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Judas #1-4
Judas
Judas Iscariot journeys through life and death, grappling with his place in “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”
EVERY STORY NEEDS A VILLAIN
Judas Iscariot is one of the most tragic figures of the Bible -- an acolyte, a betrayer, a villain. But if it wasn’t for Judas… the story of Jesus wouldn’t work. Before he was born, he was a slave to the story. In a religion built on redemption and forgiveness, one man had to sacrifice himself for everyone… and it wasn’t Jesus.
Written by Emmy and WGA Award-nominated Jeff Loveness (Nova) and illustrated by Jakub Rebelka (Namesake), Judas is a visually striking odyssey of spirituality and fantasy that follows Judas Iscariot through the depths of Hell as he grapples with his place in the “Greatest Story Ever Told,” facing trials and tribulations taken from between the lines of the Bible.
Kirkus Starred!
"Villainy is re-examined and religious narrative questioned in this bold and uncomfortably thought-provoking graphic novel about Judas Iscariot. ...This book is not for all readers, but all who read it will be challenged and enriched by the questions it raises."
EVERY STORY NEEDS A VILLAIN
Judas Iscariot is one of the most tragic figures of the Bible -- an acolyte, a betrayer, a villain. But if it wasn’t for Judas… the story of Jesus wouldn’t work. Before he was born, he was a slave to the story. In a religion built on redemption and forgiveness, one man had to sacrifice himself for everyone… and it wasn’t Jesus.
Written by Emmy and WGA Award-nominated Jeff Loveness (Nova) and illustrated by Jakub Rebelka (Namesake), Judas is a visually striking odyssey of spirituality and fantasy that follows Judas Iscariot through the depths of Hell as he grapples with his place in the “Greatest Story Ever Told,” facing trials and tribulations taken from between the lines of the Bible.
Kirkus Starred!
"Villainy is re-examined and religious narrative questioned in this bold and uncomfortably thought-provoking graphic novel about Judas Iscariot. ...This book is not for all readers, but all who read it will be challenged and enriched by the questions it raises."
112 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2018
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839 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
December 31, 2018
This is one of those rare reads that resonated with me on such a profoundly personal level I was left feeling like it had been created just for me. I don't know if you've ever had an experience like that but its only happened to me one or two other times. Like the universe put this book in my hands. Like Jeff Loveness and Jakob Rebelka were born to write and draw this so I could see the world just a tiny bit more clearly, have everything come together for me for just a moment of perfect clarity.
I don't subscribe to any organized religion. On the belief scale I fall somewhere between a secular humanist and an agnostic. I try to remember that, at least at the cellular level, we are all connected. I'm old enough now to know I don't know anything and I like to think my mind is open enough to at least consider the endless possibilities for what comes next. But I think we should be good people for the sake of being good people. I don't think I have to beg for forgiveness for things that are only sins because someone as human as I am decided they were. The universe is already such an awesome and amazing place I think its almost sad to try to tack a label like "god" onto the stuff we don't understand and call it a day.
I was born with a mind built for asking questions and seeking out and solving mysteries and I intend to use it.
I think blind faith makes you, well, blind.
I wasn't always like this. I had that same crisis of faith I think a lot of people do. Its easy to believe in an all loving, all forgiving god when you're a child because your world is so small. When you get older and you start seeing all the suffering, the senseless violence, the starving nations and the shocking acts of brutality visited on thousands of people by unfeeling leaders, the hatred, god the hatred is sometimes just completely overwhelming.
It just got to the point where "its gods will" and "its all part of his plan" felt less like comfort and more like excuses.
When I was a teenager and I was bored in church (which was basically every Sunday, with apologies to Reverend Cary) I read the bible. I realize that given my passion for Hannibal slash fan fiction and tendency to curse like a truck driver this may come as a surprise, but nevertheless once upon a time I could probably quote most of Exodus to you without thinking too hard about it and it even got to the point where I had "favorite" characters.
One of them was Judas. For those of you not in the know Judas was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He was the favorite, at least that's how I always saw it. He also always struck me as the smartest. He was the only one who ever questioned Jesus. He wanted to know what the big picture was, how they were going to reclaim their home from the occupying forces of Rome, what all the healing and feeding thousands with one fish and a loaf of bread was for. He didn't always agree with Jesus' methods and he told him so. Rebellious teenage me admired the hell out of that. He believed in Jesus but he still questioned. His faith wasn't blind.
