REVIEW: ‘Goddess Mode,’ Issue #2

Goddess Mode is a futuristic hero story that takes place in a world between worlds. Published by DC Vertigo, it’s written by Zoë Quinn and illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez, with colors from Rico Renzi and letters by Simon Bowland. In issue number one we were introduced to a world where artificial intelligence and technology are godlike and needed for daily life.

Previously, we were introduced to Cassandra Price and saw her life change as she discovers a hidden digital world beneath our own and meets a group of women who protect the one above. Issue two picks up where one left off as we see Cassandra trying to process everything that is happening around her.

The Quinn does a great job in every piece of the dialogue. She uses world building exposition in a realistic way, explaining the lore of the world without sounding like a Wiki article. As Cassandra asks questions and the women around her answer them in the most real way, or at least how you would expect heroes running from Daemons would.

Calling themselves the Tall Poppies, we’re introduced to Farah, Tatyanna, and Mary. As Cassandra comes to terms with the reality of Azoth, the backbone of the technology of the real world, or as the women call it, the Analog world, which is really another dimension, we learn why she is there and who she has become. Cassandra is an Oracle.

Heroes are often created by trauma, an event that marks them. In Goddess Mode, this is the case for every one of the Tall Poppies and for Cassandra. Oracles, the heroes of our story, are people who were marked for consumption by Daemons, but survived. Instead of dying, they gained powers, fought back, and escaped back to the Analog.

Now that they’re able to pass between Analog and Azoth, Oracles are in the position to save those who have been marked like they were. Issue two is about Cassandra coming to terms with her new calling and reality. It also features an inspirational page that is a call not only for Cassandra to come into her calling and to fight but inspirational for me reading it.

People all carry their own struggles, waking up and fighting daily, but as Farrah says “When life is doing its damnedest to kill you, every day you refuse to die is a victory.” This comic is both fantastical and real to me as a reader. The setting is fantasy and sci-fi perfectly mixed but the dialogue and themes hit me with relevancy to my own life.

Renzi’s colors are vibrant and stick in your brain after closing the book when coupled with Rodriguez’s art, the two create unique personalities for each woman involved. Their colors and look make you feel like you know them beyond just their words.

As wonderful as the entire issue is, my favorite sequence is the group chat. With actions happening in the background, a wrestling match, singing, sex, and frantic searching, the forefront is the UI of a group message, with colors and signs marking who is who. I haven’t seen anything done so well. In fact, any time a UI is integrated into a panel is perfect.

Ending on a cliffhanger, I can’t wait to see what happens in issue number three. Goddess Mode #2 is easily my favorite comic that I’ve read in the last few months, so if you’re looking for a hyper-colored wonderland with great dialogue and a cast of women who are fighting monsters, check this out.

Goddess Mode #2 is on sales everywhere now.