|
Siku
|
|
||
|
Genre
|
|||
|
Media
|
Graphic Novel
|
||
Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton | ||
ISBN | 978-034096406 | ||
|
Reviewer
|
Gareth
|
Synopsis
This is the second volume in a series of three retelling the story of Jesus Christ in amazing Manga comic strip form. Siku's MANGA BIBLE was acclaimed for its edgy, provocative yet faithful interpretation of the Bible which opened up this classic text to a new generation of readers. Now he has turned his attention back to the full life story of Jesus, and retells it in an epic 300-page, three-volume manga opus, repitching Christ as the hardened political rebel of his day.He spoke and ate with the outcasts, and those from different tribes. He healed the sick, forming new flesh and bone from thin air. He preached a new message of liberation, and shamed the rulers of the day. Surely, his days were numbered ...This is the life story of the most incredible man who ever lived. A man who lived two thousand years ago, but shaped the world we live in today. A man who could change lives.
Review
As I said in the Manga Jesus V:1 review, I'm not sure how well the story of Jesus translates into Manga. The book has been well researched and the artwork is extremely dynamic but I feel the essence of Christ has been lost or dulled down. In some ways The Christ has become some kind of Biblical superman, and to me the colloquialisms sit at odds with the very real messages that Christ conveyed.
I've not got a problem with Siku updating the message of Jesus, or keeping it in a more modern context - Robert Graves did exactly the same with I, Clauidus. But Graves managed to create a very fine balance and although the dialogue was modern it was still in keeping with the characters and everything flowed. The Manga Jesus, for me, doesn't - it's sporadic. There's a few action scenes, a couple of crowd scenes and then a long dialogue scene -but too many panels are taken up with erroneous information. This is the story of Jesus, not the crowd's view of him, but if Siku is trying to add more context to Jesus's life then why isn't more made of Lazarus and Mary Magdalene?
I suppose this is the equivalent of Baz Lhrmann's Romeo & Juliet - a modern day take on Biblical adventures and in that context I suppose it does work. Even if it gets the kids seeing the Bible stories in a new light then Siku should be applauded for the work he's done on The Manga Jesus.
If you enjoy what we provide, please consider making a donation.
