New Gods #6, Ram V, Filipe Andrade and Evan Cagle have so far made the quietest and most meditative issue of the series. For the Andrede part of the book, the readers accompany the black racer, the embodiment of death, and bring the soul to the source. This has so far used unique tones and characters in other segments of this story. It is melancholy, full of hope, vast in a way that makes you, your readers smaller. New Gods #6 is a kind of singular and unexpected storytelling experience you need to separate from a celebratory epic series like New Gods.
More than the previous issue, V is interested in introducing the concept to the reader and mixing it. The questions he presented in his previous issues come with previously explained concepts to further layer the themes and lore of the series. At some point in this problem, you acquire a moment under the sun, such as reincarnation, archetypes, concepts of God, life, death, etc.
That being said, V is approaching dangerously close to dealing with these concepts in too esoteric ways. It’s not entirely clear how things fit within the frameworks V has built, such as when Black Racers and Great Darkness interact. I recognize that this may be an unfamiliar result of the Hindu concepts he brought to the book. In general, the introduction of things like “fetal and rich concepts” can feel like the intended water of the phors is muddy.
Nevertheless, this quiet, meditative story offers some of the most interesting character works in Lightray I have ever read. His innocence in his relationships, his perception of the universe, and his shameful desire to do good comes very seriously. He has a childlike wealth, which will win you very perfectly.
This is played out in the story as Lightray gives the same impression on the most unexpected characters and drives them to take more agency in the ongoing conflict. Without a doubt, it is the light within one character that brightens the two glows, and it is an incredible feat of V’s narration and dialogue.
It is also a credit to Andredo’s soft, beautiful, emotional artwork. Through the eyes of black racers, the world assumes a rich and harmless nature that completely overturns the impression of all readers.
The way colour, movement and shapes overtake what would previously have been intricate details and designs helps us to convey the sense of seeing the world beneath us. There is a sense of superiority in the world as black racers experience it. As the plot moves, the long Andrede composition creates new emotions for readers to experience rather than detailed attempts at what is explicitly happening.
Reading is incredibly enthralling.
The rest of the story in question sees V complete the new journey of the gods that began in the previous issue. This is not a complicated or dynamic part of the story, but it occupies a mass of space here. There is certainly a setup here that promises to provide interesting interactions and storytelling, but I don’t feel that progression has come from where the readers remained in the previous issue.
That being said, Cagle continues to offer a masterclass in modern science fiction artwork across the four pages he portrays in this issue. Every page he put out has so much detail, energy and excitement. As can be imagined by the Cagle pen, all the promises that come from the setup of this issue should be salivating the reader.
This is a slower issue with less plot movement than the previous one, but it’s also a great creative stretch to watch in such a big and important series in Big 2. If all authors are out of the way to try to provide such a unique experience, then readers are lucky. As long as this team pushes new gods in such an exciting, deeply unexpected direction, I will come back many times.
“New Gods” #6 is a race to death
New Gods #6
As long as this team pushes new gods in such an exciting, deeply unexpected direction, I will come back many times.
Beautiful use of guest artists
The best light ray development I’ve ever seen
A creative and unique approach to the series
I’m struggling to stack so many concepts
