“Every… comic book version of the Bible that I’ve seen contains passages of completely made-up narrative and dialogue, in an attempt to streamline and ‘modernize’ the old scriptures, and still, these various comic book Bibles all claim to adhere to the belief that the Bible is ‘the word of God’,” says cartoonist Robert Crumb in the introduction to his recent adaptation of The Book of Genesis. Although Crumb, perhaps ironically, believes the Bible to be the words of men, he set about, to the best of his ability, to faithfully reproduce every word of the original text in comics form. Although one would be hard pressed to find two artists with more diverse styles than R. Crumb and Eric Shanower, the experience of reading Crumb’s meticulously researched Genesis reminds me of nothing so much as that of reading Shanower’s meticulously researched Age of Bronze. But how do other comic book adaptations of the Bible compare? I have read two.
Limited Collectors’ Edition Presents The Most Spectacular Stories Ever Told From The Bible:
According to the indicia, this is “Limited Collector’s Edition, Vol. 4, No. C-36,” but we know what it really is: a DC Treasury Edition! Joe Kubert was the editor and graphic designer (not to mention cover artist), Sheldon Mayer the writer, and Nestor Redondo. It cost a whole dollar, and I remember really selling my grandmother on the idea of buying a Bible comic book, when in fact, I wanted it just because it was a comic book. “Look, Grandma, it says ‘First of a series’ on the back. I can start a collection and read all about the Bible!” I needn’t have bothered; she would have bought it for me, anyway. I’ll probably burn in hell for that someday.
The Picture Bible – Iva Hoth – Andre Le Blanc – 1978:
I didn’t buy this in 1978; I bought a hardcover on a whim just a few years ago when it came back into print, but it was R. Cumb’s Genesis which put me in the mood to read it. It’s the kind of sanitized version Crumb writes about in his introduction, but what initially attracted me was the artist, Andre Le Blanc. A friend of mine studied art under Le Blanc and just raves about him.
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Very interesting... I have never had much of desire to read the comic book bibles...but I have seen some of manga new testament, and they can be sort of frightening. I have enough of a issue reading through some of the illustrated paraphrases for kids, because I am constantly second guessing the story and morals they choose...
I swear to god (no pun intended) I don't even remember starting this discussion. A hardcover reprint of the DC treasury edition mentioned above has been advance solicited for February 29, 2012 release, so you can expect to see this discussion bumped up to the top again shortly thereafter.
...you can expect to see this discussion bumped up to the top again shortly thereafter.
...or nearly twelve years later.
I have read the Mayer/Kubert/Redondo TE three times now: once when it was originally released, once when it was rereleased (in hardcover) ten years ago, and last night. Although I don't think I ever appreciated it as much as I did when I reread it last night, it is, nevertheless, little more than "the tiny morsel of the Bible that was spoon-fed to [us] in Sunday school" (to quote Mark Russell), although it is lavishly illustrated. It covers Genesis through Chapter 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah).
In the years since starting this thread, I have bought one additional collection of Bible comics, English ones, Classic Bible Stories (2010). Unlike the other volumes discussed, this one features stories from the New Testament: "Jesus: The Road of Courage" by Frank Hampson (Dan Dare), and "Mark: The Youngest Disciple" by Giorgio Bellavitus.
The standout among these four, though, remains The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb. If Crumb did nothing else, he would be remembered for this book. (He would be remembered, too, for his Heroes of Blues, Jazz and Country trading card sets as well, and that's not to mention his famous BB & the HC album cover, Fritz the Cat, Mr. Natural and the Doodah Man.) Crumb has a somewhat different interpretation of certain aspects of the Bible than I do, but if there's one book that stands up to multiple interpretations it's the Bible. which reminds me of a story...
A couple of weeks ago, I was stopped at a light. The car in front of me had a screed, written in white shoe polish, covering its entire back window: "Space is a LIE!" "God vs. Nasa," "Water Above, Water Below." I have never seen such a literal interpretation of Genesis 1:6-7 (and I never hope to again). I always had trouble interpreting that verse myself, until R. Crumb illustrated it and explained his rational in the commentary section.
(Incidentally, the title of this discussion (for those of you who weren't around then or may not remember) is taken from Bob's "The Bible: Actually Reading It" discussion on the old board.)
I've got a few comics versions of the Bible lying around and probably should crack one or more of them open, especially as we're in a study group at church that made the New Year's resolution to read the entire Bible over the course of the year. It might help, although it might be kind of like watching the movie version of the book (or reading the comic book version of the movie) the night before your book report is due. A (long) while back, on the old board, The Baron engaged in such an exercise with the Douay–Rheims Bible, and more recently (relatively), did so with the New American Bible.
