The Wicked + The Divine

The Wicked + The Divine
246x450px Promotional Launch Image. Art by Jamie McKelvie.
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy
Publication date	June 2014 – present
Number of issues	18 (As of April 2016)
Creative team
Writer(s)	Kieron Gillen
Artist(s)	Jamie McKelvie
Letterer(s)	Clayton Cowles
Colorist(s)	Matt Wilson
Creator(s)	Kieron Gillen Jamie McKelvie
Editor(s)	Chrissy Williams
Collected editions
The Faust Act	ISBN 978-1-63215-019-6
Fandemonium	ISBN 978-1-63215-327-2
Commercial Suicide	ISBN 978-1-63215-631-0

The Wicked + The Divine is a contemporary fantasy comic book series written by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Jamie McKelvie, and published monthly by American company Image Comics. The series is largely influenced by Pop Music and various mythological deities. Gillen's core inspiration for the series came after his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and includes the themes of life and death in the story.

The narrative follows a young teenage girl, 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 die within two years – part of a ninety-year cycle known as the Recurrence.

The Wicked + The Divine has received positive reviews, and was the winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards.

Publication History

Author Kieron Gillen's original and core inspiration for The Wicked + The Divine was his father's diagnosis with terminal cancer. For this reason, Gillen considers the story to be "about life and death." Further inspiration for Gillen comes from Pop Music and various pop idols; the Pantheon is based on pop idols, and Gillen has created a playlist of songs to accompany the comic book.

The series was announced on 9 January 2014, and the first issue was released in June 2014. As of April 2016, there have been 18 single issues released, three trade paperbacks, and one hardcover trade. The series is ongoing, intended to run for between 30 and 60 issues.

The television rights have been optioned by Universal TV.

Plot

The narrative focuses on a group of people with superhuman powers known as "The Pantheon". Each member of The Pantheon was at one point a normal person before being chosen to merge with the spirit of a deity. It is said that each cycle of The Pantheon will not live past two years from the start of the series, and that every 90 years the Pantheon is reincarnated. This cycle is known as the Recurrence. Each issue is accompanied by a quote from a character, acting as a surrogate name for the issue.

The Faust Act

In Britain on the 1st January 2014, Laura, a young girl and fan of The Pantheon, becomes embroiled in their inner politics after Lucifer takes a shining for her. She teams up with Cassandra, a transgender reporter to uncover the secrets they hold.

Title	Issue #	Release date
"I want everything you have." - Laura	1	June 18, 2014
After attending a performance by Amaterasu, Laura is invited to meet several members of the Pantheon by Lucifer (who is one of the Pantheon herself). After Lucifer and Laura arrive, they see that Amaterasu is being interviewed by a woman named Cassandra, a skeptic reporter who believes the Pantheon is an elaborate hoax. Another Goddess is introduced: Sakhmet. Assassins attempt to murder the Pantheon members during the interview, but Lucifer kills them in retaliation. At a trial for their murder, Lucifer toys with the judge with the ability to kill people with a click of her fingers. When she clicks her fingers, the judge's head explodes, but Lucifer insists she did not do it.
"You spend all your life wishing you were something special. And then you find out you are." - Amaterasu	2	July 16, 2014
A week later, Laura visits Luci in prison to ask about Ananke, who Laura overheard Lucifer whisper to Amaterasu at the trial. She then visits Cassandra and they plot to investigate the Pantheon with the intention of discovering if one of them framed Lucifer. Laura attends a concert in the subway by Pantheon member, The Morrígan. But when she arrives, another member, Baphomet, appears holding The Morrígan's severed head.
"Killing you is too quick of a thing. Better to destroy you." - The Morrígan	3	August 20, 2014
The head is revealed to be an illusion and the real Morrígan appears in a different form (named Badb) and the two begin to fight. Laura breaks up the fight but the two start to fight again, both speaking at once, which envelops Laura's world in darkness. The police arrive and fire a plastic round at Baphomet. He sets the cop on fire which eventually kills him. The Morrígan reveals a third form, Annie, who brings the man back to life. Laura is then arrested. Soon after she goes to meet Cassandra and they discuss what Lucifer had told them about individual members of the Pantheon. As they talk, Pantheon member Baal appears before them.
"When you're as good as I am? This is humble." - Baal	4	September 17, 2014
He takes the pair into the retreat of the Pantheon, Valhalla, where Laura is permitted to meet some of the other members, including Ananke, who acts as a caregiver to The Pantheon. They discuss what to do with Lucifer before Laura goes to visit her. At their meeting, Luci breaks out the prison, revealing that she was not in danger at any point.
"If you exist, you're staring at me." - Tara	5	October 22, 2014
Lucifer goes on a rampage and the other gods come to control her. Amaterasu tries to reason with her but Baal and Sakhmet attempt to fight her. Laura goes to find The Morrígan, who agrees to help her and whisks Lucifer away from the battle to safety. But as Lucifer attempts to leave the safe house, Ananke appears and clicks her finger, blowing up Lucifer's head. Later on, Laura clicks her fingers to try to light a cigarette like she had seen Lucifer do. Miraculously, the cigarette starts to burn.

