Devolution #1

Devolution, Issue #1 takes place in post-apocalyptic Nevada, after scientists created the DVO-8 bomb, which neutralizes the part of the brain that believes in God, shrinking it away to nothing.  The bomb is apparently dropped on the Middle East, but the DVO-8 causes devolution around the world because it transfers to other species and is carried back to America by the birds.  Some humans are more devolved than others; Raja, the main character, goes year without seeing another "sapien."  Finally, she comes across a walled human colony, little more than a settlement, but they might be just as dangerous as the devolved humans.

This title is written by Rick Remender, with art by Jonathan Wayshak and colors by Jordan Boyd.  Joseph Rybandt is the editor.  I was noticing how there are many different styles of lettering in this title when I noticed that the great Rus Wooton was responsible for it.  He does the lettering on a number of titles I like, including Monstress, the fourth issue of which comes out today.  The coloring, in particular the pages where the it is explained that humans were devolving before the DVO-8 bomb was dropped, is striking.  There are five long cells on each of the two pages with pictures of war, human waste, human excess, religion, and the like.  The artwork is stunning and detailed.

I'm interested to see where this title goes.  The opening line is, "Raja was cursing God..." indicating that although she doesn't really think God is real, she still has a concept of Him; she still has the word, "God," in her brain.  I do some work with the homeless, with addicts, and it's interesting to see how they react to God.  I have heard that "We Agnostics" meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous are mostly people cursing God.  I simply don't see how an atheist would "curse" God.  Sure, anyone might shout, "Jesus Christ," at something bad happening as a curse word.  Doing so is part of the zeitgeist.

There are really two directions this title can take: the natural and the supernatural, although I suspect that it will be the former.  Very few titles can use God as a character.  Preacher is one; His Dark Materials is another.  No, I'm pretty sure that this will be a swashbuckling science-fiction title with undertones of philosophy and religion.  Actually, it sounds great to me.