“Divinity II” #1 was a great opening for our new godlike character introduced to the Valiant Universe to contend with Abram Adams. Can it maintain that strength? We’ll see. Warning: There will be some spoilers in this review.
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated by Trevor HairsineRussia reigns supreme! Just a month after the arrival of long-lost cosmonaut Mishka, the former Soviet Union has made an impossible push to become the world’s preeminent superpower. But how? Ninjak has a theory, but it will require going undercover across enemy lines…and maybe some help from Mishka’s old comrade, Abram Adams – the god-like being known as Divinity! But can the motives of a deity among men ever truly be known…and will the return of Divinity’s former teammate rekindle his old allegiances?
Okay, the reason I am going to have to talk some spoilers for “Divinity II: Divine Harder” is because, between issue #1 and #2’s release, Valiant had their “Valiant Summit 2016” media event. We covered it and the final book announced was the sequel to this book, entitled “Divinity III: Stalinverse”. That subtitle is exactly what you think it means and the seeds of that are beginning here as Myshka (Hey Valiant! Pick: Is it “Myshka” or “Mishka”? Book and solicits are conflicting. Don’t care which, just choose!) begins rebuilding Russia into the dominant superpower.
I’ll give credit to Kindt: He didn’t just have Myshka clap her hands and “Poof! Glorious Soviet Superpower!” No, it’s a bit more subtle than that. Utilizing her power to deftly shift political power, reinvigorating economic growth in Russia, easy annexation of neighbor countries, mass unrest in other parts of the world, and a secret supply of gold. Now considering the nature of the sequel and the ending to this issue, that “Poof!” could happen, but it is nice to see a much quieter approach with moves that… you know… make sense instead of over-the-top.
And I’ve got to say, this is a personal one: It’s so weird yet funny to see a Kindt-written Ninjak outside of his own series that is in over his head.
Listen, I like Kindt. I like Ninjak. I think “Siege of King’s Castle” is a great return to form for the book. But, as I’ve said before, when Kindt writes Ninjak outside of his solo series… well… I don’t want to say the word “Nin-God”, but that is kind of the territory that it will go into. That he’s just so hyper prepared and competent to the point of sucking tension out. Not here. He and “Ninja-L” (which, is this the first time since “Ninjak” #1 this was referenced?) try to infiltrate Moscow to find out what’s going on and they get beaten. Hard. And it makes Ninjak more interesting. Seeing him be vulnerable in the face of beings that he has no chance of fighting is humbling and adds another layer to the character.
And then enters Abram Adams for the first time in present. There is a gentle touch to his character. He is a pacifist through and through but makes it abundantly clear that MI-6 or Unity or any of them can truly contain or control him (Him putting down Neville Alcott got a light chuckle from me). In spite of his wishes to be left alone, he volunteers to stop Myshka through words since he abandoned her on their mission. It’s little bits of dialogue that do speak to the personality of Abram over his power.
Between his scenes in “Imperium” and his return here, Abrams has become a character that is at times infinitely complex and yet simple: he is trying to see the good in people in spite of everything in the way of that. He still retains his humanity despite his powers and tries to appeal to the humanity in others. It oddly makes him aloof to other humans but is neatly reflected in Myshka, who seems to be no longer human, yet it is that sense of loyalty to something that has been implemented in her since childhood that is driving her. It’s an interesting dichotomy.
Hairsine, Winn and Baron continue the strong standard of artwork they set for this series. While nowhere near as much psychedelic and otherworldly scenes like last issue, instead there is more kinetic action. You feel the impact as Myshka slams Abram’s head into the ground goes further and further and further into the Earth until the two have a confrontation in the molten, lava-lamp esque (don’t give me that! It’s what it looks like in this book!) core of our planet. But they aren’t afraid of the trippy as Myshka literally punches the memories of Abram’s lover and daughter out of his head for full display.
Continued belowBut the big centerpiece of the art is the double page spread of Myshka’s plans… which is essentially the big teaser for “Stalinverse”. It’s a plethora of ideas on display, including a battalion of Bloodshot commandos, a large X-O Cosmonaut, and a Soviet-controlled Shadowman leading an army of the dead to invade the United States. It’s all quite spooky stuff lovingly rendered as Abram’s head tries to process all the information.
I do have some criticisms, most of those being that this is an issue smack dab in the middle of the road that is this story. While the last page with Myshka beginning to implement her plans, the scene just prior to that is incredibly weak. I understand that the nature of comics and their “announce things three months ahead because them pre-orders” is the nature of this horrid beast, but even so it felt very flat. Kind of uncharacteristic for a lot of Valiant works.
Has the announcement and pitch of a future story compromised my enjoyment of this book? Perhaps so, but only a little. It’s still a real good and really interesting book book.
Final Verdict: 8.3 – Many threads are being planted as Abram tries to appeal to humanity that may not be there.
