Q: Christianity
in comics question
Originally
a question asked by VeeGee on January 30, 1999 at the Unofficial
Birds of Prey Message Board
I just read
a wonderful interview with Scott McDaniel where he let people
know he was a Christian, and that you were too. I just recently
returned to a relationship with Christ (although He never left).
I have been thinking about why past attempts at Christian comics/characters
have not been as well received as their secular counterparts.
I remember the line Marvel tried to start several years ago..but
each book cost 5.00. I would LOVE to see comic adaptions of Frank
Perenti (sp?) books and other projects that really intertwine
the fantasy of comics and faith in Christ. I kind of enjoyed
John Byrne's Wonder Woman novel--I thought it would have made
a better comic "event" than "Genesis" did.
Are there a lot of Christian creators in comics? Are there any
other characters besides,Nightcrawler, who are devout in their
faith? What are your thoughts?
I guess the bottom line for me is that "with great power..."
ya'know, comics reach a lot of people and in a world like the
one we live in-messages of hope and faith and turning to Christ
are few and far between. I find it ironic that DC would have
several mini-series about the devil; "Underworld Unleashed",
and the new Vertigo series but wouldn't let Rick Veitch have
Christ in a single issue of Swamp thing.
Thanks for
your time==I know this may be a touchy subject for some people.
I do not want to start a debate..besides God always wins anyway
(*wink*)
Chuck: To paraphrase George Foreman, "I think Christ
and comics are a GREAT combination." I've always been disturbed
by the portrayal of religious figures in comics. They're usually
portrayed just this side of Dr Doom. I was guilty of it a few
times in my own career (at least one time, anyway). But I think
I've made it right over the past few years with postive religious
figures in the comics. I don't go too heavy with it 'cause these
characters aren't mine. But a belief in God is certainly evident
with many of the folks I write and religion is a part of their
world as well as a consistant morality. It's a "dirty little
secret" that many folks in comics are devoutly religious.
Some of the most devoted people I've met have been in this field.
Wrong or right, when I was a kid Batman and Tarzan were role
models for me along with Jesus. I don't see any reason why I
can't include Him in my work.
Scott McDaniel and I have discussed
doing a comic book with a Christian theme. He has some wild ideas
for a book that would entertain even those who didn't heed the
call.
I think each creator sees the
characters in their own lights. Scott McDaniel and I agree that
Dick Grayson finds solace in religion. He's never been the cynical
brooder that Bruce Wayne can be at times. Even though both went
through the same childhood trauma Dick sought answers outside
of himself. I think that's the basis of his belief in Christianity.
Graham Nolan and I had an ongoing
argument about whether Bruce was raised Catholic or Protestant.
I recently conceded to Graham than he must be Catholic. No Protestant
ever suffered guilt the way Bruce does.
I find it peculiar that the idea
of comic book heroes being Christians is "controversial".
How many of our heroes are Buddhists or Druids or some other
world religion and never raise an eyebrow? Maybe Christianity
is too close to home and we want our heroes to have a more exotic
belief system?
When I wrote Moonknight over
at Marvel I wanted to explore the fact that Marc Spector was
Jewish. I was uncomfortable with the fact that a Jew wielded
a power born of Egyptian myth. I wanted to deal with this in
a storyline. My editor told me to ignore that aspect of his personality.
And I was told this by an editor who is a Jew. Is there something
in the mind of comics fandom and professionals that finds religion
repugnant? Or are they simply avoiding the familiar?