“The Wicked + The Divine” and Generation Z
An Analysis by Joseph Kim
Spoiler warning for Volumes 1 through 5.
Art carries many identities. It can be a beacon of hope, in a world of despair; it can be a lesson, providing wisdom to hold; it can be a mirror, displaying our realties in some shape or form. I find Image Comics’ The Wicked + The Divine carrying these identities and possibly more.
The comic series, written by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Jamie McKelvie, revolves around 17-year old Laura Wilson, as she navigates the magnificent yet dangerous world of the Pantheon, a collective of celebrities with godlike abilities and statuses. Like Laura, the Pantheon comprises of teenagers, ages 12 to 18, who have the newfound abilities, but now have only 2 years left to live.
As both a fan of the series and a part of Generation Z (born in 1997), I connected with the teenage characters, through their victories and failures. Specifically, I found a general reflection in protagonist Laura, who undergoes an immense character arc over five volumes: starting out as an innocent Pantheon fanatic, Laura finds herself adrift in a world created by structure. She has a younger sister and loving parents, whom she rebels against by skipping classes and smoking cigarettes. Once she finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy framing a Pantheon member, she becomes aware of the grim reality of the Pantheon, seeking answers for the true culprit. Laura then becomes transformed, gifted with powers she only had dreamed. Betrayed, she seeks vengeance and later finds pure freedom.
To put it plainly, in the course of the plot’s year-long timeline, Laura experiences innocence, disillusionment, transformation, vengeance, and rebirth. That’s a lot to experience within a short amount of time. Yet, the sudden life-changes seem fitting, as anyone can tell you that the teenage years have many significant moments in one’s life, from choosing careers to experiencing mature problems.
Laura is our point-of-view character, someone through which we can experience the fantastical. Admittedly, she has experienced it before, but she’s our anchor to reality, our guide in the narrative. But she isn’t a passive narrator. She’s extremely active. She constantly decides for herself, and impacts the course of the story, from involving herself in the conspiracy, to destroying a century’s old tradition.
So, if Laura is supposed to be our closest tether to reality, what does that say about our reality?
“We aren’t here for any reason. We have no idea how long this lasts./Make your own decisions./Make your own mistakes.” (Laura Wilson, Volume 5)
Laura exhibits common signs of Generation Z: a disillusionment of culture, in her discovery of the Pantheon’s true nature; a detachment from past generations, with the tension between older characters such as Pantheon academic David Blake and Pantheon caretaker Ananke; and the search for freedom. To clarify, I understand that not all Gen-Z’ers act in a certain way. Personally, I’ve held these ideas, and in the public eye, a large number of Gen-Z’ers have as well, seen as both positive and negative.
The first two aforementioned ideas were put into practice by Laura’s actions, but what about the search for freedom, or as she puts it, anarchy? What is interesting is that Laura, although the most liberated she’s ever been, still feels confined. Her subconscious quest has had severe consequences, from the unfortunate death of her biological family, to the uncertain, possibly ill fate of the world. If Laura is willing to put humanity in jeopardy, all for the sake of anarchy, what would we do? Should we value anarchy over a call to action or research?At what cost do we fight for freedom?
I don’t have the answer. I wish I did, so that I know when to fight and when to forgive. Even Gillen and McKenzie don’t seem to know, as the series hasn’t finished, with the 7th volume, Mothering Invention, set to be released on October 3rd, 2018.
Perhaps Laura will be an allegory on the dangers of anarchy, and how pure anarchy can lead to the suffering of others. Or perhaps she’ll be a sign of a progressive future, one that isn’t tied down by the past and can ignite the future. She is though, above all else, a young adult, trying to figure out her life. Isn’t that what we’re all trying to do?
