The Sixsmiths: Volume One

The Sixsmiths #1

by Jason Franks

The Sixsmiths are a family of suburban Satanists who've fallen prey to the global recession. Now their life is in turmoil: Ralf needs to find a new job; the twins, Cain and Lilith, need to survive the public school system; and Annie needs to keep them all sane and under budget. Meanwhile, their estranged elder daughter Jezabelle is having her own crisis of faith. Will the Devil rise to smite their enemies, or will he damn them with hellfire and wrath?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

168 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2010

About the author

Jason Franks is a novelist and comics writer. His occult rock'n'roll novel Bloody Waters was an Aurealis Award finalist, and his dark fantasy Faerie Apocalypse a Ditmar nominee. His Sixsmiths graphic novels were shortlisted for a Ledger award.

Born in South Africa, Franks grew up in Melbourne, Australia. He has also lived in the United States and Japan.

Franks' upcoming work includes Frankenstein Monstrance, a comics miniseries with Tam Nation, and a sequel to Bloody Waters called Blackened Skies.

Reviews

[Lucas Mattila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun, great satire of religion!

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew when I bought this book that it would be different from others, and yet I was still surprised at what was in this comic! I actually enjoyed this would be interested in reading more, I think the Sixsmiths are an interesting family with a POV we don't see often. That being said, this is totally not for kids or younger teens as there are various sex scenes sprinkled throughout the book. I also found this book funnier than I thought it would be and it was a pretty quick read, one sitting is all you need.

[Pete Aldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Not normally a graphic novel fan, but I genuinely loved this.

Definitely a comic for the grownups. A satirical look at raising a family, at organised religion and at school and workplace politics. Plenty of sight gags, plenty of characters you'll love to love and those you'll love to hate, and a wonderful "owning" of urban Aussie culture.

On to Volume 2!

[Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Franks is an interesting writer with an original turn of mind. The Sixsmiths is a brilliant idea. Take an average suburban family dealing with a typical mundane crisis - retrenchment, a loss of income and a shift in neighbourhood and schools. Add a twist - they're satanists.

This scenario obviously lends itself to plenty of opportunity to comment upon being religions in a world torn by sectarian strife and assailed by materialism. It's hard to hold on to your faith and fit in with the mainstream, but the Sixsmiths do their best to do their unholy duty and stay true to their depraved ideals and there's a certain nobility in that.

Franks doesn't just play it for laughs either. Like the best of all comedy, we feel for the characters as real people and the melodrama works as drama. J Marc Schmidt brings it all to life with his simple yet effective cartooning. The visual storytelling is clear, the drawing is humorous and the characters distinctive. A fine blend of words and pictures which is the essence of a good graphic novel.

A clever satirical work with heart (even if it is a black one).

[Lync Lync · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in the 1st edition - an A5 paperback put out by SLG Publishing and loved it. Jason has now expanded and added a lot of new material. Volume One is still very close to the original edition with subtle changes (such as 'PowerPlum Girls' replacing the explicit 'Powerpuff Girls', although the graphic is identical and identifiable), and some of the dialogue has been toned down, but it is essentially the same story of an out-of-work Satanist and his family's attempt to cope. Lotsof satyr and humour make this a fun read, while still touching on the human elements of unemployment, poverty, religion, and wayward teenage children.
Have now commenced Volume Two.

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deeply religious family faces hard times after the father loses his job. The twist? The family are Satanists. So that is funny, and there is a lot of humor, but there is also a lot that anyone of any faith can relate to. The oldest daughter who is rebelling against her parent's religion. The younger teens siblings who are bored being dragged off to church functions. How hard it is to maintain faith when bad things happen.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much of this is a perfect parody of my uber-Christian upbringing. But it didn't actually make me cringe too much! It's also a surprisingly interesting story--I'm definitely going to pick up the second volume to see how the cliffhanger works out. I'm rooting for Jezabelle to go back to the monks, tbh.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I arrived early for a netball carnival and read this in the hour I had spare, sitting in the early morning sun. Laughed my bags off, and doubly love it because it is Australian. Read it if you enjoy subversion.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, but an amusing one about your friendly neighborhood Satanists. Can't wait for volume 2.

[Kristin Fletcher-spear · Rating 2 out of 5]

reviewing for voya.

[Kamakana · Rating 4 out of 5]

R

[Mark Smith-briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, tounge-in-cheek look at a family of honest, hard working satanists trying to make ends meet during an economic downturn, delivered with razor sharp wit and biting satire.

[Dawn]

I thought this book was supposed to be funny but I was wrong. A total waste of time. The characters themselves weren't even over the top enough to be laughed at.

[Jane Routley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting way of fixing a photocopier. Seriously though a fun read. Franks has really got a feel for the religious life if this makes sense

[Erin Tuzuner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tongue in cheek comic about modern day satanists.