I grew up reading comics as a toddler in Brazil. I enjoyed popular American superheroes like Spider-Man, Batman, and the Avengers. I also loved international comics. I still benefit from the French comic Asterix and others from across Europe and Brazil.
I knew I desired to be a cartoonist from the age of 5. My first work was a detective comic strip that I created, published in local newspapers after I was eleven.
Based on my recollection, in Brazilian and French comics, humour is what sells. In Italy, Westerns sell best. In Japan, there’s a comic book (or ‘manga’) for all the pieces. But since arriving in America as a 20-year-old, I’ve seen that comics about superheroes sell probably the most here. These days, most American comics go hand-in-hand with Hollywood–mainly Marvel and DC franchises.
Like many things, comics have modified so much since I used to be young. One example that involves mind for me is the Lone Ranger. When I used to be asked to attract him for a project, I researched and located the unique creed his creators gave him in 1933, which stated his belief in responsibility, equality, accountability to the next power, and fighting for what is correct and true. I wasn’t sure The Lone Ranger I drew for this task was not quite the identical guy, since the author never mentioned the attributes of the unique character’s creed.
The New World of Superheroes
Unsurprisingly, things have modified since 1933. Many of the themes addressed in comics have shifted dramatically, accelerated by the connection to Hollywood and American Culture. Issues like politics, mental health, diversity, inner demons and social justice are increasingly common in today’s comics.
During my time working on the Lone Ranger series, I also illustrated The Action Bible, a fast-paced narrative version of the Christian Bible. It has been interesting to match the themes in Jesus’ life story with the themes and characters in comics, and one other fascinating likelihood to set them side by side is available in the upcoming production of JESUS, an animated film about his life.
As I anticipate the discharge of the brand new JESUS film, I’m excited to see how modern and classic heroes shall be reflected within the story of the person who lived in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. Like modern heroes, Jesus was willing to cross barriers to bring unity. Many have made the historical argument that our modern concept of social justice only is sensible within the context of a culture that was once Christian.
But in some ways, the world of the Bible feels more just like the setting of the old superhero comics.
The Old World of Superheroes
Part of the rationale superhero comics have been so popular comes from history. After the First World War, American society was searching for brand spanking new ways to flee the hardships of life post-war through entertainment.
An even greater shift got here with the Second World War. The first-ever cover of the Captain America comic depicted him punching Hitler. Suddenly, pre-existing characters like Superman and Batman seemed far more relevant to real life.
Given that context, the stories in these comics were about justice and the battle between good and evil. Superman, for instance, comes from one other planet with amazing abilities, and saves the world from bad guys. Drawing the road between that story and the story of Jesus is just not very difficult!
Spider-Man is much more like Jesus. Isaiah chapter 53, an Old Testament prophecy about Jesus, describes Him as a physically unimpressive man, rejected and despised, taking up the suffering that otherwise would have come to others.
Similarly, Spider-Man began off as a weak, nerdy kid. He caught colds, had problems along with his aunt and his girlfriend, and was ridiculed at school. Those were the things that made him great to me, because I could sympathize with him.
When Spider-Man placed on his suit, he zipped around, taking down bad guys. But the interesting thing was that, whilst he kept the streets secure, writers all the time looked as if it would discover a method to make his life miserable anyway. He was misunderstood by the media and unlucky in his personal life. He took on a lot for others, and all the time looked as if it would bear the price himself.
Though Jesus didn’t wear a special suit, He also served others in a sacrificial way–and at the best cost to himself.
Superheroes and the Grey Area
These days, superheroes are sometimes morally grey characters. The line between right and mistaken is thinner and all the time in query. For example, James Bond is a womanizer–a terrible role model for youths. But he has a cool British accent and beats up bad guys, so we like him anyway. There are more grey areas now, and even villains are more complicated to interpret.
In fairness, grey areas have all the time been a part of the superhero genre. From Batman and Spider-Man to mainstream movie heroes like Liam Neeson’s character in Taken, lots of our modern-day heroes are inclined to be vigilantes, out for revenge.
The astounding thing about Jesus is his meekness and humility, even within the face of suffering. He told his disciples that if someone hits them within the face, they need to turn the opposite cheek, allowing the person to strike again. He also taught them that if someone makes them walk a mile, they need to walk two. He told them not to beat evil with evil, but with good; to not hit back, but to rely upon God for justice.
His approach couldn’t be more different from that of the Hulk or Batman. I believe of heroes like Jackie Chan in lots of his movies. We love the guy who looks unremarkable at first, then speaks up and fights back. If we’re honest, that’s what we wish to see Jesus do.
I even have drawn Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and lots of other superheroes, every one requiring my full dedication to portray. But the Action Bible was probably the most significant work of my profession. Portraying Jesus is an immense privilege, and I’m pleased to see that the makers of the brand new animated JESUS film are committed to displaying his unique character the identical way the biblical writers did. In that ancient setting, stuffed with good and evil, bullies and heroes, the brand new JESUS film will portray a superhero of sorts–one unlike any of the others.
To learn more concerning the animated JESUS film, visit Jesus.film
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