Comics
“The Wicked + The Divine” Is “Better than the Bible”
Image likes to put out these quotes from hot creators to help promote the release of new books, which is a pretty smart tactic. The latest praise coming in is for the new series from Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, “The Wicked + The Divine”. Matt Fraction calls the book “Better than Watchmen. Better than the Bible.” Is he joking? Obviously, but the book still looks great. Check out the wave of praise below.
From the press release:
The hotly anticipated new series from Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, was first announced at Image Expo in January and has already generated a wave of enthusiasm across the comics community. Leaders in the industry and critics alike are singing the praises of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, where the gods are worshiped as pop stars, but only live briefly and are reincarnated every ninety years.
Bryan Lee O’Malley, whose bestseller Scott Pilgrim and upcoming Seconds drew fans in droves, will be drawing a variant cover for THE WICKED + THE DIVINE. This electrifying O’Malley variant can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code FEB148314.
THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #1 hits shelves 6/18. The two McKelvie/Wilson covers were drawn as a pair and Cover A can be pre-ordered with Diamond Code APR140486, Cover B with Diamond Code FEB148313.
Advance praise for THE WICKED + THE DIVINE:
“So if you’re looking for a new favourite comic, tell your store you want The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie in June.” —Warren Ellis, TREES, SUPREME: BLUE ROSE
“Just read The Wicked + The Divine by Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen. Holy shit, holy shit, holy shi—“ —Becky Cloonan, Demo, Batman, By Chance or Providence
“It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year.” —Wil Wheaton, actor
“Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine is better than Young Avengers. Better than Phonogram. Better than Watchmen. Better than the Bible.” —Matt Fraction, SEX CRIMINALS, Hawkeye
“I got to read Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s new series, The Wicked + the Divine and it’s the best thing they’ve ever done. You need it.” —Ed Brubaker, FATALE, Criminal
“The first issue of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine is a wonderful door to a seductive new world. Let’s all go in!” —Fábio Moon, CASANOVA, Daytripper
“Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine is a warp into the middle of a wildly imaginative mythology and I’m itching to read more.” —Rick Remender, BLACK SCIENCE, DEADLY CLASS, Uncanny Avengers
“If you’re headed to the comic shop tomorrow, please tell them to preorder you a copy of The Wicked + The Divine. Jamie and Kieron are both masterful here. Just a great job by the whole team. Give the first issue a try, you won’t regret it.” —Jonathan Hickman, EAST OF WEST, MANHATTAN PROJECTS, Avengers
“Gillen and McKelvie shared their upcoming The Wicked + The Divine with me, and it’s amazing. Please tell your retailer this week to order!” —Mark Waid, Daredevil
“The Wicked + The Divine has an absolutely perfect first issue. 10 out of 10. This is going to be a very special book. We live in an era spoilt by great creator-owned work—but The Wicked + The Divine has as good a shot at ‘classic’ status as any book I’ve read in the last 5 years. Congrats Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles.” —Nick Spencer, MORNING GLORIES, THIEF OF THIEVES
“Just read an advance issue of Wicked + Divine. The team is firing on all cylinders! Order it, quickly!” —Jordie Bellaire, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, PRETTY DEADLY
“Not solely because of my art-crush on Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, I had the honor of losing my shit over issue #1 of The Wicked + The Divine.” —Max Bemis, lead singer of Say Anything, Polarity
“The Wicked + The Divine #1 is excellent, surprising nobody. You should pre-order it right now.” —Al Ewing, Mighty Avengers, Zombo, Loki: Agent of Asgard
“I have read The Wicked + The Divine #1 and it’s probably my favorite Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen book to date. Both are in their prime.” —Mike Norton, REVIVAL
“Pretty sure The Wicked + The Divine gave me a hangover. Need the hair of the dog that bit me.” —Ivan Brandon, Viking, 24Seven
“I just got a look at Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine #1, and I urge you to order yours at your local comic store now.” —Emma Vieceli, Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel, Alex Rider: Graphic Novel, Breaks
“It’s so much good and then some. Pick it up.” —Andy Suriano, Samurai Jack, CHARLATAN’S BALL
