DC’s current All In initiative has successfully brought a huge burst of creative energy across the publisher’s output, whether it’s the exhilarating reimaginings of the Absolute titles or the plethora of compelling creator pairings on new and existing mainline series. The New God tyrant, Darkseid, was the catalyst for all of this change in the DC All In Special, and the cosmic shockwaves of Darkseid’s death are revealed in The New Gods #1 (DC Comics), reuniting the Dawnrunner creative team of writer Ram V, artist Evan Cagle, and colorist Francesco Segala. That previous miniseries (available in a collected edition on December 25) is a powerful fusion of personal, spiritual, and spectacular elements, and the ambition on display makes this team especially well-suited to take on Jack Kirby’s grand ideas.
Everything about The New Gods screams BIG. V’s story pits the titular characters against a wave of intergalactic threats making a play for domination after Darkseid’s demise, and Cagle and Segala’s artwork emphasizes the majesty of this world as well as the seismic power of its inhabitants. The action sequences blend Kirby’s raw energy with dynamic manga-influenced layouts, and the ornate detail put into the environments evokes classic fantasy illustrators like Prince Valiant’s Hal Foster and Flash Gordon’s Alex Raymond. Each issue of The New Gods also features a guest artist, starting with Jorge Fornés on #1 followed by Jesse Lonergan and Riccardo Federici on future chapters, embracing a wide array of styles to highlight how well Kirby’s creations can translate to different points of view.