BC – Fifth Recurrence to take place in Northern China.

647 BC – Recurrence takes place in Persia. Persephone attempted to fight before removal of her head.

555 BC – Recurrence takes place in Eastern Bharat.

463 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Athens, Hellenic republic.

372 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Macedonia.

280 BC – Second Recurrence to take identify in Central India. Persephone appears to escape under basis.

188 BC – Recurrence takes identify in Eastern Cathay.

96 BC – Recurrence takes place in Etruria.

4 BC – Recurrence takes place in Judea. Lucifer and Set also participate.

88 AD – Recurrence takes place in Teotihuacan.

181 Advertisement – Recurrence takes place in South East Asia.

271 AD – 2d Recurrence takes identify in Eastern People's republic of china.

364 Advert – Recurrence takes identify in Eastern Europe.

453 AD – Recurrence takes place in Ancient Rome. 454 – Persephone is killed by Ananke in Germania. 2 August 455 – Lucifer, the last surviving god, takes over Rome. 16 August 455 – Lucifer dies.

546 Advertizement – Recurrence takes place in Tikal.

637 AD – Recurrence takes place in Iraq.

729 AD – Recurrence takes place in Constantinople.

820 AD – Recurrence takes place in Francia. Persephone cuts Ananke in one-half before escaping.

912 AD – 6th Recurrence to take place in Egypt. Persephone killed past Minerva.

1003 AD – 2nd Recurrence to take place in Japan.

1095 Advertizement – Recurrence takes place in Syria.

1187 Advertizement – Recurrence takes place in Jerusalem.

1279 AD – 6th Recurrence to have place in Northern Mainland china.

1371 Advertizing – Recurrence takes place in French republic.

1463 Advertizement – Recurrence takes place in West Africa.

1554 AD – Recurrence takes place in Cusco.

1646 Advertizement – Third Recurrence to accept place in Japan.

1738 Advertizing – Second Recurrence to take place in North America.

1830 Ad – Second Recurrence to take place in France.

1922 – Third Recurrence to take place in Northward America.

2014 – Recurrence takes place in Cracking U.k..

It is shown that Persephone has appeared in each Recurrence since 3682 BC, where she was incarnated past Ananke. Ananke encourages her to sing, and as she does Ananke takes her head off. Since that time, 65 Recurrences accept happened. The about Recurrences have happened in Egypt and Northern China.

Reception [edit]

The Wicked + the Divine has received generally positive reviews. The review assemblage website Comic Book Roundup reports that the serial holds an average score of viii.half-dozen out of ten.^[22]

Awards [edit]

The Wicked + the Divine was the winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards.^[23] The series has also been nominated for the 2015 Eisner Awards in iii categories: Best New Series, Best Cover Artist, and Best Coloring.^[24] In 2018, it was nominated for the Eisner Awards in the Best Continuing Series category.^[25]

Collected editions [edit]

The entire serial has been collected every bit nine merchandise paperback (TPB) volumes, and also as four deluxe hardcovers (HC):

#	Title	Release date	Collected issues	TPB ISBN
i	Vol 1: The Faust Act	November 12, 2014	The Wicked + The Divine #i–5	ISBN 978-1-63215-019-half-dozen
2	Vol two: Fandemonium	July 1, 2015	The Wicked + The Divine #6–eleven	ISBN 978-i-63215-327-2
iii	Vol 3: Commercial Suicide	February 3, 2016	The Wicked + The Divine #12–17	ISBN 978-1-63215-631-0
4	Vol 4: Rising Action	Oct five, 2016	The Wicked + The Divine #18–22	ISBN 978-one-63215-913-7
5	Vol 5: Imperial Phase (Role ane)	June 7, 2017	The Wicked + The Divine #23–28	ISBN 978-1-53430-185-6
six	Vol 6: Imperial Phase (Part ii)	January 10, 2018	The Wicked + The Divine #29–33	ISBN 978-1-53430-473-iv
seven	Vol 7: Mothering Invention	October 9, 2018	The Wicked + The Divine #34–39	ISBN 978-i-53430-840-4
8	Vol 8: One-time is the New New	March 12, 2019	The Wicked + The Divine 455 A.D., 1373, 1831, 1923, Christmas Annual & The Funnies	ISBN 978-1-53430-880-0
nine	Vol 9: Okay	Oct two, 2019	The Wicked + The Divine 40–45	ISBN 978-i-53431-249-four

