The New Gods #10 gets us one step closer to the fulfillment of the Source’s prophecy. With Kamal now in the hands of Maxwell Lord and Darkseid’s lackeys, it’s an all-out race for the fate of the New Gods and perhaps the whole universe.
The Story
The most interesting and heady part of the story is right at the beginning. We get a four page background on Serifan, and see him as a youngster interacting with the other Forever People. He’s always glued to a TV, watching classic cowboy westerns or breaking news on the moon landing or the war in Vietnam. There’s a definite loss of innocence as the story moves from the 1960s to the 1970s right to the present day with a not-so subtle Elon Musk caricature. Talk of the moon landing is replaced with AI and social media. There’s a feeling of disillusionment with Serifan asking Beautiful Dreamer at one point “Do you ever worry… that this is all we’ll ever be?” In just a few short pages, Ram V shows us what may have lead Serifan to betray his fellow New Gods and throw his lot in with the likes of Maxwell Lord.
The remaining part of the story is pretty straightforward, The New Gods, along with members of the Justice League, track down Lord and are in hot pursuit, trying to get Kamal back. Orion begins to learn what it means to lead his people and not simply be the Dog Of War. There’s a scuffle with Granny Goodness and the Furies, and a threat emerges from the cosmos raising the stakes even higher.
Credit: DC Comics
The Art
Once again, Evan Cagle and Pye Parr split art duties, Cagle taking the first four pages and Parr drawing and coloring the rest of the story. Cagle’s art on the Serafin backstory perfectly contrasts the innocence of childhood with the disillusionment of adulthood. There are four panels of Serafin’s face, eating popcorn and watching television. In each one he is a little older, his smile is a little smaller, and his eyes a little less bright. Warm, soft tones shift to harsh, muted tones and chaotic, grotesque imagery. Through color, framing, and recurring motifs, the sequence not only traces Serifan’s personal disillusionment but also comments on the cultural shift from the optimism of the Space Race to the alienation of modern media saturation. Cagle’s art seamlessly shows the joy and optimism of a young Serifan and the Forever People, while still being able to turn on a dime and evoke melancholy and despair.
Pye Parr’s art is quite a shift from Cagle, but it works well for this particular part of the story. His exaggerated eyes and grotesque facial features work perfectly for characters like Desaad and the Female Furies. Mr. Miracle’s facial expressions are evocative and charming even through his mask. Cagle’s fight scenes are well choreographed and Orion’s Astro Harness becoming a kind of light cycle to break through a forcefield was a highlight of the issue.
Credit: DC Comics
Final Thoughts
The New Gods #10 balances intimate character work with cosmic spectacle, giving readers both the emotional weight of Serifan’s disillusionment and the exciting chase for Kamal. Ram V continues to ground the grandeur of Kirby’s mythology in sharp, contemporary themes, while Cagle and Parr’s contrasting styles highlight the story’s shifts from reflective to explosive. It’s another strong chapter that not only raises the stakes but deepens the tragedy and complexity of these characters, leaving the series poised for an even more gripping payoff in the final two issues.
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