New Gods #4
Kevin Rossi
Recap
THE FATE OF THREE WORLDS HANGS IN THE BALANCE! New Genesis. Apokolips. Earth. Three worlds in the warpath of the deadly interstellar inquisition known as the Nyctari. Three worlds on the verge of annihilation. Three worlds whose only hope of salvation may lie with a young boy imbued with incomprehensible power--a power beyond godlike. But is this boy truly a force for salvation, or the reincarnation of the greatest evil the universe has ever known? And will the forces of these three worlds be able to answer this critical question before it is too late?
Review
The current era of DC Comics has been one of the best in recent years. Not only is there something for everyone, but the company seems to be in full synergy on all fronts. One thing that DC has done more often than not in recent times is take chances on big ideas, and New Gods is certainly a big idea. Hitting shelves late last year, New Gods hit the ground running thanks to the immense talent of writer Ram V and artist Evan Cagle. New Gods #4 continues to break new ground for these characters all while putting Jack Kirby’s influence and designs front and center. The issue begins with a younger Highfather and Himon during the beginnings of New Genesis provided with pencils provided by guest artist Bernard Chang. The framing device featuring guest artists has been a nice touch to the series and lends to the concept of the New Gods existing in its own time and space.
Evan Cagle’s art is spectacular as always and keeps up with Ram V’s bold ideas which leads to this series feeling timeless and cutting edge at the same time. Francesco Segala’s color choices are bold and vibrant in all aspects and do a fantastic job bridging the entire issue together. They work with both artists and the same can be said for Tom Napolitano’s lettering. These are larger-than-life characters and designs that call for ambitious coloring and Segala delivers on all fronts. Issue #4 features some fantastic sequences with Big Barda and Mister Miracle that are worth the price of admission alone. As a whole, this series has also done an excellent job of expanding the influences of this unique mythology, with Ram V tapping into Hindu and other Eastern mythologies, which there is a huge need for in the fantasy genre across all mediums. Ram V and Evan Cagle are achieving something special with New Gods and adding to an incredibly interesting mythology and piece of DC history.
Final Thoughts
New Gods #4 is another fantastic issue in a series that should be on everyone’s pull lists. The series is well worth the read for fans of the classic stuff or even new readers curious about the New Gods and not sure where to start.
New Gods #4: In The Beginning
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
