This week: The Fourth World returns with Ram V and Evan Cagle new god #1.
NOTE: The following review contains spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free purchase/recommendation of related comics, check the bottom of the article for our final verdict.
New Gods #1
writer: Ram V
artist: Evan Cagle
Guest Artist, pages 1-4: Jorge Fornes
Colorist: Francisco Segarra
Writer: Tom Napolitano
Cover artist: This is too much for Malawi
This week, DC released two first issues in a series headed by jack kirbyand their properties are completely different. The Challengers of the Unknown are a group of unmotivated human adventurers who believe they have survived a plane crash and are living on borrowed time. On the other side of the galaxy is new godis the centerpiece of Kirby’s sprawling Fourth World saga, a sci-fi space opera about super-powered aliens who embody concepts of good and evil. Many have tried to follow in King’s footsteps and treat the denizens of New Genesis and Apokolips in their own way, and the current foray into the outer reaches of the DC Universe comes from writers Ram V and artist Evan Caglethe team spared no expense in delivering a vision of the Fourth World that recalls Kirby’s original work while forging a new path forward.
tone new god #1 was a pure spectacle from the start. V’s script feels majestic and almost mythical, guest artist Jorge FornesThe visuals reinforce this, with ancient beings floating in the outermost reaches of the universe and panel boundaries collapsing in the presence of the Source Wall. Cagle’s first page, a detailed illustration of Mitron receiving a translated prophecy from the source, further illustrates the limitlessness of storytelling—that the stakes of this story will not be limited by the traditional language of comics.
From the opening pages, the focus of the issue gradually narrows to Seafather and Lightray in New Genesis, then to Orion on another distant alien moon, and finally to Scott Free and Scott Free on Earth. Barda. Even Kirby’s new god After all, V and Cagle are both earth-based, and V and Cagle emphasize the human qualities of these gods in a warm and relatable way. Focus on Scott and Barda, who are undoubtedly the most human of these gods and stars. Tom King and Mickey Gerardsof crushing mr.miracle series, and also goes a long way in making this inaugural issue accessible to readers.
But make no mistake: these are gods, and Cagle presents them as gods. Cagle’s work is highly stylized, and his characters have unique physical characteristics and heightened emotions. Letere was lithe and beautiful, Highfather was noble, proud, but a little tired, and Metron was slender and otherworldly. Most striking is Cagle’s portrayal of Orion, a hulking figure who moves with extreme ferocity in battle but is surprisingly soft in his scenes with Scott on Earth. Orion’s actions as he dispatches a group of errant demons feel very comic-inspired, and you can feel the power of his strikes and the intensity of his rage right from the page. colorist Francisco Segarra‘s work nicely enhances Cagle’s lines, conveying the majesty of New Genesis, the battle fire of Orion, and the warmth of Scott’s life on Earth. This book is a visual feast.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this debut is how accessible it is to readers who may not be familiar with The Fourth World. The series uses the following events DC full input With the one-off serving as a launching point, as the characters in the book react to Darkseid’s apparent death, it’s easy to see how tying the series more closely to what’s going on in the mainline DC Universe might help attract attention readers of the entire storyline. That said, the issue also reveals its own corner of the universe quite clearly. At this point, it’s hard to imagine Batman appearing in this book, and frankly, it’s a refreshing idea.
new god #1 is a fantastic debut issue from a creative team who have a clear and unique vision for these characters and their world. There’s so much going on here that it’s hard to predict where the series will go next, but it’s safe to say that in the hands of this team, it’s going to be an incredible journey.
Final verdict: purchase.
round up
- As for the other Kirby properties returning today, Christopher Cantwell, Sean Isaacsay, Romulo Fajardo Jr.and Hassan Otzman Elhou present a unknown challenger #1 This is a key part of the All Out storyline, taking Challengers in an exciting direction and exploring how these powerless humans fit into the Justice League’s super-powered heroes. It’s funny, heavy, and sets a solid foundation for what’s to come.
- Cantwell’s other DC book this week is No more plastic people! #4, Conclusion of the Black Label Series Alex Lins, Jacob Edgar, Marcelo Maioloand Becca Kelly. This book is a joy from start to finish, highlighting the dichotomy of Plastic Man to tell a heartfelt story about a father’s love for his son. The ending feels inevitable rather than predictable, depending on the strength of these creators’ skills. A great book from start to finish.
- On the other side of the DCU there is Green Lantern/Arrow: The World’s Greatest Special #1, a throwback to the character’s iconic hard-traveling heroic days, with Deathstroke hunting down Hal and Ollie in the first story before guest-starring “The Flash” Barry Allen in the second. I’m not sure you can say there’s a lot to this book, since the editor’s note at the end says it’s all about…New Young Warriors #2 1980. Jeremy Adamsartist Lucas Meyer and Travis Mercercolorist Marcelo Maiolo and Andrew Dalhousieand engraver Lucas Gatoni Providing a highly entertaining diversion, anything that temporarily removes one from reality for a few minutes is pointless.
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