That's why I always thought he got a bad rap. To recap quickly Judas' concerns eventually come to a head and he agrees to betray Jesus to the local priests who are concerned that his "radical" teaching of things like being nice to people and helping the less fortunate will lead to revolution and bring down terrible retribution from Rome. This betrayal leads ultimately to the crucifixion which leads to the resurrection and the forgiveness of all of humanities sins. Which, it turns out, was all part of (say it with me now) god's plan! Basically Judas has to betray Jesus and Jesus has to die so we don't go to hell for everything from that time you called your sister a butt head to Ted Bundy murdering half a sorority house. It is god's will that Judas betray the son of god so that his destiny as the savior of the world can be fulfilled.
At least I think that's how it works.
But what happened to Judas you ask!? Oh he was so horrified with what he'd done that he killed himself which resulted in his being sent to hell for all eternity.
(On a somewhat unrelated note my favorite version of this part of the story is Dante's because Judas is trapped on a frozen lake with his butt literally hanging out of Satan's mouth being slowly chewed to pieces for all time. Seriously do an image search on this, his naked ass is always hanging out).
So Judas does what he's supposed to do, what he has apparently been put on this earth to do, what he had no choice but to do and he gets to spend an eternity with his naked butt hanging out of Satan's mouth?
I'm sorry but that's bullshit.
Apparently Jeff Loveness and Jakob Rebelka agree with me.
Their rather astounding book picks up right after Judas has committed suicide. He finds himself in the grey, lifeless wastelands of hell where he's nearly torn apart by other tormented souls before being rescued by none other than the Morningstar himself, Satan. But this isn't the prince of evil incarnate he's expecting. In fact it seems he and Judas have more than a few things in common. Satan is angry at a God that wrote such miserable, painful roles for them in his grand story. He feels cheated for doing exactly what they were supposed to do and then being punished for it. He introduces Judas to others like him who played their roles, Goliath, Jezebel, Lot's nameless wife. Men and women who's only crime was doing what they were created to do.
When Satan proposes a perfect revenge against God's beloved son Judas must decide which feelings are stronger, the lingering love and devotion he still holds for his friend or the bitter cold resentment.
I read this so quickly and I let out such a profound sigh when I was done it was like I'd been holding my breath the whole time. Because Loveness' Judas is just like me. He can't reconcile a world so filled with evil and hatred and unkindness with a god that only wants us to love one another. He can't figure out how any grand design or great plan could possibly warrant the pain and misery of so many innocent bystanders.
What story could be so important that its worth giving up your soul for?
That Loveness and Rebelka ask such a profound question is amazing in and of itself, that they have an answer is even more amazing.
Rebelka's illustrations are simply breathtaking, there's no other way to put it. This book looks like a medieval illuminated manuscript, something I'm sure is no accident. The colors are so rich you can almost taste them. While the landscapes of this world are often left somewhat undefined Rebelka spares no detail when it comes to the characters. I swear Judas' haunted eyes haven't left my mind since I read this a week ago, the sickly pallor of his skin, the folds of his cloak and the way it shadows his face. I keep coming back to the word rich, but it really is the best way to describe every illustration.
This is one of those simple stories, not unlike Jesus' parables, that says a lot with very few words. Because the simple truths really are the most profound. In fact Loveness quotes the scriptures throughout his story though they take on a very different meaning then the one originally intended.
One of the things that turned me away from the idea of god when I was just a green girl was that at the end of the day I couldn't love or believe in just the idea of something. I enjoyed the stories in the bible, I learned things, some of them very important, from those stories but couldn't believe or trust in them as the literal word of a god so full of contradictions and hypocrisies who had no answers for me except "its my will" or "its all part of the plan."
I believe in people. I believe that our capacity for love, our tireless drive to learn and create and question are things that are just part of what it is to be human. They aren't gifts we were given by someone we have to submit to for fear of punishment.
I believe in the Dali Llama and Tom Waits and Francis Crick and Shakespeare.
And against all probability at the very moment when I found myself needing to be reassured about that I find this book and two men who shared those questions I always seem to have and those same beliefs in the innate goodness of human nature winning against whatever darkness might rise in us.
And irony of ironies in this moment of perfect communion between writer, illustrator and reader...
I see god.
I don't subscribe to any organized religion. On the belief scale I fall somewhere between a secular humanist and an agnostic. I try to remember that, at least at the cellular level, we are all connected. I'm old enough now to know I don't know anything and I like to think my mind is open enough to at least consider the endless possibilities for what comes next. But I think we should be good people for the sake of being good people. I don't think I have to beg for forgiveness for things that are only sins because someone as human as I am decided they were. The universe is already such an awesome and amazing place I think its almost sad to try to tack a label like "god" onto the stuff we don't understand and call it a day.
