The apparent death of Darkseid lies at the heart of the DC All-In initiative. However, for all the stories that followed, none examined how the cosmos was effected by this momentous event. New Gods #1 explores some of these consequences. However, it is a poor introduction to the Fourth World of Jack Kirby and all the associated characters.
The opening scroll tells of the death of Darkseid, an Old God called Amaxazu, and the Source Wall that separates this universe from the power that made it. All of this is epically illustrated by Jorge Fornés, yet has no apparent connection to what follows after.
The story shifts to New Genesis, home of the good New Gods. It is here that their leader Highfather observes the fractured cosmos and dark powers once restrained by Darkseid’s will unleashed. He does not take action, however, until informed of a prophecy. One that speaks of the cosmic imbalance and the birth of a child New God on Earth. This child will forever change all the New Gods know to be true, but whether it shall be for good or evil is unclear.
The matter is placed in the hands of Orion, son of Darkseid and New Genesis’ Dog of War. He is given orders to find this child and kill them, lest the imbalance be made worse. Orion, in turn, seeks out Mister Miracle, charging him with finding the child first and protecting them. For Orion will not disobey an order, yet is troubled that noble Highfather would order the death of an innocent. And of all the beings in reality, only Scott Free has a chance of evading the Dog of War once he is the hunt.
New Gods #1 is really a Mister Miracle book
Ram V does a solid job establishing the grandeur of Jack Kirby’s creations. Unfortunately, New Gods #1 presumes the reader is already familiar with the base concepts and most of the cast. Characters like Lightray, Akala, and Fastbak are shown, but remain altogether undefined.
This is not entirely unexpected, given most of the New Gods are more symbolic figureheads than well-rounded characters. However, more care could have been taken to introduce their history for the benefit of new readers. As it stands, the issue spends more time introducing Mister Miracle and establishing his home life than exploring the cosmic imbalance at the heart of its plot.
The artwork is more accessible, though similarly complex. Evan Cagle does a fine job of depcting the beauty of New Genesis and the classic Kirby designs. Similarly, he captures the characters personalities through their physicality. For instance, the ways that Scott Free and Orion sit on a bench perfectly conveys who they are as characters.
Fans of Jack Kirby will get the most out of New Gods #1. Unfortunately, the appeal may elude newcomers to the Fourth World. I suspect this series will read better as a trade than as a monthly comic. It is not bad by any means, but it is a rough start to a promising story.
Grade: 6/10
New Gods #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on December 18, 2024.