Fandemonium

A month after Lucifer's death, Laura teams up with Inanna to uncover the truth about who framed her, whilst dealing with the emergence of new Gods and her newfound fame as friend of The Pantheon. Meanwhile Cassandra still seeks her big story about The Pantheon.

Title	Issue #	Release date
"I've got no reason to be afraid anymore." - Inanna	6	December 17, 2014
Laura has been lying low when she is contacted by Inanna, who reveals they met a year before at Ragnarock (an event about the Pantheon which occurred before the Recurrence) before he was chosen to become Inanna. He tells her that the men who attempted to assassinate Lucifer were fans. Afterwards Laura decides to come back into the public eye, having become famous in the Pantheon fandom for her public association with Lucifer.
"I'm a God, not a saint." - Wōden	7	January 21, 2015
At an event called Fantheon, Laura runs into Cassandra and they discuss the shooting and The Prometheus Gambit, which is a theory that killing a god will turn you into one. They run into Beth, Cassandra's disgruntled former employee, fired for leaking their location to Baal. Afterwards Laura takes part in a panel about life after being close to a god. At the panel, Kerry, a former member of Wōden's entourage, the Valkyries, where she went by the name Brunhilde, gives personal details about him. Wōden then arrives and asks if she will rejoin the Valkyries, if she reveals all she said was lies. The desperate Kerry agrees but Wōden walks away, terminating the offer, and leaving her broken. Afterwards Kerry attempts to shoot Wōden (under the illusion that the Prometheus Gambit exists), hoping to become a god if she succeeds. Minerva incapacitates her but is shocked by her aggression. At the end of Fantheon, Laura runs into Baphomet who takes her to the Underground for a night of fun. Afterwards The Morrígan invites Laura to a party thrown by Dionysus, who has recently revealed himself.
"Being happy for a night. That's not a small thing." - Dionysus	8	February 25, 2015
Laura heads to the party and meets Dionysus. At the party Laura dances with Sakhmet, and Wōden talks to Cassandra. Laura briefly comes out of the drug-like effect the party has to talk to Baphomet, asking him whether anything special happened before he became a god. She talks to Baal about Brunhilde, who is at a private hospital, and Minerva, who has gone into isolation since the incident. After the party, which goes on for days, Laura tells Dionysus that he's the best, because he makes others happy - but he reveals he isn't happy himself. On her way home, Baal stops and asks if she wants a lift. They then spend the night together.
"'Life' is the last thing I have boy." - Ananke	9	March 25, 2015
At Valhalla, Ananke is comforting Minerva when Baphomet appears to talk about Laura. Minerva, tired of Baphomet's sarcastic nature, shouts at him about how they are all going to die. Baphomet gets emotional and Ananke comforts him and informs him that the Prometheus Gambit will only work for a death god (to buy more time) - but strictly warns him about punishment for killing a God. Cassandra appears and Baphomet is dismissed after trying to harm her. Ananke gives Cassandra an interview, beginning with the history of the Pantheon - the Gods come to Earth to fight the darkness in the world. After winning once, the Pantheon had failed for thousands of years. When they win once again, they decide to elect Ananke to guide and protect the Gods. She then reveals that Cassandra is the twelfth god and transforms her into Urðr, who in turn transforms her two assistants into Verdandi and Skuld, to make up the Three Norns.
"If I'm going to hell, you're all coming with me." - Baphomet	10	May 6, 2015
The Morrígan talks to Baphomet, who wants more from his life. Laura is upset about not being the twelfth god, so Inanna takes her to Ragnarock, a massive festival in Hyde Park, and then leaves for his own performance. Laura goes to talk to Urðr, who has worked out who tried to kill Lucifer, but superfan David Blake tells her instead as Urdr isn't seeing anyone. The Norns then begins their Ragnarock performance. Baphomet appears and attempts to kill them to steal their life but The Morrígan stops him. Ananke threatens to kill Baphomet, but The Morrígan promises to look after him and they escape. The crowd begin to riot so The Norns perform to calm them down. After her performance Urdr is upset that the crowd cheered her performance about their inevitable deaths. Laura comforts her and tells her she's happy for her. Baphomet regrets it but realizes he must kill Inanna at his performance.
"No one gets a happy ending." - Laura	11	June 3, 2015
When Laura returns home, Ananke is waiting for her. Baphomet attacks Inanna at his performance and they fight, ending in the building exploding and the death of Inanna. Ananke tells Laura that she is a thirteenth member of The Pantheon, Persephone. Ananke tells her to sing, but just before she does, Ananke clicks her fingers, killing Persephone. When Laura's parents discover this, Ananke blows up the house, killing them.