“The Wicked + The Divine #1 is an astonishingly awesome debut by top-class gents Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen. You need this in your life.” —Joe Keatinge, TECH JACKET, SHUTTER
“Gillen and McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine is the Gillen-and-McKelviest thing Gillen and McKelvie have ever done.” —Andy Diggle, MANIFEST DESTINY, The Losers
“Was lucky enough to see an issue of Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen’s new comic The Wicked + The Divine and yes it’s amazing.” —Christian Ward, INFINITE VACATION, ODY-C
“I was delighted to read an advance copy of The Wicked and the Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. Trust me, you want this.” —Paul Cornell, Doctor Who, London Falling, Wolverine
“Just read Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie and Wilson and Cowles’ The Wicked + The Divine #1… it’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to read more. Buy it!” —Ray Fawkes, Batman Eternal
“My favourite comic books are Lucifer, Transmetropolitan, and Preacher: the new The Wicked + The Divine, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, is right up there.” —Musa Okwonga, pundit for the BBC World Service
“Just read The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and crew—IT’S GREAT, so pre-order now and support creator-owned!” —Michael Oeming, Powers, The United States of Murder Inc., Victories
“Reading The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron gillen and Jamie McKelvie is like trying to eat a fluorescent light tube whilst electricity is still in it. You should probably order The Wicked + The Divine. If you like pop gods and explosions and having a late twenties crisis like me that is.” —Cara Ellison, Eurogamer
“I got to read The Wicked + The Divine from Image Comics and it put me on my ass. You can pre-order it, or settle for a second print.” —Gerry Duggan, Deadpool, Nova, THE INFINITE HORIZON
“The Wicked + The Divine #1 reviews itself a few pages in: ‘it’s what orgasms aspire to be.’ Awesome first issue, Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie.” —Lucas Siegel, Newsarama
“The Wicked + The Divine is everything you love about Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, LEVELED UP. You’ll kick yourself if you don’t pre-order this.” —Dennis Hopeless, Avengers Academy, Cable & X-Force
“I read The Wicked + The Divine just now and it is great. Jamie McKelvie really knows about eyeliner.” —Kate Leth, Bravest Warriors, Adventure Time: Seeing Red
“Just read advance first issue of The Wicked + the Divine by Mckelvie, Gillen and Wilson—a gorgeous book by a comics superteam. A+” —Cameron Stewart, Seaguy
“Read Episode 1 of Kieron and Jamie’s The Wicked + The Divine. Exactly as splendid as you’d expect, with added wiggy courtroomery.” —Si Spurrier, X-Force, Six-Gun Gorilla
“I love the phrase ‘a book that teaches you how to read it’ and The Wicked + The Divine #1 reads like a beautiful realization of that ideal.” —Christopher Sebela, High Crimes, Dead Letters
The supernatural world of Korean folk horror movie Exhuma grows larger with the arrival of prequel spinoff webtoon Maengjong this weekend, Variety reports today.
Naver Webtoon debuts Maengjong on May 30.
The series hails from Haemuri (Olgami) and will trace the high school origins of how shaman duo Hwarim and Bonggil, played by Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun in the 2024 film, came together to face occultish threats.
The story is set to begin when “Hwarim, who has been concealing her identity following a childhood encounter with a snake spirit called Jin, crosses paths with Bonggil at their school.”
Variety notes that Exhuma director Jang Jae-hyun participated in the project’s early concept stage.
“We are presenting ‘Maengjong,’ a new series capturing the appeal of the horror-occult genre, ahead of the full summer season,” said Lee Jeong-geun, Naver Webtoon’s Korea webtoon content leader. “With the high school story of Hwarim and Bonggil, who left a strong impression in the film ‘Exhuma,’ enhanced by Haemuri’s characteristic tense direction, we expect it will be a welcome work for genre fans.”
“It is meaningful that the spin-off story of ‘Exhuma,’ loved by many audiences, expands by meeting the new grammar of webtoon,” said Lee Hyeon-jeong, managing director of the film business division at Showbox, which distributed the film. “We hope it will be a fresh experience for both film fans and webtoon readers.”
Exhuma was a breakout hit in 2024, becoming the first Korean occult film to surpass 10 million ticket buyers and the country’s highest-grossing film of the year. I wrote in my review that “the intricately woven Exhuma delivers one of the year’s biggest surprises in horror so far.”
The bond between Hwarim and Bonggil was one of the film’s highlights, making this prequel webtoon a must for fans.
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