Rorschach
05-30-2007, 12:58 PM
Jesus vs. Vampires!
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32824
(scroll way down)
LOADED BIBLE 2: THE BLOOD OF CHRIST #1
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Mike Norton & Mark Englert
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewer: Ambush Bug
In the jaded world we live in today, when you look at something titled LOADED BIBLE and hear the concept, Jesus vs. Vampires, one may automatically think that this is going to be one of those books that will go the easy route and make fun of religion while emulating the “kewl” aspects of the vampire. In lesser hands, this would be the case. Fortunately, LOADED BIBLE is in hands fully capable of not only telling an enthralling story, but making it a true tale of good and evil without being all preachy about it.
In my time as a comic book reviewer, I’ve had the privilege of reading religious comics and comics which adolescently emulate that which them deem as Satanism. In both cases, the message often outweighed the skill behind the story. These books read like brochures, more interested in knocking the other guy and promoting themselves rather than actually taking the time to make the read worthwhile.
Now, I’m not religious at all. But religion does interest me. To me, religion is yet another mythology like that of Ancient Greeks and Romans, or even more common mythologies such as Star Wars, Tolkien, and yes, even comic books. Something about mythology touches our souls. It gives meaning to that which has none and helps guide us in times of stress. Now, I don’t worship a short-stack of comics or drink from the blood drawn from the staples fastening the pages, but I have seen firsthand how comics, like religion, have drawn people together, given them an identity, and filled some kind of hole in their souls.
One thing I hate, though, is being preached to. Fortunately, LOADED BIBLE doesn’t have a preachy bone in its body, if comic books had bones, that is. LOADED BIBLE is simply an adventure/horror story that just happens to have the Son of God as its star. There’s no reading from the holy book or fingers pointing at certain people for doing certain things. This book has no time for all of that hooey. This book is simply a straight-up adventure yarn and I love it for being just that.
Props have to go to Tim Seeley for coming up with the story and running with it. He’s written a sympathetic Christ, one who just found out that he isn’t the Second Coming, but a clone made from genetic material made from the real Jesus. The world is in apocalyptic turmoil. Vampires run the show outside of a few remaining golden domes which house the last humans in America. These humans need something to believe in and a Jesus clone is just the thing to inspire people to fall in line. Although the government/church is trying to pass Jesus off as the real deal, the vampires have other ideas, beginning with demoralizing Jesus by revealing his true history to the supposed savior and then to the rest of the world by broadcasting it on TV. All of this happened in the last issue of this series of 48 page one-shots. Issue two deals with the ramifications of this revelation.
And like I said earlier, Jesus doesn’t mess around. He’s lopping off heads, tossing holy water, and skewering vamps with his broadsword. There’s something fun about seeing Jesus Christ at the heart of all of this hardcore action. And the thing is, Seeley makes sure to keep Jesus in character. He feels for these vampires and wants to find another way to deal with them. He’s a demoralized soul because he just found out that he isn’t what his creators said he was. He’s a shepherd without a flock. He’s a lost soul in need of redemption and purpose. These characteristics make for great drama and what make this a special read.
In the end, with a concept like Jesus vs. Vampires, LOADED BIBLE proves to be better than it should be. It grabs a ludicrous concept and takes it seriously, but not seriously to the point of preachiness--seriously to the point where you stop reading the book halfway to exclaim, “I’m having a blast reading this!” Seeley is on top of his game on the story department. LOADED BIBLE is a truly imaginative read that never forgets the importance of story and characterization. Don’t be scared that this is going to be a sacrilegious or preachy bore. Those adjectives don’t apply. LOADED BIBLE 2: THE BLOOD OF CHRIST is an adventurous and exciting ride and well worth checking out.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32824
(scroll way down)
LOADED BIBLE 2: THE BLOOD OF CHRIST #1
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Mike Norton & Mark Englert
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewer: Ambush Bug
In the jaded world we live in today, when you look at something titled LOADED BIBLE and hear the concept, Jesus vs. Vampires, one may automatically think that this is going to be one of those books that will go the easy route and make fun of religion while emulating the “kewl” aspects of the vampire. In lesser hands, this would be the case. Fortunately, LOADED BIBLE is in hands fully capable of not only telling an enthralling story, but making it a true tale of good and evil without being all preachy about it.
In my time as a comic book reviewer, I’ve had the privilege of reading religious comics and comics which adolescently emulate that which them deem as Satanism. In both cases, the message often outweighed the skill behind the story. These books read like brochures, more interested in knocking the other guy and promoting themselves rather than actually taking the time to make the read worthwhile.
Now, I’m not religious at all. But religion does interest me. To me, religion is yet another mythology like that of Ancient Greeks and Romans, or even more common mythologies such as Star Wars, Tolkien, and yes, even comic books. Something about mythology touches our souls. It gives meaning to that which has none and helps guide us in times of stress. Now, I don’t worship a short-stack of comics or drink from the blood drawn from the staples fastening the pages, but I have seen firsthand how comics, like religion, have drawn people together, given them an identity, and filled some kind of hole in their souls.
One thing I hate, though, is being preached to. Fortunately, LOADED BIBLE doesn’t have a preachy bone in its body, if comic books had bones, that is. LOADED BIBLE is simply an adventure/horror story that just happens to have the Son of God as its star. There’s no reading from the holy book or fingers pointing at certain people for doing certain things. This book has no time for all of that hooey. This book is simply a straight-up adventure yarn and I love it for being just that.
Props have to go to Tim Seeley for coming up with the story and running with it. He’s written a sympathetic Christ, one who just found out that he isn’t the Second Coming, but a clone made from genetic material made from the real Jesus. The world is in apocalyptic turmoil. Vampires run the show outside of a few remaining golden domes which house the last humans in America. These humans need something to believe in and a Jesus clone is just the thing to inspire people to fall in line. Although the government/church is trying to pass Jesus off as the real deal, the vampires have other ideas, beginning with demoralizing Jesus by revealing his true history to the supposed savior and then to the rest of the world by broadcasting it on TV. All of this happened in the last issue of this series of 48 page one-shots. Issue two deals with the ramifications of this revelation.
And like I said earlier, Jesus doesn’t mess around. He’s lopping off heads, tossing holy water, and skewering vamps with his broadsword. There’s something fun about seeing Jesus Christ at the heart of all of this hardcore action. And the thing is, Seeley makes sure to keep Jesus in character. He feels for these vampires and wants to find another way to deal with them. He’s a demoralized soul because he just found out that he isn’t what his creators said he was. He’s a shepherd without a flock. He’s a lost soul in need of redemption and purpose. These characteristics make for great drama and what make this a special read.
In the end, with a concept like Jesus vs. Vampires, LOADED BIBLE proves to be better than it should be. It grabs a ludicrous concept and takes it seriously, but not seriously to the point of preachiness--seriously to the point where you stop reading the book halfway to exclaim, “I’m having a blast reading this!” Seeley is on top of his game on the story department. LOADED BIBLE is a truly imaginative read that never forgets the importance of story and characterization. Don’t be scared that this is going to be a sacrilegious or preachy bore. Those adjectives don’t apply. LOADED BIBLE 2: THE BLOOD OF CHRIST is an adventurous and exciting ride and well worth checking out.