Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 Review -

Writer: G. Willow Wilson

Art: Cian Tormey, Jordie Bellaire, Pat Brosseau, and Guillem March

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: March 14th, 2023

After the events of Lazarus Planet, the gods of the Multiverse have decided to take down the heroes they once called champions and the world they’ve sworn to protect. For years the gods sat idle atop their mountains as their legends faded into obscurity along with their bodies. Now is their time to remind the selfish mortals of their existence and take back the world with something more powerful than belief…fear. Only the brave heroes Wonder Woman and Shazam stand in their way, but will their combined powers be enough? Let’s dive into Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 by G. Willow Wilson and find out!

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THE DISPATCH

In an interesting start to this issue, Wilson provides a unique revival of sorts. The Old Gods want back in on the whole “worship” side of things. Humanity disgusts them and this New Age of Heroes seems to be a bit lacking in the ruling, dictator department. So, Wilson provides a plethora of quick snapshots across the globe showcasing the Old Gods regaining control of Planet Earth all over again led by Hera and the Wizard Shazam.

Now, the genius of Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 is the overarching concept through which makes the most sense. Why would the Gods be doing this? Well, without someone believing in them, they’re all dying. It kind of makes perfect sense. Nevertheless, the timing seems way off. Why now? What triggered this moment to be the opportune time to make their move? The Lazarus Storm? And if so, what about the storm caused the sudden spike in necessity? Again, I just don’t see the connection with the Lazarus Storm and question what exactly this mini-event has to do with it at all. How about we just drop the “Lazarus Planet” and call it “Wonder Woman: Revenge of the Old Gods”? Couldn’t this just be an event all by itself? Completely decoupled from the Lazarus Storm?

Additionally, I loved the twist that Hera throws at Wonder Woman towards the end of Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1. And truthfully, it makes sense and adds a clever twist to the story that I’m very intrigued about discovering. Nevertheless, Wilson’s story was very choppy and would be extremely hard to get into for a new reader. It almost felt as though it was missing bits and pieces to it as if you were supposed to come into the story with some prior knowledge unrelated to Lazarus Planet. Wonder Woman fans should have no problem following along, however, fans of Lazarus Planet may struggle to find their way as issue one kicks off.

ART

Cian Tormey is great at drawing strong, confident women. Most, if not all of this cast, just so happens to be women. And each one commands the page well. Yet, their power is almost more regal in stature and complexion. Now, I feel this could be largely thanks to Jordie Bellaire’s soft color palette choices and smooth design making the main characters appear eloquent in essence and structure.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 certainly has loads of potential. On the initial read, the story beats seemed interesting and the perspectives from Hera, as well as Diana, made sense. What happened to the Old Gods and why all the fuss now? However, even with the streamlined plot, Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 still felt a bit too uneven and chaotic at times jumping quickly from one scene to the next which will cause some difficulty for new readers to navigate. Overall, Wilson’s Wonder Woman Event opener isn’t bad at all. Nevertheless, I highly recommend fans focus less on the recent Lazarus Planet Event and more on Wilson’s run before diving into this inaugural issue.