Thread by @CarlSmithWriter, #comics Thread: every once and awhile Menachem at @EscapePodComics has a graphic [...]

#comics Thread: every once and awhile Menachem at @EscapePodComics has a graphic novel he really wants me to experience. 1/?

He'll msg me saying "I got a book to send with your shipment. It's $xx.xx I'd that okay?" And sends it title and sight unseen. 2/?

The trust is both in his uncanny skill at matching reader and book AND the fact he doesn't do this too often. Not every book has been what I'd read on my own nor that I even really enjoy. 3/?

But the process is more about the appreciation: if the story, art, the innovation, the tone... just a no-expectations read and respond. 4/?

The current book he sent appears to be about Jesus. The Harrowing of Hell by @evandahm 5/?

With his and my backgrounds being heavy in religious schooling, and a mutual understanding about scripture and underlying respect for G-d, this will be a fun one. 6/?

As a rule, I would not suggest just openly talking religion with your comic pusher. 7/?

Anyway I will start this tonight but will likely not finish it. I will tag the posts with #thohcomic (do NOT confuse with #thotcomic as that's a whole other thirsty thing)

There might be a few spoilers as I live tweet this comic so heads up. #thohcomic

Interesting opening page

I never get sick of seeing Jerusalem in all its many depictions. I just know the artist had so much reference to agonize over. Fumble Jerusalem, fumble the book. #thohcomic

One of my favorite parts of the gospel accounts. I like how Christ is drawn. I like that his humble garnet slyly looks like he's wearing a crucifix if you just glance. Look how small he is. And meek. And dark. #thohcomic

Love the use of red color. It'll be fun to see if there is a consistent theme. Or maybe Jordie Bellaire was already booked 23 hours a day and needed at least a 1H cat nap. #thohcomic

I always felt for Pilate (as portrayed in gospels and passion plays anyway). He did nothing wrong. He's the person least guided by ulterior motives in the whole opera. #thohcomic

So far I've enjoyed the literal portrayal of the gospel account. A little visual flair but nothing unforgiveable than, say, the common Hollywood Rome. #thohcomic

Unlike Gibson's torture porn Passion, @evandahm leaves room for the reader to ponder a) was this the plan and b) if so, exactly why this way? #thohcomic what never really gets sussed out of this account is the raging antisemitism behind the mocking and violence but...

Spoiler alert for anyone with the new testament on their to-read pile. BTW it is my assessment that the red is only consistently used as evocative color here, effective too, but not symbolically tied to objects. #thohcomic

By the wayyyyy did you notice who killed Christ? #thohcomic

Well Cerebus, Hulk, Hellboy, and countless others have been there on comics, so why not Jesus? #thohcomic #sayhellotojudasforme

I don't want to show the splash page because it is STUNNING, but there's a page very redolent of Gehenna, which is sort of a meaty and subtle easter egg fir scripture nerds. #thohcomic

When the Accuser greets Jesus with the title Plunderer I sort of felt my dna vibrate. I've had too much theology to know that was not a panel just thrown in fir cadence. #thohcomic

I'm sharing pics on FB to my circle I'm not here. You're comic people. The page flip is part of the thrill. But wow there is some throat punch level iconography here. You don't have to believe in it to appreciate the power of image. It's why there is propaganda. #thohcomic

Wait is this Animal Man?

Actually I love this. Jesus being so patient to dispel the notion of establishing a Rome-killer kingdom. Very different Jesus than @BartEhrman historical also-ran or the @rezaaslan Zealot I've read about recently in my studies. #thohcomic

Wow.

Dare I say, damn.

Storm brewing and there is a simple statement just left hanging pregnant. We leave here. But those with familiarity know what comes next. I LOVE that these parts are omitted. Love it. Because it's not really the point of he narrative. #thohcomic

How do you illustrate this without becoming The Action Bible? How can you do a character piece on Jesus that isn't evangelistic nor a parody? He figured it out. It's such an artistic piece. Mythology at its most lyrical. @ironcircuscomix bravo on taking this chance #thohcomic

I've watched legalism both poison and devour the protestant church mist of my life. Then, in its wake, Fun Uncle™ Christianity came, devoid of any meaning and holding the same damn flaws as the legalists. #thohcomic

Jesus asks AFTER healing the man. I love the positioning here. Jesus is asking the reader as much as the man in foreground. He's not on the highest position around. No Shekinah. The wind affects the grass and his hair the same. #thohcomic

The idea that the Pit must endure because a) it's always been that way and b) folks have, and continue, to earn their punishment there is SO REAL. Too much of the church's big mood. Mercy is such a foreign concept among so many. #thohcomic

F×××ing Caesar on the Temple man. #thohcomic

Even when Jesus is trashing the Temple, he never has his mouth visibly open. I'm curious if this was a choice. As if those words are attributed to him but let's not forget to leave room for them to plausibly be altered if not wholly fictitious. #thohcomic

Ain't that the truth.

#thohcomic

Ps - notice the viperidae eyes. I find this a disappointing missed opportunity of symbolism. Viper venom straight up destroys the wound sure, causing necrosis. Elapidae venom works it's way into the mind and heart. Much more Accuaer-like

Lucifer and the American Right basicly tempt Christ with the same role. My observation, not the graphic novel. #thohcomic

Holy shit. Not since the brilliant God is Disappointed in You by @MuchCoffee and @Manruss have I had a comic rattle me in my heart like this. Amazing. "In thy name." #thohcomic

HE SAID IT. No one else would. Jesus never accepts it. Is the artist positing that such a title is part of the temptation or is he seeing Jesus as who he is, and saying it with contempt?

#thohcomic

CHEF KISS! He's forgiving even the original sin! The weapon of shame/guilt that has imprisoned millions. The pre-destined total depravity of man. It's the AA view of man helpless to break addiction without higher power. It's spiritual big pharma. We need you sick. #thohcomic

Bonus points for not perpetuating that miserable apple nonsense. #thohcomic

What a marvelous book. It's effective to one with faith as much as it is to one who finds faith compelling as a study in humanities. Thank you @EscapePodComics thank you @evandahm thank you @ironcircuscomix

this was special

So I lied. I couldn't put it down so I did finish it tonight. Good night all. I have to be at the hospital for tests at 7 AM. If you want to chat about this book hit me up and I'll respond tomorrow #thohcomic

Man did I let alot of autocorrect and typo through

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