In most forms of evangelical media, the greatest problem that seems to keep reoccurring is the lack of originality. However, I’ve chosen to write on Christian Comic Books because it seems to me to be evangelical media’s most original idea yet. Comic books are typically known as being pretty violent and therefore have a great appeal to the male gender. However, Christians are able to take that form of blood and gush, with monsters, superheroes, villains, and destruction, and transform it into stories of faith, with heroes and villains, good and evil. This is not a mere form of copying what the main stream media is printing now, but it is a way of appealing to the ulterior world beyond Christians visually. Images, cartoons, and photographs enthrall humans; therefore, we are drawn to glancing at cartoons and pictures when we pick up the daily newspaper or pass a comic book or graphic novel. However, often we are not satisfied in just looking at the pictures and therefore become interested in the story that comes with the pictures. This is a wonderful scheme to draw people to reading about salvation without their having time to make presupposed notions.
I feel very optimistic about comic tracts. It was said in the lecture that evangelical comic tracts are a good way of preaching the gospel and has been famous for evangelists use over forty years. I firmly believe that a comic tract is more effective than any other tract. My opinion is that more people are drawn to the cartoon strips assuming they are creative, and therefore will be more willing to read the tract. However, it is true that one of the largest problems with evangelical comics is that they are very capable of lacking creativity. Of course, this is something all evangelicals involved in the media could work on.
Comic book novels are also a big part of the cartooning industry. The most popular of the evangelical comic book novels is the Left Behind Series. It was converted into graphics so children could more easily understand it. However, it is not limited to the enjoyment of children alone. Many adults and students, including myself, find a sense of delight in translating the left behind story into pictures and graphics.
One thing I don’t not agree with is the idea that superheroes should be religious. If anybody has “superpowers,” it is Jesus Christ alone and the miracle workers of the Biblical ages. This should be emphasized over the ideas of modern superheroes having religion or faith.
The lecture said that critics say evangelical graphics lack imagination and do not reflect the sacredness of Biblical truth. Like all forms of media, especially evangelical, there are kinks that need to be worked out. Of course creativity is a problem that should be further analyzed, but I firmly believe that when that greater art is achieved, many people will be enthralled by the prospect of Christian comic books.
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