If you were in any doubt that this was the year of Image Comics (or of high concepts in Image Comics), than allow Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's latest quite possibly greatest collaboration convince you. The pair who have previously teamed on a recent run of Young Avengers and cult hit Phonogram return for a new series that's pretty similar to that latter title. Where Phonogram took the idea that music is literally magic in the way it can manipulate and be manipulated, The Wicked + The Divine takes that concept one step further, with the classic pantheon of gods reborn every generation. Naturally, though, they're reborn in whatever form is most likely to reach the widest audience in any given era. A brief prelude in the first issue shows the twenties gods returned as flappers and philosophers. In the modern day of The Wicked + The Divine, meanwhile, they're pop stars: teenagers given the power of gods, the influence of a major chart success, and a limited three year life span in order to achieve...whatever it is their mission is. Gillen has done an excellent job at spinning out the mystery through the first arc (which recently wrapped up), and a heck of a cliffhanger for the next (which starts this month). Recalling the height of Vertigo comics from the mid-nineties with its style, literary references and straight up ballsiness, The Wicked + The Divine has more than delivered as a magical thriller that comments on the relationship between art and fandom, features some amazing pop art visuals from McKelvie (not to mention some fierce wardrobe choices), and generally is easily the most engaging comic book of the year. It feels like the culmination of what the pair have been building to all along, their masterpiece. Which happens to feature the phrase chasm-c*nted.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