Commercial Suicide

The Pantheon is reeling after the events of the last issue and each attempt to deal with their emotions in their individual ways, whilst also dealing with an inner threat unknown to them all. Each issue in this arc focuses on a different character in the comic.

Title	Featured Character	Issue #	Release date
"I loved him." - Baal	Beth	12	July 5, 2015
A week after Laura's death, Beth, along with her new crew Toni and Robin, are cycling through old footage of Laura, trying to gain something she can use. They head to the wreckage of Inanna's residency, to record footage of the grieving crowd, when Baal appears to pay his respects. Beth uses her previous connection with him to give him a lead of Innana's death, in exchange for an interview. Afterwards they head to find The Morrígan, using the same method Laura had used when Luci was in danger. After revealing herself, Baal begins beating The Morrígan, wanting information on Baphomet's whereabouts. Ultimately, Wōden appears and breaks up the fight, taking the two Gods with him. Beth is left with her exclusive and Baphomet appears in the shadows, choosing to cover his own back then help The Morrígan.
"Looking good, girl." - Wōden	Tara	13	August 5, 2015
Tara is performing a concert and the crowd love her. But when she tries to play an original song, the crowd boo and turn violent against her until she starts performing again. She starts narrating about her life, from where catcalls began at the age of eleven and threats of rape occurred. Adopting a mask to hide her face, she begins gigging in secret to small crowds, which is where Ananke finds her and changes her into Tara. In the present, Tara makes a rare visit to talk to the rest of the Gods and Ananke. They argue about what to do with The Morrígan and the footage that Beth's has obtained. Meeting with Ananke later on, she is confused about who she really is and upset about the bullying the world is inflicting on her. She performs one last song, where Ananke then executes her. Tara's narration is revealed to be her suicide note that Ananke promptly burns. Online, the abuse turns to appreciation upon her death.
"You're not stupid, are you? Just evil." - Cassandra	Wōden	14	September 9, 2015
Wōden is telling someone his side of the story so far. He starts by explaining that when Kerry tried to shoot him, a part of him wanted to die. Afterward he went to inform Ananke what had happened, and she sent him to Dionysus' party to arrange Cassandra's interview with her. He then reveals that Ananke killed the judge at Luci's trial, which he keeps quiet about. He tells of all the things he has done for Ananke; build a hideout for the Gods, organise Fandemonium and Ragnarok and even clean up the murdered body of Laura. Ananke has been making Wōden do her work for ages. and he is afraid that more will die soon. The figure he is speaking to is revealed to be another masked figure, and Wōden promises that he will protect him.
"You're doing this wrong." - Urðr	Amaterasu	15	October 14, 2015
Amaterasu recalls her past where a bully attempts to steal a toy version of her namesake and she bites him for it. Whilst praying at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, she receives a call and returns to London to find Tara dead. Dionysus, Baal, Wōden and Sakhmet argue with each other and all storm out, leaving Amaterasu alone with the body. Heading down the hall, she goes into Kerry's room, where she is still recovering from her injuries. Minerva is with her along with Beth's crew. Minerva is still guilty over what she did to Kerry but is also concerned that everything that is happening doesn't add up. The Norns arrive and chastise Beth for being there, who has been invited by Wōden to document the Pantheon. When Amaterasu tries to keep Urðr from waking Kerry, Urðr calls her out for appropriating culture. The two argue about Japanese culture which culminates in Amaterasu teleporting The Norns to Hiroshima. During their argument, Amaterasu accidentally creates a very offensive image of a sun over Hiroshima. Amaterasu realises her mistake and explains to Urðr that she didn't choose this image. Returning to the shrine, she prays for her fellow Gods and the ones who have died.
"You were always best at the game." - Cameron	The Morrígan	16	November 11, 2016
The Morrígan is being held by The Gods, who seek Baphomet's location. She thinks back to her pre-transformation days, where she was Marian and Baphomet was Cameron, her best friend who she eventually forms a relationship with. After the deaths of his family, Cameron goes on a downward spiral, eventually leading him to sleep with someone else. Marian storms off into a graveyard, where she is transformed into The Morrígan. One day after a performance, Cameron waits for her. Realising she still loves him, she manages to convince Ananke to change Cameron into Baphomet. She promises to lead the Gods to Baphomet but doesn't know exactly where he is. Minerva gives her lunch, where a mini Baphomet emerges from a pentagram of ketchup, promising to explain everything.
"Are you ready?" - Wōden	Sakhmet	17	December 16, 2016
Sakhmet is woken up after a night of partying and debauchery by Eir. After light training with Baal, she performs a concert for her fans. Whilst giving an interview, she becomes agitated when she isn't given a drink and leaves. In her sober state, she kills and eats her father. Wōden and two Valkyries show up to bring her home, by offering her alcohol. Whilst drunkenly guarding The Morrígan, she passes out, where The Morrigan says she knows how she will escape. Across town, a bar is being booked for a concert under the name of Persephone.

