We-view Wednesday – Cosmic Love in the Garden State

“He was a god, such as men might be, if men were gods.” –Maxwell Anderson

Back in September, while reading Comic Book Resources, a comic book caught my attention, Jersey Gods. I was attracted to it merely for the title—after all, at one time, I was a Jersey girl and no I didn’t have the stereotypical big “mall” hair-do, talk abrasively, and chew gum like a cow chewing cud. Delving deeper into the article, I saw a illustration from one page with a conversation bubble which said, “What could be more important than 60 percent off at Nordstroms?” (Well Yeah! What could be more important?!?).

I fired off an e-mail immediately to My Geek and said, “Now, this is a comic book I can embrace.” And then added it to my purchase list.

Jersey Gods (Image Comics) is promoted as a cosmic love story between a god and a Jersey girl.

I just finished Issue #1 which was the setup, introducing the reader to the main characters Zoe (the girl) and Barock (the god). Zoe is a controller and attempts to “mold” all the men she goes out with into her version of the perfect man (Men really like that don’t they? LOL).  [Edit by Her Geek:  Now that is a topic for Miscellany Monday!] In the Cherry Hill Mall, she is dumped by yet another man right before the Christmas holidays and it is there that she encounters a giant, space god named Minog, a Hulk type character (or for those with a working knowledge of City of Heroes, Minog reminds me of Devouring Earth – Bedrock and post death miniature Rubble) who was sent to earth to stir things up.

Meanwhile, on the planet of Neboron, Barock (hmmmm that name sounds familiar though spelled differently) and his subordinate, Helius are in the middle of god-like activities: patrolling the cosmos, keeping it safe from villains, and of course, cruising for women. Barock is a solid, straight as an arrow kind of god, while Hellius is rather a cosmic player and as smooth as glass and just as transparent. Don’t leave him alone with your daughter.

Barock is informed that his old enemy, Minog, is raising cane on earth and the two go off to be the peacekeepers but end up breaking up the joint.

The Jersey Gods is amusing and the dialog (Glen Brunswick) is simple, to the point, and often funny. For instance, when Zoe comes in direct contact with Hellius, she is concerned about the fight between Barock and Minog but Zoe causes conversational whiplash and changes the subject to the softness of the material in Hellius’ costume. Does that whiplash happen in conversations that you have? This is a rhetorical question, geek, My Geek. [Edit by Her Geek:  I end up dizzy after about half of our conversations!]

The artwork (Dan McDaid) reminds me of comics that I had seen in my youth, heavy black outlines, lines for movement, and many energetic BOOMS, WHAMS, and CRACKS pulsating from the panels.

After reading it for a second time, (pulling it out from the dark, recesses of my desk drawer) before writing this post, I found myself smiling more through it and in my mind bellowing as Minog attacks, “DIE, EARTH PEOPLE! THE GODS HAVE RETURNED. AND WE’RE NOT HAPPY.”

But I am! Happy that is with this comic book. I, in fact, love it! And I think Noo Joisey will appreciate the love finally given to the Garden State.

I give this comic book 5 PRADAs