The infinite détente between The-Natural-Order-Of-Things and The-Powers-That-Be nears an end. Old acquaintances are reunited during a Babylon Event. The Lion of Wolves throws the worst parties. Don’t look under the table. There’s a John Wilkes Booth penny on the ground. G.O.D.S. #1 has had months of hype and build and the debut issue doesn’t live up to any of that.

When it comes to the various gods of the Marvel Universe, the execution has been weirdly muddled and at times contradictory. Depicted as forces, depicted as beings who make decisions, depicted as something grander than comprehension, depicted as a being you can touch, it’s been all over. Now, they have servants who walk among us and do… something, it’s not quite clear.

G.O.D.S. #1 kicks off the newest high concept Marvel comic from writer Jonathan Hickman and the end result is just a bunch of new characters who are cool but don’t deliver a ton. At the center of things is Wyn, a character who has the charm of Constantine and powers of… Constantine and Doctor Strange? While a possible nice addition to the Marvel Universe, the character is one that’s rather familiar… a fun familiarity. He has the charm, he has the cool, he saves the day, but we’re just presented a character who’s surface not substance beyond his relationship with Aiko Maki, his sort of wife, and Dimitri his apprentice/servant. In the trio we get a rehash of drama and back and forth that’s a bit Strange/Clea/Wong. It’s just in this case they all serve some higher powers. We’re not exactly sure the who, why, what, and more which leaves the comic to rely on the action(s) to hook the readers. And, while it’s all fine, it just delivers a comic that’s more style than substance. Like some of Hickman’s recent releases, the end result is a debut that has some good ideas but doesn’t deliver enough to really hook you or feel satisfying.

The art by Valerio Schiti is what stands out. With Marte Gracia on color and lettering by Travis Lanham, the comic looks great delivering action and designs that are fantastic. There’s absolutely an otherworldly vibe about it all in the characters and locations, making the comic feel a bit grander than some of the other mystical Marvel comics. The comic’s visuals does a solid job of “sexy and cool” and grand action with a slight horror tinge. An action packed sequence is preceded and followed by a quiet one featuring Wyn and Aiko discussing their relationship that feels like it’s Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight.

At $9.99 for the first issue, G.O.D.S. #1 is a “pass.” If it had a cover price of half that, it’d be a “read.” But, as is, the comic feels like a one-shot that has little connection to the Marvel Universe and impact featuring a trio that’s are a clone of Doctor Strange’s world. For a series that was built like it’d shake things up, it just introduces a bunch of new characters who deliver Hickman’s charm and cool concepts but there’s not much else beyond flashy art. It’s the blockbuster that is all style and little else.

Story: Jonathan Hickman Art: Valerio Schiti
Color: Marte Gracia Letterer: Travis Lanham
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.4 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Pass

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle