Marvel has announced G.O.D.S., a new series from Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti that will “build a new Marvel mythology overflowing with daring concepts, intricate systems and fascinating new characters.”
It sounds right up Hickman’s alley, based on his work on Fantastic Four, Avengers and his 3 Worlds/3 Moons publishing line on Substack. This is something he’s been planning since he first came back to Marvel to tackle the X-Men, and it “feels like something old, but pushes the Marvel Universe in an exciting new direction.”
“When I came back to Marvel a few years ago, I wrote two series bibles. The first was House of X and the other one was G.O.D.S.,” Hickman told Marvel.com. “To say that I’m excited to finally be able to share this story with everyone is a massive understatement. G.O.D.S. takes place in its own special corner of the Marvel Universe — in the cracks that lie at the intersection of science and magic — and revisits some characters and concepts that we’ve reimagined for a more modern, continuity-driven audience.”
Here’s the description from Marvel: Meet Wyn, a mysterious player in a war that exists outside of the orders we know and a vital member of an eons-old hierarchy that includes the omnipotent rulers of the universe such as Eternity, Infinity, and the Living Tribunal. After a fateful meeting with Doctor Strange, Wyn hints at something even bigger than the forces of good and evil, where the very building blocks of creation scheme and clash. It’s the beginning of a breathtaking epic at the crossroads of science and magic, one that will shatter our understanding and open our eyes to ideas beyond all that we perceive.
Some of Schiti’s character designs for the title were shared back at New York Comic Con, featuring what looked like Doctor Strange and some new characters. He’ll be joined by colorist Marte Gracia on art.
“When I was given a chance to work with Jonathan on a new project, I accepted right away,” Schiti said. “Then I discovered that we would be reimagining gods in the Marvel Universe: how they work, what they do, and how they interact with each other and humanity. It’s the kind of project that makes you weak in the knees when you think about it. Luckily, Jonathan has the gift to make even the most complex stories surprisingly simple and understandable. His pitch inspired me almost immediately. The core of the story is so perfect and clear that it swept away my anxiety and turned it into a burst of creativity.”
Marvel shared a few panels of Schiti’s artwork, featuring Doctor Strange and the mysterious Wyn:
“The thing that I love the most is how the story grows, starting on the streets of New York and then taking the characters and the readers on an incredible journey with the Marvel pantheon,” Schiti said. “We will bring you to new places, show you what was hidden though the wrinkles of reality, introduce new characters, and put a fresh spin on old ones. You think you knew the Marvel Universe? Well, we will prove you wrong!”
G.O.D.S. will arrive in the fall, but you can catch a preview of it in the Avengers/X-Men Free Comic Book Day issue on May 6.
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