REVIEW: ‘Goddess Mode,’ Issue #4

Goddess Mode Issue #4 is published by DC Vertigo, written by Zoë Quinn, with art from Robbi Rodriguez, colors by Rico Renzi, and letters from Simon Bowland. This issue starts where the last left off, with Cassandra floating in what she thinks is Azoth and with her comatose father in front of her.

Still knocked out in the real world, Cassandra begins to unravel the mystery around her father’s state, his involvement with Hermeticorp, her position there, and just how much the company knows about the world lying beneath the code of theirs. This issue sees the Poppies questioning themselves and putting their priorities in order. Farrah is putting her life and her wife above them, Mary is holding onto guilt, Tati is in danger from her life before the women, and Cassandra is just looking for help in the group that excepted her.

Beyond their problems, this issue focuses in on Tati and Cassandra. Having had Mary as the inspirational face in the previous issues, it’s good to see another example of “you can do it” that is darker and more survival focused.

In order for Cassandra to unravel the mystery of Hermeticorp’s involvement with Azoth, she needs to tap into her powers, as the greatly named: Oracle of Garbage. But with no one available to help her and scared of prying tech eyes, she heads to the Sad Dad. With only Tati around to help her – while she also deals with her own problems – Quinn allows us to explore another one of the Poppies.

While all the women have seen their fair share of troubles, Tati’s former position led her to become a fugitive and won her many enemies. As a reader, you realize that her snarky attitude and power are there for protection, and not just a quirk she uses to keep people out. That being said, her persistence is something that rings true in my own life.

Quinn has given me quotes to carry with me since issue number two. She has offered the words I’ve needed or affirmed me. In this issue, she showed that love isn’t the only way to live, contrary to what recent genre films will tell you. In fact, spite can power you. It powers Tati, and even though she is lonely, she refuses to be defined by her suffering and fights in spite of it.

“All the suffering you’ve endured isn’t what makes you strong. you’re strong in spite of it.”

The narrative of loving your problems away, fighting with love, and the shirking of all qualities not deemed positive by our heroes is something that has never worked for me. I am where I am because I refused to be put down, like Tati, I am here and thriving in spite of those who kept me down. To see this so plainly written in a comic about women finding their powers and fighting literal Daemons, it sticks a perfect 10.

Although Quinn’s writing is phenomenal, this book is perfection because the dialogue works with every other piece of the issue. The art from Rodriguez is striking and the women each have a distinct style. The colors from Renzi are breathtaking. His ability to offer a digitized effect on the pages in the same way as broken pixels on a screen is a feat in and of itself.

The lettering from Bowland is also good, in fact, with multiple pages of dialogue taking place via group chat, he does extremely well to get the point across in a way that doesn’t confuse readers. The use of a group message allows the art to highlight pieces of the women’s’ lives while also exploring their connection and lives as Poppies. Beyond these moments, Bowland does a good job differentiating the voices of the digital Psyche and the analog voices in his font choices.

Overall, Goddess Mode #4 is a must-read. The creative team has crafted another perfect issue. In fact, the horrifyingly striking last page of this issue will stay with you after you close the book.

Goddess Mode #4 is available wherever comics are sold.