Ordinary Gods # 1 NM 2021

Ordinary Gods # 1, released on July 7, 2021, is the first issue of an ongoing fantasy/action series from Image Comics that blends mythology and urban fantasy with a modern, character-driven story about reincarnation. 

The series centers on five immortal gods—The Luminary, The Prodigy, The Brute, The Trickster, and The Innovator—who led a failed rebellion against the "One King" in their home realm. As punishment, they were trapped on Earth, forced into an endless cycle of human death and reincarnation with their memories erased. 

The story's protagonist is Christopher, a relatable, depressed 22-year-old working a mundane job at a paint store and living with his family in the modern world. He is unaware that he is the current incarnation of The Luminary, the leader of the rebellion. 

The issue alternates between Christopher's everyday life and glimpses of the gods' epic, violent past lives and battles. The plot kicks into high gear when members of a cult called the Reclamation try to contact Christopher and forces loyal to the One King start hunting him down. To protect his family and break the cycle, Christopher must come to terms with his past lives and become a god again. 

• Writer: Kyle Higgins
• Artist: Felipe Watanabe
• Colorist: Frank William
• Letterer: Clayton Cowles
• Backup Story Writer: Jana Quinn (contributed a prose short story at the end of the issue) 
• Reincarnation and Fate: The series puts a fresh spin on the "gods among us" trope, exploring the idea of an immortal soul trapped in a repeating life-and-death cycle.
• Identity and Purpose: A major emotional anchor is Christopher's struggle with his mundane life and the sudden, epic destiny thrust upon him, and whether absolute power is worth the sacrifice of a normal life.