Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Matthew Wilson deliver a total game changer issue of “The Wicked + The Divine” this week. Keep reading for our review that features very minor spoilers. I’m not going to go into the major development. Our Wicked Intervention columnist James Johnston will take care of that.
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated Jamie McKelvie and Matthew WilsonIt’s time for a private audience with Ananke, she who has protected and judged the Pantheon for thousands of years. Yes, it’s time for an interview… with an umpire. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Also: Baphomet being all goth and having a nice little mope.
“The Wicked + The Divine” is very quickly becoming my favorite Image Comics series because of issues like this one. The book has, at this point, become a sprawling story with more mysteries and mythology at its core, and has become one at a very quick rate. Not even a year into this series, and there are a million questions to keep us guessing; the death of Luci feels like an eternity ago and, while it still weighs on this series, there is far more happening. The most important mystery being, of course, the last God missing from The Pantheon.
“The Wicked + The Divine” #9 opens with Laura’s parents; we don’t know them well, and still don’t, since they are used to let us know where Laura is and what she’s up to. This is not a Laura issue, but I appreciated the small appearance. This is finally an Ananke issue, and itdoes a whole lot to explain her role in the series. In order to do this, Gillen frames this as an interview with Cassandra, which we can presume was set up by Woden in the last issue. Before Cassandra can talk with Ananke though, Baphomet has a few choice words for Ananke, and this is where we’re reminded that the Luci cloud hangs over the series. That’s not a slight against the book; in fact, I appreciate this – it’s important not to lose focus that whoever killed Luci is sort the secret villain of this series. Ananke and Cassandra have a very interesting conversation that gives a lot more insight into Ananke and finally fleshes her out into a more well rounded character.
A lot happens in this issue and, while I’d love to go into it more, I will hold back. To say that this issue is a game changer is a huge understatement. This is major and I couldn’t put down this issue; I immediately read it a second time to take in all that happened. Gillen, McKelvie and Wilson are creating something here that I truly think is never going to be forgotten by fans. Gillen, especially, is doing some of the best writing he’s ever done. The back and forth between Baphomet and Ananke is biting and, through this, we get so much about Ananke’s personality and ranking in this circle. . Using Cassandra’s credentials as a journalist might seem a little cliché but, in the world this story takes place, it’s perfect. She’s done so much already about the Gods that it only makes sense she’d get an exclusive like this with Ananke. It’s a great framing for the information we get because it ends up being conversational and with the arc closing out soon, we needed all this exposition.
The big twist is a real jaw dropper. At least to me it was because my own predictions were way, way off; it changes the relationships between a lot of these characters. I love a good twist, and I especially love the twist when it actually matters. This isn’t some crazy, left field M. Night Shyamalan nonsense – this is important, and it really enhances the story in a way that will be felt for a long time. It’s even more grandiose thanks to the visuals that McKelvie and Wilson give it.
Jamie McKelvie is seriously killing it on this book. “The Wicked + The Divine” is magical realism; it combines magic and fantasy with a world that’s very similar to ours. McKelvie really gets to play with that in this issue with Cassandra visiting Ananke. Due to the way he draws Cassandra, it is clear that she’s not part of this world; she doesn’t look at all like like Ananke, with just her black t-shirt and jeans. Ananke gets to look even more like a Queen, but he doesn’t stop here with how he makes Ananke look more regal. Minerva and Baphomet also share panels with her and they are each wearing very “normal” attire, which helps make her look more other worldly.
Continued belowI especially liked the like detail in the faces. McKelvie could have very simply drawn farther away shots, instead he closes up on each characters’ face and details their expressions perfectly. He deserves a lot of credit for the work that must go into creating Ananke because of the wrinkles, which vary depending on the expression – it’s truly amazing. Again, I can’t spoil it here, but the magical sequences are unreal and unlike anything else happening in comics right now.
Much of those magical scenes being so great is due to Matthew Wilson on colors. I joked before that I think he’s creating new colors for “The Wicked + The Divine,” but it honestly feels that way sometimes. This is another issue where Wilson excels at creating a lush and vibrant world. He doesn’t miss a step and makes McKelvie’s clothing designs pop off the page and feel real. The moments where magic or powers are used looks like actual light and (I know I come off very excited about it) it’s so authentic and exciting to look at. Even the lettering goes above and beyond what you usually see!
I did miss Laura this issue and there’s definitely something going on with her that we’re going to be filled in on next month but “The Wicked + The Divine” #9 is something you can’t put down and won’t want to put down. I’m always looking forward to the next issue but after this one, I’m impatient about it.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – One of the best, if not the best issue of the series with a wicked (not sorry) twist thrown in that changes everything.
