American Gods

Shadow Moon is released from prison early following the death of his wife. The mysterious con man Mr Wednesday recruits Shadow to be his bodyguard.

Mr Wednesday starts recruitment for the coming battle. Shadow Moon travels to Chicago with Mr Wednesday and agrees to play a high stakes game of checkers with the old Slavic deity Czernobog.

Shadow questions his decision to work for Mr Wednesday after learning of his plan to rob a bank; Shadow makes a surprising discovery when he returns to his motel room.

The story of Laura's life and death is revealed, including her first encounter with Shadow, and how she came to be sitting on his motel room bed.

Shadow's emotional reunion with his dead wife is interrupted when he and Mr Wednesday are kidnapped by the New Gods.

On the run after the New Gods' attack, Shadow and Mr Wednesday seek sanctuary with one of Mr Wednesday's oldest friends, Vulcan, God of the Fire and the Forge.