A review by madmooney
The Wicked + The Divine: Book One by Kieron Gillen

4.0

Every ninety years, twelve gods return as young people. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are all dead.

I will not be totally critical of this completed series only 25% of the way in, but I do have some initial thoughts that I will gladly walk back after I have read more deeply in.

The idea of old gods living in the current world is not entirely unique, and I will not say that that its twist in [b:The Wicked + The Divine Deluxe Edition: Year One|28533221|The Wicked + The Divine Deluxe Edition Year One|Kieron Gillen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1459253269l/28533221._SY75_.jpg|48692256] is especially enterprising from the get-go. However, I do feel that the slow build in this 1st quarter is going to lead to better-than-average payoffs.

One thing that I have to say to the mythology-fans who are eager to see their take on the pantheons that actually do show up: just go with the flow. There is no higher-design on the choice of gods here, or even the spread over all world mythologies. In fact, it sometimes feels that the rules this series sets up are broken more than followed - but that is because we assume the rules given to us are true and there are no lies being cast.

Rhianna is the inspiration for a cat god here. It is weird to see the depiction so blatantly accurate but never addressed. I think the reason for this is the idea that the gods come into their powers as young people, who then become world-wide popstars, perhaps Rhianna was hitting one of her many crests at the time. It is very much akin to Simon Pegg as Hugh's father in [b:The Boys, Volume 1: The Name of the Game|1214485|The Boys, Volume 1 The Name of the Game|Garth Ennis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1224646048l/1214485._SY75_.jpg|2642984]. Maybe Rhianna is secretly a cat god?

The other weird part of this is that there are none of the other gods in this first leg are similarily depicted/inspired by real people (as far as I know).

Finally, I want to say that I especially enjoy Clayton Cowles' contribution as a colourist for the series. I am singling out Cowles here specifically because at one point after this first 25%, he is switched out with a number of other people, and I hate the look of those later issues. I will address this more in later reviews.