The Cross and the Switchblade

by Al Hartley

For the first time, Al Hartley's comics are available digitally enhanced with state-of-the-art technology designed just for comics. Al Hartley’s comics have been called “the largest selling comics in history,” with sales exceeding 40 million copies including international distribution. Hartley’s comics have been called “the most wholesome, creative, inspiring comics ever written.” Al Hartley, who worked for Stan Lee and Marvel comics drawing Spiderman, The Hulk and Ironman, received Christ as His Lord and Savior in 1967. His artistic creativity went to a whole new level with Archie comics. “God got a hold of my life” he often said, “And the Creator began to download to me like never before.”The Cross and the Switchblade is a book written in 1962 by pastor David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. It tells the true story of Wilkerson's first five years in New York City, where he ministered to disillusioned youth, encouraging them to turn away from the drugs and gang violence they were involved with. The book became a best seller, with more than 16 million copies distributed in over 30 languages. This is the comic version of the same story.

Genres: Comics, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Christian, Spirituality

173 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2015

About the author

Henry Allan Hartley ,known professionally as Al Hartley, was an American comic book writer-artist known for his work on Archie Comics, Atlas Comics (the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comics), and Spire Christian Comics . He received an Inkpot Award at the 1980 San Diego Comic-Con.

Reviews

[Judah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes.
Yes he does.

Archie/Marvel Comics artist Al Hartley found Jesus in the 1970s, and got involved in the fundamentalist Christian comic trade, ala Jack Chick. This adaptation of the still-popular (and never to be read by me) "biography" of David Wilkerson reads like a ancient and dated sermon familiar to anyone who's spent any time in the Fundamentalist world. In typical Fundi fashion, David is the purest of pure-hearts, and "God works in mysterious ways" (read: coincidences and emotional manipulation) in order to convert wild gangs who come right out of West Side Story to his small-town evangelical pure-Christianity. As usual, with these sort of stories, things work out just so, in a way that sounds anecdotal and completely fabricated in order to get a response out of a captive audience (read: propagandistic). While Hartley's art is good, his talents are wasted on a story too dull to mean anything if you aren't prone to emotional manipulation.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was raised a Born Again Christian and sent to a strict Christian school. We were highly discouraged from, among other things, reading comic books. Spire Comics and anything by Jack T. Chick were the big exceptions (although I was allowed Dr. Who, for some unknown reason.) This was a comic I read many times, because, quite frankly, I didn't have much of a choice.

And yes, kids, there was a time when you could get a comic book for 39 cents (US.)

Story wise, it's completely predictable and completely forgettable. We weren't allowed to question anything as kids. If the school or church told us it was a true story, it was a true story. But even as a kid, I could smell bullshit. This is the comic book version of the 1962 popular novel. Funny how no one tried to look into this story closely to see if the author was telling the truth.

The only redeeming feature of the comic was the art. Even though it didn't have animals in it, I was fascinated by the art, for some reason. The classic comic style bores me now.

This comic book might have some collectable value, but other than that, it's a waste of trees.

[Kimberly Snipes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for kids

I consider this work to be an accessible effective outreach tool for kids. Kids love comics. The coloring in this work is bright and displays talent. The vocabulary level can be easily mastered. Altogether suitable for evangelistic purposes.

[Jamelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and engaging novel about the Lord God!! 😊😊🙏

The Cross and the Switchboard is so good. I believe that if more youth being put in peer pressure read this can feel at ease and know the power of God

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Life

I have read this time and time again from a young age which I suppose the comic format is great, Having heard Nicky Cruz talk it’s an Amazing story which can be enjoyed by everybody whether you believe or not.

[Ikeda chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

It was incredible because at the starting he was acting mean then at the end he was acting like super man

[Sadie leroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it a lot

Its a some g u h k gk j j h o I h e l l o 😔 😌

[Karina Heng · Rating 5 out of 5]

So accessible.

[Elsie Marie Cochren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

This is a great book. The graphic illustration are colorful. It is a shortened version of the book. I enjoyed reading it.

[Yi-Ying Emily Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

Jesus changed the life of a hopeless gangster through a preacher who was willing to obey God's calling. To live a overcoming life!

[Glenn E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good comic book

Good comic book version of a book I am going to be reading. Used to have this same book on paper years ago.

[David McDevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's goofy and I like the illustrations. Hopefully it's too old to do much more harm in the world

[Bola Owoade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very convicting

I've read the book but anytime ready am always touched by this example of good ol faith that the church needs today.

[Lea Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicky Cruz is good person

That God could reach everyone if they ask in there n
Hearts the story of him show that he had a bad life until a preacher show him away out of it

[rita salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

God only knows

I loved this, great story and so true. God can reach the unreachable and give purpose to lost souls. Amen

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran across this while looking for the sequel to the original memoir. Unsurprisingly, it lacks some of the depth of the original, but it was still a very enjoyable read.

References to drugs and violence, but probably appropriate for most teen readers, and in some cases even younger readers might enjoy it.

[Štefan Moravčík · Rating 5 out of 5]

Komiks v krátkosti zhŕňa dej knihy Dýka a kríž. Na motívy skutočnej udalosti, ako sa Dávid Wilkerson niekedy v polovici 20.st. rozhodol vyraziť do ulíc New Yorku a evanjelizovať priamo uprostred vojny gangov, kde sa musí väčšmi spoliehať na Pána - rastie jeho viera.
Komiksová skrátená verzia je super ako ochutnávka a naladenie na knihu, ale aj povzbudenie pre mladých. Vysoko odporúčam vychovávateľom a animátorom, ktorí robia s mladými.

[David Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

God working through Nicky Cruz

I saw the film some years ago and found it touched my inner self. This was before I found the book and found out the story of David Wilkerson to be not only nonfiction but that he was very much alive. If you have enjoyed reading this book then you will also find Run, Baby Run as enjoyable.

[A. Duane West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story of a Modern Day Saint

David Wilkerson was truly a modern day saint, a prophetic voice in the wilderness, and a man used greatly by God in the lives of many people around the world. The Cross and the Switchblade was how many people were introduced to him. I had this comic in the 1970's and it was a treat to read it again.

[Richard E. Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can and will change you if you will let it, I pray you will! I recommend this book to all teens and young adults.

I rated this book high for it's ability to keep your attention. Again I would recommend this book to all young adult's and teens.

[Christianna Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

No matter what your going through this book let's u know about how much God loves u and how no matter what u do he will always love u