I was born with a mind built for asking questions and seeking out and solving mysteries and I intend to use it.
I think blind faith makes you, well, blind.
I wasn't always like this. I had that same crisis of faith I think a lot of people do. Its easy to believe in an all loving, all forgiving god when you're a child because your world is so small. When you get older and you start seeing all the suffering, the senseless violence, the starving nations and the shocking acts of brutality visited on thousands of people by unfeeling leaders, the hatred, god the hatred is sometimes just completely overwhelming.
It just got to the point where "its gods will" and "its all part of his plan" felt less like comfort and more like excuses.
When I was a teenager and I was bored in church (which was basically every Sunday, with apologies to Reverend Cary) I read the bible. I realize that given my passion for Hannibal slash fan fiction and tendency to curse like a truck driver this may come as a surprise, but nevertheless once upon a time I could probably quote most of Exodus to you without thinking too hard about it and it even got to the point where I had "favorite" characters.
One of them was Judas. For those of you not in the know Judas was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He was the favorite, at least that's how I always saw it. He also always struck me as the smartest. He was the only one who ever questioned Jesus. He wanted to know what the big picture was, how they were going to reclaim their home from the occupying forces of Rome, what all the healing and feeding thousands with one fish and a loaf of bread was for. He didn't always agree with Jesus' methods and he told him so. Rebellious teenage me admired the hell out of that. He believed in Jesus but he still questioned. His faith wasn't blind.
That's why I always thought he got a bad rap. To recap quickly Judas' concerns eventually come to a head and he agrees to betray Jesus to the local priests who are concerned that his "radical" teaching of things like being nice to people and helping the less fortunate will lead to revolution and bring down terrible retribution from Rome. This betrayal leads ultimately to the crucifixion which leads to the resurrection and the forgiveness of all of humanities sins. Which, it turns out, was all part of (say it with me now) god's plan! Basically Judas has to betray Jesus and Jesus has to die so we don't go to hell for everything from that time you called your sister a butt head to Ted Bundy murdering half a sorority house. It is god's will that Judas betray the son of god so that his destiny as the savior of the world can be fulfilled.
At least I think that's how it works.
But what happened to Judas you ask!? Oh he was so horrified with what he'd done that he killed himself which resulted in his being sent to hell for all eternity.
(On a somewhat unrelated note my favorite version of this part of the story is Dante's because Judas is trapped on a frozen lake with his butt literally hanging out of Satan's mouth being slowly chewed to pieces for all time. Seriously do an image search on this, his naked ass is always hanging out).
So Judas does what he's supposed to do, what he has apparently been put on this earth to do, what he had no choice but to do and he gets to spend an eternity with his naked butt hanging out of Satan's mouth?
I'm sorry but that's bullshit.
Apparently Jeff Loveness and Jakob Rebelka agree with me.
Their rather astounding book picks up right after Judas has committed suicide. He finds himself in the grey, lifeless wastelands of hell where he's nearly torn apart by other tormented souls before being rescued by none other than the Morningstar himself, Satan. But this isn't the prince of evil incarnate he's expecting. In fact it seems he and Judas have more than a few things in common. Satan is angry at a God that wrote such miserable, painful roles for them in his grand story. He feels cheated for doing exactly what they were supposed to do and then being punished for it. He introduces Judas to others like him who played their roles, Goliath, Jezebel, Lot's nameless wife. Men and women who's only crime was doing what they were created to do.
When Satan proposes a perfect revenge against God's beloved son Judas must decide which feelings are stronger, the lingering love and devotion he still holds for his friend or the bitter cold resentment.
I read this so quickly and I let out such a profound sigh when I was done it was like I'd been holding my breath the whole time. Because Loveness' Judas is just like me. He can't reconcile a world so filled with evil and hatred and unkindness with a god that only wants us to love one another. He can't figure out how any grand design or great plan could possibly warrant the pain and misery of so many innocent bystanders.
What story could be so important that its worth giving up your soul for?
That Loveness and Rebelka ask such a profound question is amazing in and of itself, that they have an answer is even more amazing.
Rebelka's illustrations are simply breathtaking, there's no other way to put it. This book looks like a medieval illuminated manuscript, something I'm sure is no accident. The colors are so rich you can almost taste them. While the landscapes of this world are often left somewhat undefined Rebelka spares no detail when it comes to the characters. I swear Judas' haunted eyes haven't left my mind since I read this a week ago, the sickly pallor of his skin, the folds of his cloak and the way it shadows his face. I keep coming back to the word rich, but it really is the best way to describe every illustration.