#	Title	Release engagement	Collected issues	TPB ISBN
i	The Wicked + The Divine Book 1 HC	April vi, 2016	The Wicked + The Divine #ane–xi	ISBN 978-i-63215-728-vii
2	The Wicked + The Divine Book Two HC	July 12, 2017	The Wicked + The Divine #12–22	ISBN 978-i-53430-220-4
3	The Wicked + The Divine Book Three HC	December 11, 2018	The Wicked + The Divine #23–33	ISBN 978-1-53430-857-2
4	The Wicked + The Divine Volume 4 HC	March 11, 2020	The Wicked + The Divine #34–45, 455 A.D., 1373, 1831, 1923, Christmas Annual & The Funnies	ISBN 978-1-53431-358-three

References [edit]

1. ^ ^{a b c} Wheeler, Andrew. "Sectional: Gillen & McKelvie Denote New Epitome Series, 'The Wicked & The Divine' [Interview]". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015. Kieron Gillen: "The Wicked & The Divine was one of the ideas I had in the days following my Dad being diagnosed with concluding cancer. It's a pop book, but it'due south basically about life and death."
2. ^ Salazar, Kat. "The Gods Are ReIncarnated in THE WICKED AND THE DIVINE". Paradigm Comics . Retrieved 15 Nov 2014.
3. ^ Dean, Tres (19 June 2014). "The Wicked and the Divine #1 Review". IGN . Retrieved 28 October 2014.
4. ^ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1534308806/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_y5alBbATKQCYP
5. ^ "'Wicked + Divine' creator talks David Bowie, Twitter hate mobs, and the Television accommodation". UPROXX. 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2018-01-04 .
6. ^ "C2E2 2017: Kieron Gillen Talks Ambition, Fandom, Gods, and more". Multiversity Comics. 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2018-01-04 .
7. ^ Foxe, Steve. "Guest List: Kieron Gillen on the Music Behind The Wicked + The Divine (and a Whole Lot More)". Paste Mag. Paste Media Grouping. Retrieved v June 2015.
8. ^ Gillen, Kieron. "PLAYLIST: The Wicked + The Divine". Spotify . Retrieved 7 June 2015.
9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (29 May 2015). "'The Wicked + The Divine' Comic To Be Adapted As TV Series By Universal TV". Deadline. Penske Business concern Media, LLC. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
10. ^ Kieron Gillen (west), Jamie McKelvie (p), Matt Wilson (i). "The Faust Act" The Wicked + The Divine #i (June 18, 2014), Paradigm Comics
11. ^ Kieron Gillen (west), Jamie McKelvie (p), Matt Wilson (i). "Fandemonium" The Wicked + The Divine #11 (June 3, 2015), Paradigm Comics
12. ^ "The Florence + the Machine". 8 August 2015.
13. ^ "Author Notes: THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #6".
14. ^ Kieron Gillen (w), Jamie McKelvie (p), Matt Wilson (i). "Fandemonium" The Wicked + The Divine #six (December 17, 2014), Paradigm Comics
15. ^ "Wicked Intervention: Lucifer + Amaterasu". 24 October 2018.
16. ^ "Writer Notes: The Wicked + the Divine 4".
17. ^ "Author Notes: The Wicked + the Divine #iii".
18. ^ "Writer Notes: The Wicked + the Divine #2".
19. ^ "Writer Notes: The Wicked + the Divine #ane".
20. ^ Kieron Gillen (w), Jamie McKelvie (p), Matt Wilson (i). "The Faust Act" The Wicked + The Divine #5 (October 22, 2014), Prototype Comics
21. ^ Kieron Gillen (w), Jamie McKelvie (p), Matt Wilson (i). "Fandemonium" The Wicked + The Divine #9 (March 25, 2015), Image Comics
22. ^ "THE WICKED + THE DIVINE". Comic Book Roundup. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved five January 2019.
23. ^ "BCA 2014 Winers Announced". British Comic Awards. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
24. ^ "2015 Eisner Award Nominations". Comic-Con. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
25. ^ "2018 Eisner Accolade Nominations". Comic-Con. Archived from the original on xiii June 2015. Retrieved 8 Jan 2019.

External links [edit]

• Official website

carpenterfromme.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicked_+_The_Divine

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