Everything old is new again
G.O.D.S. is a comic book series from Marvel Comics. It's written by Jonathan Hickman.Set in the shared Marvel Universe, it introduces the servants of the higher powers of the universe, beings of science and beings of magic.
The two factions work together to defend reality from "Babylon Events", and the associated Gods of Babylon are portrayed as Eldritch Abominations lurking outside reality.
The story begins with a prologue in the Free Comic Book Day 2023: Avengers/X-Men special. That's followed by a set of single-page scenes in other comics, mostly showing the G.O.D.S. cast interacting with existing Marvel characters. The series then launches as its own comic.
The first issue was released October 5, 2023.
G.O.D.S. contains examples of the following tropes:
- Bigger on the Inside: The In-Betweener's Skinner Boxes are just small enough that an adult of average height needs to get on their knees to enter, but it's as big as a building inside. There are also doors within that lead to a truly massive space of other boxes, apparently all connected to each other.
- Enemy Mine: The first issue preview shows Doctor Doom working alongside earth's heroes to shut down the Prometheus Pit powering the Gods of Babylon.
- Expositron 9000: Wyn's assistant Dmitri carries a handheld device known as the Thing of Order, capable of answering any question Dmitri asks of it. It's later explained that it's omniscient of anything that exists within the confines of reality.
- Grey-and-Grey Morality: In the prologue, Wyn asks Doctor Strange if he considers himself good. After some back-and-forth, Strange asserts that he does, then turns the question back on Wyn. Wyn asks if anyone can tell the difference any more.
- Lonely Among People: Robert Forson was entirely raised up in a Skinner Box, becoming a brilliant scientist because of it but subsequently having No Social Skills to relate to other people, this social alienation broke him.
- Magic Versus Science: The Powers-That-Be and The Natural-Order-Of-Things are representations of magical and scientific forces in the universe respectively. In the past they warred before reaching a detente and organizing an accord on agents for their mutual interests with an exchange of a single agent between sides. Aiko claims that, while every other opposing cosmic force in existence has an intermediary that represents the power of both, the two forces hate each other so much that they have none.
- Platonic Cave: The Skinner Box; a Bigger on the Inside box built to program or reprogram the In-Betweener's agents. Those that are put through it become solipsists, believing the reality outside is a dream while they're only "awake" within its confines. Broken by the alienation from being incapable of relating to others, they'll do anything to "wake up" by destroying everything with apocalyptic magic and science.
- Really 700 Years Old: One preview page shows Aiko telling Wyn that she's worked out who he really is, and that she's realised he's at least 1,000 years old.
- Remember the New Guy?: Doctor Strange has apparently known Wyn for a while. And when Strange, who is older than he looks, says that he's feeling old, dialogue suggests that Strange is significantly younger than Wyn is. However, Wyn's first appearance is in the Free Comic Book Day 2023: Avengers/X-Men one-shot. He wasn't previously shown or mentioned as part of the shared Marvel Universe.
- Shout-Out: Dimitri's Thing of Order device, being a handheld device with a cubic aesthetic and an obfuscated interface capable of giving any relevant information, is like a monochrome version of the Handlink AL uses on Quantum Leap.
- Speech Bubbles: The first issue preview shows Cubisk Core's incantations emphasised by speech bubbles with a magenta ring surrounding their border. Core's normal speech is shown in standard speech bubbles, without this element.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Wyn used to be married to Aiko, until she was recruited to the Centum and discovered who he was. She believes that the immense acrimony between the forces they work for mean that they can never be together, and she leaves him.
- Symbol Swearing: The first issue preview shows Aiko's response when Cubisk Core opens the Prometheus Pit and unleashes the Gods of Babylon - and it's simply "#&@%!".
- Tyke Bomb: The In-Betweener has been grooming children into agents of science or magic when they grow up to bring about the end of the everything by raising them up in objects called Skinner Boxes. The conditioning is reinforced by the fact that they're entirely unequipped to socialize when sent out into the world, and crossing the Despair Event Horizon due to prolonged alienation from other people is the last step in priming them for a Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum.
- Variant Cover: As well as the standard cover showing Wyn, the first issue has at least six variant covers. Two, by Peach Momoko and Ejikure, focus on Aiko instead of Wyn. Skottie Young's cover shows a conversation with an autograph hunter, who's insistent that Wyn is actually Doctor Strange.