Among the ones I have is a yellowed, battered original copy of the aforementioned Limited Collectors’ Edition Presents The Most Spectacular Stories Ever Told From The Bible, and Robert Crumb's The Book of Genesis, which I got as a Christmas gift a while back but have barely read.
There's The Cartoon History of the Universe Volumes 1 – 7 From the Big Bang to Alexander the Greatby Larry Gonick, which draws on the Bible for some of the early history of, well, the universe. That I've read.
One I've only skimmed through is The Action Bible, adapted by David Cook and drawn by Sergio Carello, which has gone from a single volume into a franchise. It bills itself as "the most complete picture Bible ever! And it features a captivating, up-to-date artwork style—making it the perfect Bible for today’s visually focused culture."
I also have Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible, by Chester Brown. It's in black-and-white, and covers the stories of Cain and Abel, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary, mother of Jesus, the Parable of the talents, Mary of Bethany, Matthew, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. which footnotes and commentary. I haven't finished it, but Wikipedia's description indicates it uses the Bible stories to make the case that sex work was prevalent during biblical times and the Bible has a favorable view of prostitution. It has a several-page appendix at the end detailing Brown's sources.
(The Comics Journal, which I usually have no use for, reviews it extensively here. Another review, with illustrations is here, from the Before We Go blog. )
"...we're in a study group at church that made the New Year's resolution to read the entire Bible over the course of the year."
Every couple of years I tray the same thing, but I never seem to make it all the way through. As usual (with most of my abandoned reading projects), I tend to start over at the beginning every time I take another crack at it. Consequently, I've read the book of Genesis more often than any other book, and the last time I tried to read the whole Bible, I didn't get any further than that. I left off with Chapter 30 yesterday, though, so that made it "safe" to read the DC TE. I am supplementing my Bible reading (as I usually do) with Asimov's Guide to the Bible. This time I will also be adding God Is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell and Shannon Wheeler. Lately I've been having good luck staying motivated by switching off between book series, reading a book of one series, then one of another. My plan is to add the Bible into that rotation, one book at a time. It's a daunting prospect. I'll update my progress on the "What Are You Reading These Days? (Besides Comics)" thread.
Yes, I found that discussion (and this one) when I was searching for the earlier one and realized it was on the old board. I have a couple of different editions myself, including The Living Bible which my Great Aunt Marta gave me as a gift.
"...Robert Crumb's The Book of Genesis, which I got as a Christmas gift a while back but have barely read."
I am very enthusiastic about that one, but I don't plan to supplement my actual Bible reading with it this time through, though. My niece is a Christian (at least she once was; I assume she still is, but it's not something we ever talk about). I tried to steer her toward the Crumb book when it was new (I was going to buy it for her, actually), but she wasn't interested. I didn't mention it specifically, but I'd given her comics I thought she might enjoy from time to time in the past, and it was at that time she told me she simply didn't like comic books as a medium. (She does not take after her Uncle Jeff in that respect.)
"There's The Cartoon History of the Universe Volumes 1 – 7 From the Big Bang to Alexander the Greatby Larry Gonick,"
I have three tpb volumes of that (the first two I got as free selections from BOMC) but I've never read them. (Ooh, that needs to go in my Essential International Comics Series thread.)
"One I've only skimmed through is The Action Bible..."
I've heard of that but never read it.
"I also have Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible"
Just last night I was reading about a book titled Sarah the Priestess by Savina Teubal (1984). If you have the Crumb book handy, read what he has to say about it in his commentary on Chapter 12 at the back of the book.
"..it uses the Bible stories to make the case that sex work was prevalent during biblical times and the Bible has a favorable view of prostitution."
As Mark Russell said in his introduction to God Is Disappointed in You, ""People look to the Bible for guidance on everything from bombing another country to entering the cheese competition at the County Fair." Both Asimov and Crumb point to the same section of Genesis Chapter 9 as the "righteous rationale" white Christians used to justify the use of African slaves.
I always did mean to get into re-reading the Bible. It's a rough slog in parts, particularly in bitts of the Old Testament.
I've got Crumb's Genesis. I found it to be an interesting idea, but not one that I find it necessary to re-read often.
I've also got Manga Messiah, by Hidenori Kumai and Kozumi Shinozawa, a re-telling of the Gospels. The art is acceptable, but not amazing. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are called "Yeshuah", "Miryam" and "Yosef", but otherwise it's the story we all know.
"...we're in a study group at church that made the New Year's resolution to read the entire Bible over the course of the year."