This is one of those simple stories, not unlike Jesus' parables, that says a lot with very few words. Because the simple truths really are the most profound. In fact Loveness quotes the scriptures throughout his story though they take on a very different meaning then the one originally intended.
One of the things that turned me away from the idea of god when I was just a green girl was that at the end of the day I couldn't love or believe in just the idea of something. I enjoyed the stories in the bible, I learned things, some of them very important, from those stories but couldn't believe or trust in them as the literal word of a god so full of contradictions and hypocrisies who had no answers for me except "its my will" or "its all part of the plan."
I believe in people. I believe that our capacity for love, our tireless drive to learn and create and question are things that are just part of what it is to be human. They aren't gifts we were given by someone we have to submit to for fear of punishment.
I believe in the Dali Llama and Tom Waits and Francis Crick and Shakespeare.
And against all probability at the very moment when I found myself needing to be reassured about that I find this book and two men who shared those questions I always seem to have and those same beliefs in the innate goodness of human nature winning against whatever darkness might rise in us.
And irony of ironies in this moment of perfect communion between writer, illustrator and reader...
I see god.
July 27, 2023
Was Judas set up to fail?
If God is omnipotent, and Jesus is God, then why did he choose Judas to be one of his 12 disciples?
Didn't he know what was going to happen? And if he did, isn't that akin to putting a bag of heroin, spoon, lighter, and needle in front of a junkie, then walking out of the room with the idea that whether or not he shovels it into his veins is nothing more than free will?
I don't know the answer to that.
And since I'm not a Christian, the question of Judas isn't something that keeps me up at night.
But I think a lot of people will enjoy Jeff Loveness' take on what a redemption story for this character might look like.
I will say that this is not a comic that fundamental evangelicals will find entertaining. As someone who grew up in that environment, I can say with confidence that there is definitely at least one part that they will not agree with.
This isn't a sticking point for me personally, but buyer beware.
At the end of the day, this just didn't hit me in my feels. But I thought it was a really interesting character study of an important biblical character. And while I didn't quite dig the way it all panned out, I think that's more down to my personal sense of right and wrong, and less to do with Loveless' what if take on things.
The art was ok, but nothing to make me get excited about. I thought it was serviceable and fit with the religious theme.
Recommended with caveats.
If God is omnipotent, and Jesus is God, then why did he choose Judas to be one of his 12 disciples?
Didn't he know what was going to happen? And if he did, isn't that akin to putting a bag of heroin, spoon, lighter, and needle in front of a junkie, then walking out of the room with the idea that whether or not he shovels it into his veins is nothing more than free will?
I don't know the answer to that.
And since I'm not a Christian, the question of Judas isn't something that keeps me up at night.
But I think a lot of people will enjoy Jeff Loveness' take on what a redemption story for this character might look like.
I will say that this is not a comic that fundamental evangelicals will find entertaining. As someone who grew up in that environment, I can say with confidence that there is definitely at least one part that they will not agree with.
This isn't a sticking point for me personally, but buyer beware.
At the end of the day, this just didn't hit me in my feels. But I thought it was a really interesting character study of an important biblical character. And while I didn't quite dig the way it all panned out, I think that's more down to my personal sense of right and wrong, and less to do with Loveless' what if take on things.
The art was ok, but nothing to make me get excited about. I thought it was serviceable and fit with the religious theme.
Recommended with caveats.
December 18, 2019
Judas is the story of what happens to Judas after he hangs himself. He's in Hell and met by Lucifer where he discovers he was fated to be the villain because God needed a villain for his story. It's an interesting treatise, that Judas is a slave to the story and never had any free will to not betray Jesus. It was always fated. There's more to the story than this but I'd rather not spoil it for you.
Jakub Rebelka's art is excellent. It has a bit of Teddy Kristiansen or Brian Stelfreeze's painted art feel to it with his own unique twist.
Jakub Rebelka's art is excellent. It has a bit of Teddy Kristiansen or Brian Stelfreeze's painted art feel to it with his own unique twist.
October 4, 2018
A very interesting graphic novel for someone who doesn't really believe in religion anymore.
So Judas is about what happens after Judas is sent to hell after he hangs himself. He's traveling the land of the underworld when Satan himself decides to have a little chit-chat. Trying to convince Judas that Jesus knew the betrayal would happen and that he was used for the story to be made. Judas listens, and like any person, feels betrayed. The twist is Jesus is sent to hell himself, and it brings some very interesting themes and thoughts.
