The New Gods #11 is an origin story, while also continuing the action set up in The New Gods #10. Blending the two makes for an exciting cliffhanger while Ram V and Evan Cagle (with Denys Cowan) lean into the dangerous weirdness of godlike power versus godlike power. Blending together DC’s event-caliber action with grounded origins from humble beginnings, this issue leans into the awe of the series while further making New Gods all the more interesting.
The New Gods #11 opens with a man hitching a ride and noticing things are different – different in the sky, different in his mind, and he’s not quite sure what to make of it. Drawn by Cowan, there’s a Milestone-like old-school cool to this man’s discovery that he may be a god himself. The final page of this sequence is both cosmic and grounded in superhero tropes via a cool-looking costume.
The rest of the issue is fight comics, fun, and a rush to save the child Kamal. In one subplot, we have Wonder Woman and Big Barda teaming up to fight Granny Goodness and some rather formidable god-goons. In another, Mister Miracle and Orion seek Kamal, but are faced with Desaad and his love of pain, and Maxwell Lord, who has snatched up Kamal. With so many moving parts, Ram V keeps your attention focused as mini battles take place, with wins and losses. Like any good epic narrative, the good guys seemingly lose left and right, but there are some wins in there.
The art, however, stuns. Cagle does some of the coolest work yet, with incredible effects for Kamal’s powers in one scene, and Desaad’s use of self-inflicted pain is visually breathtaking. As Mister Miracle takes the brunt of the chains puncturing Desaad, the panel’s splatter and scratches, accompanied by a large “AARGH,” create a chaotic and intense moment. Meanwhile, Orion looks every bit a god, with his mask and eyes always piercing. What takes the cake, however, is a big splashy Big Barda reveal done up with tons of detail on her costume that ends a scene, making you want more.
Trippy.
Credit: DC Comics
Possibly more tricky is mind powers being used on Wonder Woman. Even Wonder Woman stans will admit that even Diana can’t fight the trickery displayed in this issue.
One gripe is how non-new-reader-friendly this issue is. Now it’s the reader’s fault for not keeping up with the series, but the way this issue drops us into the fight scenes and chase sequences only to end on a cliffhanger will make a new reader confused. Add to the plot progression being minimal, and it’s tough to see in a vacuum this issue’s bigger purpose.
The New Gods #11 is a thunderous, visually stunning chapter that fuses divine-scale combat with mortal vulnerability, proving once again that Ram V and his art team are reshaping DC’s cosmic mythos into something both epic and deeply human.
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