Every couple of years I tray the same thing, but I never seem to make it all the way through. As usual (with most of my abandoned reading projects), I tend to start over at the beginning every time I take another crack at it. Consequently, I've read the book of Genesis more often than any other book, and the last time I tried to read the whole Bible, I didn't get any further than that.
I've actually managed to pull that off one year, many moons ago, but agreed, some parts of it are really tough sledding. Our group (led by our pastor) is reading in tandem with The Bible Year: A Journey Through Scripture in 365 Days by Margrey R. DeVega, a pastor in Tampa, Florida. DeVega's book maps out each day's reading and has short devotionals with questions like "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin, and what music would you play for them and where would you find the musicians?" I stopped reading it weeks ago.
One thing that helps is reading along with an audio version of the Bible. One we have is Inspired By ... The Bible Experience, which is a multimedia production with music and sound effects and half the Black actors in Hollywood narrating or voicing the roles of various characters, including Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Common, LL Cool J, Alfre Woodard, LeVar Burton, Idris Elba, Samuel L. Jackson, Denice Williams, Eartha Kitt, Vanessa Williams and many, many more.
There's also something I want to use; in my travels, I picked up a KWIKSCAN version of the King James Version of the New Testament. KWIKSCAN emphasizes key words in each sentence, so that if you just read those, you'll get through it faster, without missing anything important. Here's an example, from Matthew 2:1-8:
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Where Is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
It's a nifty idea that I think would be applicable to any long, dry text. Nothing is omitted; it's like the Reader's Digest version with all the original words still there if you really want to see them. Problem is, KWIKSCAN bibles are long out of print. Since I have the New Testament version, it will be months before I get to use it, so I may break down and find a used copy of the whole thing.
There is a lot of repetition and I generally skim over the genealogies (or the "eponyms" as Asimov calls them). I'm using a Revised Standard Edition that was given to me in Sunday school. The youth minister encouraged us to write in our Bibles, which I never did... until now. Actually, although I an taking copious notes (primarily about the actual Hebrew words, their actual meanings and their translations), I'm not writing so much as highlighting certain passages. What I can't quite bring myself to do is cross through the long, boring, repetitive sections (and that refers to the Asimov book as well).
"I stopped reading it weeks ago."
Because the "study questions" are so frivolous, I'm guessing? I think you might like God is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell (with cartoons by Shannon Wheeler). It boils each book of the Bible down to its essence and presents it in an entertaining fashion. Here's Russell from his introduction: "It is not my intention to moch the bible with this book, nor to endorse it, but merely to present it on its own terms in a way that is accessible and relays the same sense of fascination I had when I truly discovered the Bible for the first time."
Given that, before the invention of the printing press, Bibles had to be copied by hand, you'd think its original writers would have used some of those same techniques. Asimov points out likely instances where "shortcuts" may have been used, primarily in regard to locations which would have been familiar to the bible's original audience.
SECOND COMING: Speaking of Mark Russell (and since this discussion is ostensibly about comic books), have you read Second Coming from AHOY! Comics? Essentially it's "What if Superman and Jesus were roommates?" but it's not at all frivolous or disrespectful. In fact, the discussions and comments on the letters pages, from religious and non-religious readers alike, are some of the most thoughtful I have read in recent years. They almost make me believe that civil dialogue is possible. The first mini-series is six issues and the second, Only Begotten Son, is also six, but not as "deep." Both have been collected in tpb.
HIGH HEAVEN: Another AHOY! Comics series about the afterlife, this one by Tom Peyer. It's a bit darker in tone than Second Coming.
Replies
I swear to god (no pun intended) I don't even remember starting this discussion. A hardcover reprint of the DC treasury edition mentioned above has been advance solicited for February 29, 2012 release, so you can expect to see this discussion bumped up to the top again shortly thereafter.
Jeff of Earth-J said:
...or nearly twelve years later.
I have read the Mayer/Kubert/Redondo TE three times now: once when it was originally released, once when it was rereleased (in hardcover) ten years ago, and last night. Although I don't think I ever appreciated it as much as I did when I reread it last night, it is, nevertheless, little more than "the tiny morsel of the Bible that was spoon-fed to [us] in Sunday school" (to quote Mark Russell), although it is lavishly illustrated. It covers Genesis through Chapter 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah).
In the years since starting this thread, I have bought one additional collection of Bible comics, English ones, Classic Bible Stories (2010). Unlike the other volumes discussed, this one features stories from the New Testament: "Jesus: The Road of Courage" by Frank Hampson (Dan Dare), and "Mark: The Youngest Disciple" by Giorgio Bellavitus.