Rising Action

A ghost from The Pantheon's past has supposedly come back to haunt them and a Civil War has divided the Gods onto two sides.

Title	Issue #	Release date
"Tonight, I'm going to kill." - Persephone	18	April 6, 2016
Nearly two months after her supposed death, Laura, now going as Persephone, gets ready to perform her concert. Persephone starts her concert and the public begin to post about her on social media. Wōden is busy making a birthday present to Minerva from Ananke when they are alerted to Persephone's present, who Ananke labels as 'The Destroyer'. Ananke goes with Wōden, his Valkyries and Sakhmet and leaves Baal to guard Valhalla. Baphomet attacks and knocks him out, hoping to rescue The Morrígan. The others arrive at Persephone's gig and start to fight. Baphomet finds Minerva has already freed The Morrígan and they all plan to leave together, after fetching Minerva's parents. The others realise Persephone is a distraction and rush back to Valhalla. Baphomet, Minerva and The Morrígan find themselves cornered by the others when Persephone arrives to help them escape. The Morrígan announces now is the time to wage war. It is then revealed one month ago Persephone and Baphomet slept together.
"Do you guys believe her?" - Dionysus	19	May 4, 2016
Dionysus is holding a party when he suddenly lurches over in pain and leaves, upsetting his guests. Baphomet grabs him and takes him to meet the others in the Underground, where they persuade him to join their fight against Ananke. At Valhalla, Ananke persuades the other Gods (Sakhmet, Baal, Amaterasu and Wōden) that they need to kill Persephone and rescue Minerva. Minerva's pet mechanical owl, Owly, finds her but is actually being used as a conduit for Baal. Sakhmet and Amaterasu also join him to fight but The Morrígan summons a horde of ravens to attack them. During the fight Amaterasu manages to grab Minerva and escape with her, with the others following her. Persephone picks up Owly and they discover a recording of Ananke saying she is going to sacrifice Minerva.
	20	June 8, 2016
	21	July 12, 2016
	22	August 17, 2016

Characters

• Laura Wilson - The series' narrator and protagonist. A seventeen-year-old teenager, Laura is a "fangirl" of the Pantheon. After attending a performance by Amaterasu, she meets several members of the Pantheon for the first time and befriends Lucifer. While all previous Pantheons have consisted of twelve gods, Laura is revealed to possibly be the first thirteenth member, Persephone, though this may have been a trick by Ananke.
• Laura's Mother and Father -Originally not knowing of their daughters secret other life as a friend of the Pantheon, they eventually find out when she is thrust into the spotlight, and learn to support her lifestyle.
• 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.
• Robin and Toni - Beth's new camera team, operating in the same capacity Beth once did to Cassandra.
• The Valkyries - A group of tall, beautiful, Asian women that Wōden is almost always accompanied by. Kerry is one of his former Valkyries, who went by Brunhilde whilst with him, who after attempting to kill Wōden in order to gain his power, is crippled by Minerva. Another Valkyrie, Eir looks after Sakhmet.
• David Blake - An expert in The Pantheon who doesn't believe this generation deserves them, which gets on the wrong side of Laura. He works with Urdr to try and identify Luci's attackers.
• Minerva's Mother and Father - Minerva's parents live to profit from their daughter's newfound God like status.

