- Written by: Jonathan Hickman
- Art by: Valerio Schiti
- Colors by: Marte Gracia
- Letters by: VC;s Travis Lanham
- Cover art by: Mateus Manhanini
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: November 8, 2023
GODS #2 grapples with the aftermath of Cubisk Core’s when Wyn and Dr. Strange search for the root of Core’s conversion. Meanwhile, Aiko starts a recruitment drive to replace the Centivars that were killed.
Is GODS #2 Good?
GODS #2 is a significant step up from issue #1. If you thought the first issue was a hard sell due to the mediocre story and the shockingly steep cover price, issue #2 might just change your mind.
When last we left Wyn and the avatars of magic and science, he and Dr. Strange handily concocted a scheme to stop Cubisk Core from ending reality by waking his master, an elder god of some sort. The reality spent an inordinate (unnecessary?) amount of time covering the backstory of Aiko and Wyn’s relationship, marriage, and violent separation.
Now, Wyn, Dr. Strange, and the few magic wielders crazy enough to go along cast their mojo on the captured Cubisk Core to find out where he came from, how he was “enhanced,” and who’s pulling Core’s strings. Elsewhere, Aiko receives an order from the gods of the Natural Order Of Things to begin recruiting new candidates to replenish their decimated ranks, starting with a young college student who never felt like she fit in.
In a strange turn of events, all promotion material for this series focuses squarely on Wyn, but the real star of this issue (and its primary focus) is Aiko. Wyn’s ex-wife busies herself recruiting a student who acts as an audience surrogate to explain world-building concepts of magic and science as the natural Order Of things sees it, so Hickman brings clarity, focus, and grounding to this unfamiliar facet of Earth-616. If anything, Wyn is the least interesting part of this comic.
What’s great about GODS #2? Aiko’s whimsical and charming recruitment of Mia Dimaria is a fascinating and engaging read. Your eyes are opened to a new layer of the universe you didn’t know existed right along with Mia, and you can’t help but wonder if the GODS series would have had a much better start if issue #2 was the premier.
What’s not so great about GODS #2? When Hickman gets too deep in Hickman-speak concerning constructs, symbology, esoteric concepts, and the like, the reading experience tips uncomfortably close to ponderous. Yes, Hickman wants the layers of science and magic to seem fancy, but there’s a line between fancy and pretentious, and the jargon-heavy scenes frequently cross that line.
How’s the art? Valerio Schiti’s art is an excellent choice for this title. Again, the half of the comic devoted to Aiko and Mia looks great. Yet, somehow, the scenes involving Wyn look like standard Marvel fare.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Bits and Pieces
GODS #2 takes a considerable step up from issue #1 when Aiko goes on a recruiting drive to refill the ranks after the battle with Cubisk Core. Adding Mia as a possible recruit to serve as the audience surrogate opens up an entire universe to the reader with fresh eyes and a sense of wonder. Plus, Schiti’s art looks great.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 