The standout among these four, though, remains The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb. If Crumb did nothing else, he would be remembered for this book. (He would be remembered, too, for his Heroes of Blues, Jazz and Country trading card sets as well, and that's not to mention his famous BB & the HC album cover, Fritz the Cat, Mr. Natural and the Doodah Man.) Crumb has a somewhat different interpretation of certain aspects of the Bible than I do, but if there's one book that stands up to multiple interpretations it's the Bible. which reminds me of a story...
A couple of weeks ago, I was stopped at a light. The car in front of me had a screed, written in white shoe polish, covering its entire back window: "Space is a LIE!" "God vs. Nasa," "Water Above, Water Below." I have never seen such a literal interpretation of Genesis 1:6-7 (and I never hope to again). I always had trouble interpreting that verse myself, until R. Crumb illustrated it and explained his rational in the commentary section.
(Incidentally, the title of this discussion (for those of you who weren't around then or may not remember) is taken from Bob's "The Bible: Actually Reading It" discussion on the old board.)
I've got a few comics versions of the Bible lying around and probably should crack one or more of them open, especially as we're in a study group at church that made the New Year's resolution to read the entire Bible over the course of the year. It might help, although it might be kind of like watching the movie version of the book (or reading the comic book version of the movie) the night before your book report is due. A (long) while back, on the old board, The Baron engaged in such an exercise with the Douay–Rheims Bible, and more recently (relatively), did so with the New American Bible.
Among the ones I have is a yellowed, battered original copy of the aforementioned Limited Collectors’ Edition Presents The Most Spectacular Stories Ever Told From The Bible, and Robert Crumb's The Book of Genesis, which I got as a Christmas gift a while back but have barely read.
There's The Cartoon History of the Universe Volumes 1 – 7 From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great by Larry Gonick, which draws on the Bible for some of the early history of, well, the universe. That I've read.
One I've only skimmed through is The Action Bible, adapted by David Cook and drawn by Sergio Carello, which has gone from a single volume into a franchise. It bills itself as "the most complete picture Bible ever! And it features a captivating, up-to-date artwork style—making it the perfect Bible for today’s visually focused culture."
I also have Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible, by Chester Brown. It's in black-and-white, and covers the stories of Cain and Abel, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary, mother of Jesus, the Parable of the talents, Mary of Bethany, Matthew, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. which footnotes and commentary. I haven't finished it, but Wikipedia's description indicates it uses the Bible stories to make the case that sex work was prevalent during biblical times and the Bible has a favorable view of prostitution. It has a several-page appendix at the end detailing Brown's sources.
(The Comics Journal, which I usually have no use for, reviews it extensively here. Another review, with illustrations is here, from the Before We Go blog. )
"...we're in a study group at church that made the New Year's resolution to read the entire Bible over the course of the year."
Every couple of years I tray the same thing, but I never seem to make it all the way through. As usual (with most of my abandoned reading projects), I tend to start over at the beginning every time I take another crack at it. Consequently, I've read the book of Genesis more often than any other book, and the last time I tried to read the whole Bible, I didn't get any further than that. I left off with Chapter 30 yesterday, though, so that made it "safe" to read the DC TE. I am supplementing my Bible reading (as I usually do) with Asimov's Guide to the Bible. This time I will also be adding God Is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell and Shannon Wheeler. Lately I've been having good luck staying motivated by switching off between book series, reading a book of one series, then one of another. My plan is to add the Bible into that rotation, one book at a time. It's a daunting prospect. I'll update my progress on the "What Are You Reading These Days? (Besides Comics)" thread.
"The Baron engaged in such an exercise... with the New American Bible."
Yes, I found that discussion (and this one) when I was searching for the earlier one and realized it was on the old board. I have a couple of different editions myself, including The Living Bible which my Great Aunt Marta gave me as a gift.
"...Robert Crumb's The Book of Genesis, which I got as a Christmas gift a while back but have barely read."
I am very enthusiastic about that one, but I don't plan to supplement my actual Bible reading with it this time through, though. My niece is a Christian (at least she once was; I assume she still is, but it's not something we ever talk about). I tried to steer her toward the Crumb book when it was new (I was going to buy it for her, actually), but she wasn't interested. I didn't mention it specifically, but I'd given her comics I thought she might enjoy from time to time in the past, and it was at that time she told me she simply didn't like comic books as a medium. (She does not take after her Uncle Jeff in that respect.)
"There's The Cartoon History of the Universe Volumes 1 – 7 From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great by Larry Gonick,"
I have three tpb volumes of that (the first two I got as free selections from BOMC) but I've never read them. (Ooh, that needs to go in my Essential International Comics Series thread.)
"One I've only skimmed through is The Action Bible..."
I've heard of that but never read it.