Good: I really loved the art here. It was both haunting and beautiful. The twist was implemented really well. I like the themes spoken here, and even if you don't have a religion, you can appreciate what it's going for. The ending is both uplifting and still gives a sense of sadness.
Bad: Might be a tad confusing if you weren't raised with religion or know anything about Jesus since it's heavy in the lore.
Overall, a very nice surprise. Jeff Loveness is one of my favorite writers in comics who doesn't really write much. While this didn't blow me away it was really well created. A 4 out of 5.
So Judas is about what happens after Judas is sent to hell after he hangs himself. He's traveling the land of the underworld when Satan himself decides to have a little chit-chat. Trying to convince Judas that Jesus knew the betrayal would happen and that he was used for the story to be made. Judas listens, and like any person, feels betrayed. The twist is Jesus is sent to hell himself, and it brings some very interesting themes and thoughts.
Good: I really loved the art here. It was both haunting and beautiful. The twist was implemented really well. I like the themes spoken here, and even if you don't have a religion, you can appreciate what it's going for. The ending is both uplifting and still gives a sense of sadness.
Bad: Might be a tad confusing if you weren't raised with religion or know anything about Jesus since it's heavy in the lore.
Overall, a very nice surprise. Jeff Loveness is one of my favorite writers in comics who doesn't really write much. While this didn't blow me away it was really well created. A 4 out of 5.
October 25, 2018
This was an interesting mental exercise, to explore Judas's role as a victim rather than a villain in Jesus's story. Christianity (and any religion really) never made much sense to me, especially in its arbitrary assignations of what is right and what is wrong, and who is to be punished and who is to be rewarded. And I can never reconcile the idea of the all-knowing, benevolent God and the supposed existence of Hell. This work builds on the inconsistencies in Christian dogma quite well.
I would recommend to pair this graphic novel with Ted Chiang's "Hell is the Absence of God."
I would recommend to pair this graphic novel with Ted Chiang's "Hell is the Absence of God."
August 16, 2018
A book about Judas in hell and how unfairly he was made to be the villain of someone else's story. Jeff Loveness is a good writer, but this is one of his first 'serious' comic books and it honestly doesn't read that well. It's an interesting idea and a cool exploration of the character, Loveness is clearly well-versed in his Bible mythology, and I like the sentiment behind the redemption of Christian world's most famous villain. But it's just not a well constructed story, the comic reads as disjointed philosophical and theological musings put to paper and accompanied by some beautiful artwork. I wanted to like it so much more, but unfortunately Judas is the first book by Jeff Loveness that disappointed me.
November 10, 2018
Jesus Christ and Judas fistfight in Hell!
The Apostle's Creed makes mention that after Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, he descended into hell. Apparently this is referred to as the Harrowing of Hell. There is some debate as to whether it is supported by Bible verse, but Loveness runs with it and adds a nice little spin as to how it might have played out. Can the betrayed forgive the betrayer? Will anyone get resurrected if Satan has his way? Is there free will, or is everything preordained?
As I often do, I picked this off the new graphic novel releases shelf at the library and started reading without looking at the back cover or knowing anything about it or its creators. Now I'm thinking I need to check out some more of Loveness' work, like the Groot book for Marvel that I see listed here on Goodreads.
The Apostle's Creed makes mention that after Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, he descended into hell. Apparently this is referred to as the Harrowing of Hell. There is some debate as to whether it is supported by Bible verse, but Loveness runs with it and adds a nice little spin as to how it might have played out. Can the betrayed forgive the betrayer? Will anyone get resurrected if Satan has his way? Is there free will, or is everything preordained?
As I often do, I picked this off the new graphic novel releases shelf at the library and started reading without looking at the back cover or knowing anything about it or its creators. Now I'm thinking I need to check out some more of Loveness' work, like the Groot book for Marvel that I see listed here on Goodreads.
March 22, 2019
An amazing and balanced take on one of the most vilified and misunderstood figures in history.
April 7, 2021
“I may assert eternal providence, / And justify the ways of God to men.
John Milton, Paradise Lost
Much like Jeff Loveness, I was raised in a Christian household and was taught to believe in the message of Jesus, of love, compassion, and forgiveness. But as I grew older, like many, I began to notice the mounting contradictions and, dare I say, hypocrisies that were found in The Bible.
