The Wicked + The Divine #16

Every aspect of this series is rich and deliberate. Read Full Review

WicDiv #16 seamlessly blends Morrigan's current captive state with her past as the vampire roleplayer Marian through a shared color palette from Mat Lopes, a rich attention to detail from Leila del Duca, and Kieron Gillen's purposefully overwrought Late Victorian dialogue with a touch of id whenever Badb gets to speak. Gillen uses the classic vampire metaphor to explore mortality and death with his own characters while giving them unique personalities and voices of their own. He also steps up his pun game on the final page cliffhanger, which sets up a war between Baphomet and the rest of the gods with Morrigan's role in the proceedings left ambiguous as she is the perfect blend of angry and a little overjoyed to see Baphomet's face in ketchup and hamburger. Read Full Review

I'm so happy we got to catch our breaths for a month, because the arc end is coming and I have a feeling it's going to be the most heart-wrenching yet. I wouldn't trust my pain to anyone none more goth than the The Wicked + The Divine team. Read Full Review

While not as explosive and bombastic as previous issues in this arc, the penultimate issue in WicDivs Commercial Suicide arc succeeds perfectly at what it sets out to be: a tragic teenage goth love story. Between Gillens strong and melancholy writing and Del Duca and Lopes dark and expressive art, the story of how Marian and Cameron became The Morrigan and Baphomet is one that feels all too real in a surreal universe. Now the question is will Baph continue to run from death or will he let it be? Read Full Review

Oh well, at least the plot has continued to move in an interesting direction. Even a weaker issue of this book is still stronger than many other series. Read Full Review

Unlike some previous issues (the remix issue, and the dance party issue) that played with form, this one's a straight up romance story. It shows readers that the wicdiv team can tell traditional stories that don't rely on anything other than stellar character work, amazingly illustrated art, and puns galore (#bapomeat). Read Full Review

Leila del Duca and Kieron Gillen get some true emotion out of this melancholy episode. Read Full Review

It's not the most charming or fun read you'll have this week, but it's worthwhile and tells some of what we need to know about this character. Read Full Review

Although the story progression is slow this time around, it's not without its surprises, as Gillen poses an interesting question near the end that makes readers rethink some of the series' past events. Gillen also succeeds at establishing the Morrigan as a genuinely threatening and menacing character, in turn making the issue succeed with its characterization as much as its storyline. "The Wicked + The Divine" #16 has a different look and flavor than past issues, but it remains a strong and key component of the overall series. Read Full Review

Henry Killinger

Nov 11, 2015

Not my favorite art but great issue regardless.