"I also have Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible"
Just last night I was reading about a book titled Sarah the Priestess by Savina Teubal (1984). If you have the Crumb book handy, read what he has to say about it in his commentary on Chapter 12 at the back of the book.
"..it uses the Bible stories to make the case that sex work was prevalent during biblical times and the Bible has a favorable view of prostitution."
As Mark Russell said in his introduction to God Is Disappointed in You, ""People look to the Bible for guidance on everything from bombing another country to entering the cheese competition at the County Fair." Both Asimov and Crumb point to the same section of Genesis Chapter 9 as the "righteous rationale" white Christians used to justify the use of African slaves.
I always did mean to get into re-reading the Bible. It's a rough slog in parts, particularly in bitts of the Old Testament.
I've got Crumb's Genesis. I found it to be an interesting idea, but not one that I find it necessary to re-read often.
I've also got Manga Messiah, by Hidenori Kumai and Kozumi Shinozawa, a re-telling of the Gospels. The art is acceptable, but not amazing. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are called "Yeshuah", "Miryam" and "Yosef", but otherwise it's the story we all know.
Get back into it, I meant.
The Baron said:
Jeff of Earth-J said:
I've actually managed to pull that off one year, many moons ago, but agreed, some parts of it are really tough sledding. Our group (led by our pastor) is reading in tandem with The Bible Year: A Journey Through Scripture in 365 Days by Margrey R. DeVega, a pastor in Tampa, Florida. DeVega's book maps out each day's reading and has short devotionals with questions like "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin, and what music would you play for them and where would you find the musicians?" I stopped reading it weeks ago.
One thing that helps is reading along with an audio version of the Bible. One we have is Inspired By ... The Bible Experience, which is a multimedia production with music and sound effects and half the Black actors in Hollywood narrating or voicing the roles of various characters, including Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Common, LL Cool J, Alfre Woodard, LeVar Burton, Idris Elba, Samuel L. Jackson, Denice Williams, Eartha Kitt, Vanessa Williams and many, many more.
There's also something I want to use; in my travels, I picked up a KWIKSCAN version of the King James Version of the New Testament. KWIKSCAN emphasizes key words in each sentence, so that if you just read those, you'll get through it faster, without missing anything important. Here's an example, from Matthew 2:1-8:
It's a nifty idea that I think would be applicable to any long, dry text. Nothing is omitted; it's like the Reader's Digest version with all the original words still there if you really want to see them. Problem is, KWIKSCAN bibles are long out of print. Since I have the New Testament version, it will be months before I get to use it, so I may break down and find a used copy of the whole thing.
"...some parts of it are really tough sledding."
There is a lot of repetition and I generally skim over the genealogies (or the "eponyms" as Asimov calls them). I'm using a Revised Standard Edition that was given to me in Sunday school. The youth minister encouraged us to write in our Bibles, which I never did... until now. Actually, although I an taking copious notes (primarily about the actual Hebrew words, their actual meanings and their translations), I'm not writing so much as highlighting certain passages. What I can't quite bring myself to do is cross through the long, boring, repetitive sections (and that refers to the Asimov book as well).
"I stopped reading it weeks ago."
Because the "study questions" are so frivolous, I'm guessing? I think you might like God is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell (with cartoons by Shannon Wheeler). It boils each book of the Bible down to its essence and presents it in an entertaining fashion. Here's Russell from his introduction: "It is not my intention to moch the bible with this book, nor to endorse it, but merely to present it on its own terms in a way that is accessible and relays the same sense of fascination I had when I truly discovered the Bible for the first time."
"[The audio version of the Bible] we have is Inspired By ... The Bible Experience...]"
That sounds interesting.
"KWIKSCAN emphasizes key words in each sentence"
Given that, before the invention of the printing press, Bibles had to be copied by hand, you'd think its original writers would have used some of those same techniques. Asimov points out likely instances where "shortcuts" may have been used, primarily in regard to locations which would have been familiar to the bible's original audience.
SECOND COMING: Speaking of Mark Russell (and since this discussion is ostensibly about comic books), have you read Second Coming from AHOY! Comics? Essentially it's "What if Superman and Jesus were roommates?" but it's not at all frivolous or disrespectful. In fact, the discussions and comments on the letters pages, from religious and non-religious readers alike, are some of the most thoughtful I have read in recent years. They almost make me believe that civil dialogue is possible. The first mini-series is six issues and the second, Only Begotten Son, is also six, but not as "deep." Both have been collected in tpb.
HIGH HEAVEN: Another AHOY! Comics series about the afterlife, this one by Tom Peyer. It's a bit darker in tone than Second Coming.
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