This is the graphic novel I’ve been looking for. I’ve enjoyed exploring more in the genre this year, but up until this point, none of them (aside from a few nonfiction graphic novels and possibly Nimona) have really struck me as using the medium to their full advantage, to become something more than a fun little story that I’ll never think about again. The Wicked + The Divine is very, very promising and I really hope the next installments live up to it.
The story centers around a girl obsessed with twelve gods who live human lives every ninety years. Everything gets a bit fucked up when Lucy, aka Lucifer, goes off script and winds up in trouble with the humans. Lucy and this girl become close because all the other gods start keeping their distance and she has no one to turn to. Writing this, I’m starting to realize that this is not a novel that can be summed up easily, so if gods living as mortals with dramatic interpersonal problems sounds interesting to you, just read it. Special shout-out to the art because it is part of what takes this novel to another level.
My only complaint is that the story got a little hard to follow in certain parts. I had to reread certain parts several times just to get my head wrapped around the plot and characters. That’s partly because there are so many characters and this is the introductory novel. Also, as gorgeous as the art was, several of the female characters basically have the same face. Different hair and styling, but with faces so similar, it’s bound to get a little confusing.