WICKED + THE DIVINE, THE

Publishers Weekly,Every 90 years, a 12-deity pantheon of gods incarnate in mortal form, only to die after two years. These gods wield considerable power and occupy themselves with various pursuits, including pop-music stardom. A series of horrifying events backstage after the goddess Amaterasu's latest concert thrusts a mortal woman named Laura into a quest to help clear the reincarnated-as-female Lucifer of a murder she did not commit. Gillen and McKelvie are the critically-acclaimed creative team behind Young Avengers and Phonogram, and their newest is a compelling gut punch from the very first panel. Laura serves as the reader's stand-in as she navigates the bizarre waters of the pantheon's in-fighting and politics, and Lucifer manages to charm while owing a major fashion debt to David Bowie during his Thin White Duke phase. The rest of the gods are intriguing in their look and character, but why are they here? Little is revealed at this stage of the narrative, but the solid storytelling and clean, gorgeous artwork will keep readers engrossed and eager for more. (Feb.) ��� Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.