The Pantheon

Initially, there were at least 12 known members of the Pantheon. Laura may have been an unforeseen thirteenth goddess.

• Amaterasu - Formerly Emily Greenaway, who went by the name Hazel Oak Ash Thorn Greenaway. A fan of Shinto culture from her childhood, she is commonly accused of culture appropriation.
• Baal - He was once with Inanna, before Inanna cheated on him with Lucifer, making him overly aggressive but not over him. He presents himself as aggressive but is shown to have a softer side.
• Baphomet - Formerly Cameron. Before their transformation, Baphomet and The Morrigan were together and he was turned at The Morrigan's request. Both his parents died before he was turned.
• Inanna - Formerly Zahid. He first met Laura at the original Ragnarock when he was still human, where he blended in and mostly went ignored. He runs a Residency which could go on for weeks at a time, which frequently turned into orgies.
• Lucifer - Her original name was Eleanor Rigby (a reference to the Beatles song of the same name). She first meets Laura after an Amaterasu concert and offers Laura divinity in exchange for her help.
• Minerva - The youngest member of the Pantheon at 12, she is therefore kept away from important issues by the others. She has a pet mechanical owl she calls Owly.
• The Morrígan - Formerly Marian. Out of her love for her former boyfriend, she requests Ananke turn him into Baphomet. (She appears in 3 incarnations, which have so far been named as "Badb", "Gentle Annie" (possibly Anand), and simply "Morrigan" (The Morrigan)
• Sakhmet - Formerly Ruth. She admired Egyptian culture from a young age. Before Ananke found her, it was hinted she was homeless and an alcoholic. When sober, she becomes murderous and cannibalistic and can only be calmed down with alcohol.
• Wōden - He is always accompanied by The Valkryies, a group of human women who are all tall, Asian and beautiful. He constantly wears a mask to hide his appearance.
• Tara - Formerly Aruna. She does not know herself which Tara she is and is plagued by abuse for wanting to perform music she wrote before her transformation.
• Dionysus - Has the power to produce a drug-like euphoria. He first appears as a fan during The Morrigan's gig, before he is transformed. His powers have consequences though, he can constantly hear peoples voices in his head and can't sleep.
• Urðr - Before her transformation, Urðr was Cassandra Igarashi, a trans woman reporter and a cynical skeptic of the Pantheon. As Urðr, she is revealed to be the twelfth member of the Pantheon, and appears along with her two sisters Verðandi and Skuld, formerly her camera crew.
• Persephone - Appears at the end of the eleventh issue when Ananke seemingly transforms Laura Wilson into this previously unknown member of the Pantheon.

Ananke appears to act along with the group, but is also outside of them. Unlike the others she is not a teenager and has aged. She functions almost as a parent, and reveals that she gave up her divinity during an earlier cycle of The Recurrence to protect future members of The Pantheon.

Reception

The Wicked + the Divine has received generally positive reviews. The review aggregation website Comic Book Roundup reports that the series holds an average score of 8.5 out of 10.

Awards

The Wicked + the Divine was the winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards. The series has also been nominated for the 2015 Eisner Awards in three categories: Best New Series, Best Cover Artist, and Best Coloring.

Collected Editions

The first three volumes have been collected as trade paperbacks:

• Vol 1: The Faust Act (collects #1-5, tpb, 180 pages, 2014, ISBN 978-1-63215-019-6)
• Vol 2: Fandemonium (Collects #6-11, tpb, 200 pages, 2015, ISBN 978-1-63215-327-2)
• Vol 3: Commercial Suicide (Collects #12-17, tpb, 200 pages, 2016, ISBN 978-1-63215-631-0)
  • With additional artists Kate Brown (#12), Tula Lotay (#13), Stephanie Hans (#15), Leila del Duca (#16) and Brandon Graham (#17)