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5 Skull Review: “The Wicked + The Divine” #1

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A gorgeous book cover to cover, with rich colors, and a wildly imaginative premise that will hold from page one Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s “The Wicked + The Divine” is not to be missed. It defies high expectations and manages to surprise on almost every page.

TWTD001COVluciWRITTEN BY: Kieron Gillen

ART BY: Jamie McKelvie

PUBLISHER: Image

PRICE: $2.99

RELEASE: June 18, 2014

 

The opening pages of this comic will have you captivated. Gillen and McKelvie continue their trend of playing with comic paneling to create a more dynamic pace. There are panels that are left filled with large numbers, or entire pages devoted to a human skull. But everything is done with a masterful sense of purpose.

Quickly the book hooks its simple premise by blending musical culture with Gods. The attribution of deity like status onto musical icons is reality here. They are gods, and they are treated almost the same way. Gillen’s script uses razor sharp dialogue to quickly introduce the expectations of a fan and the tongue in cheek manor in which these beings refer to themselves. We’re easily brought into this world and made to think we know how it works.

McKelvie takes Lucifer and makes the abominable creature into a slick Bowie wannabe with style to spare. His work is marvelous throughout and manages to even make pages of dialogue pop off the page. His character work is absolutely stunning. His thick lines give way to vibrant creations that look incredibly real.

What’s more is that he can cut a page with whatever paneling he likes and manages to make the entire thing radiate. When Lucifer confronts her attackers, the symmetry on the page is a stunning visual orgasm. Holy hell. And the raw displays of Lucifer’s power and exemplified by Matthew Wilson’s phenomenal color, honestly, he may be the best colorist in comics right now. He doesn’t miss a single beat here, his vibrant and neon soaked colors are irresistible.

The issue easily introduces the core premise of the book thanks to an outside being sheparded in and a nonbeliever making an ass of themselves. It even manages to flip the core of its premise by the end of the final page and leave you fearful for the future of the characters. Amidst the incredible stakes weird godly reincarnations lies incredibly sharp dialogue and relatable characters that create the core of the book.

Which is a deconstruction of modern myth laid out for a new century of creatives and layabouts who’d rather worship than create. The very creatures of myth that Gillen and Mckelvie have created on these pages will surely propel the team into a godlike status of their own. This is a first issue pulled off with incredible confidence and mastery, it’s irresistible and all consuming. It’s your new obsession.

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‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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