I found that God could be just as contradictory and paradoxical as all men could be. There was the part of me that tried to justify it, but there was that nagging doubt that perhaps God wasn't who I thought he was. It was this, along with the contradictions and hypocrisies of the people who claimed to be believers in the message of Christ and his word, that really influenced my leaving of the church. So when I heard on Youtube of a comic that would tackle the greatest traitor in the history of man (that isn't Benedict Arnold or Brutus) and what happened to him after he made his fateful decision, it tickled my interest. What would happen? How would this comic tackle this approach? Would Judas try to redeem himself of his crimes, or would he wallow in despair and self hatred?
It would safe to say that this short comic really hit close to home for me. It was almost like Jeff Loveness had walked the path that I had, and lived through what I have, or maybe he had lived something similar to what I have. His knowledge of Christian mythos is erudite, and much like John Milton before him, he re-contextualizes Biblical myths and offers interesting interpretations on Biblical events though a new lens, though unlike Milton, Loveness doesn't seek to justify God's ways to man, but rather to allow man to cope with God's ways.
We sympathize with Judas, Loveness gives him philosophical and personal reasons to doubt, and he also shows that Judas simply has no choice but to doubt. He isn't like Satan, though, in that his quest against God is based on rage, bitterness, egotism, and resentment. But Judas is human, full of complexities, conflicts, and questions, and he proves that he is better than Satan by choosing to embrace love and compassion, instead of succumbing to despair and hatred.
There are also interpretations of Jesus having been sent to hell to preach to the damned, which is also explored, as well as attempting to answer where exactly Jesus was in those 3 days that he had been dead. There are also subtle nuances thrown into the story, such as Jesus' dialogue being red until he is thrown into Hell, or biblical references being slid in to add extra flavor, as well as, once again, having Biblical myths be re-contextualized and given new ways to us to experience these stories that we've heard all of our lives in a new and interesting way.
I also can't review this book without mentioning the art of relative newcomer Jakub Rebelka, whose dark and moody style dares evoke comparison to Hellboy scribe Mike Mignola, something that even Mignola would admit! His style is gorgeous and I am filled with awe whenever I give it a look, and I do plan to experience his work wherever I can find it in the near future.
At the end of the day, Judas shows us that we are given a choice in life, death, and otherwise. Should we embrace hatred and bitterness or should we choose to embrace love and compassion. It is a comic that is meant to be experienced, and I for one was glad to have done so.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13
John Milton, Paradise Lost
Much like Jeff Loveness, I was raised in a Christian household and was taught to believe in the message of Jesus, of love, compassion, and forgiveness. But as I grew older, like many, I began to notice the mounting contradictions and, dare I say, hypocrisies that were found in The Bible.
I found that God could be just as contradictory and paradoxical as all men could be. There was the part of me that tried to justify it, but there was that nagging doubt that perhaps God wasn't who I thought he was. It was this, along with the contradictions and hypocrisies of the people who claimed to be believers in the message of Christ and his word, that really influenced my leaving of the church. So when I heard on Youtube of a comic that would tackle the greatest traitor in the history of man (that isn't Benedict Arnold or Brutus) and what happened to him after he made his fateful decision, it tickled my interest. What would happen? How would this comic tackle this approach? Would Judas try to redeem himself of his crimes, or would he wallow in despair and self hatred?
It would safe to say that this short comic really hit close to home for me. It was almost like Jeff Loveness had walked the path that I had, and lived through what I have, or maybe he had lived something similar to what I have. His knowledge of Christian mythos is erudite, and much like John Milton before him, he re-contextualizes Biblical myths and offers interesting interpretations on Biblical events though a new lens, though unlike Milton, Loveness doesn't seek to justify God's ways to man, but rather to allow man to cope with God's ways.
We sympathize with Judas, Loveness gives him philosophical and personal reasons to doubt, and he also shows that Judas simply has no choice but to doubt. He isn't like Satan, though, in that his quest against God is based on rage, bitterness, egotism, and resentment. But Judas is human, full of complexities, conflicts, and questions, and he proves that he is better than Satan by choosing to embrace love and compassion, instead of succumbing to despair and hatred.
There are also interpretations of Jesus having been sent to hell to preach to the damned, which is also explored, as well as attempting to answer where exactly Jesus was in those 3 days that he had been dead. There are also subtle nuances thrown into the story, such as Jesus' dialogue being red until he is thrown into Hell, or biblical references being slid in to add extra flavor, as well as, once again, having Biblical myths be re-contextualized and given new ways to us to experience these stories that we've heard all of our lives in a new and interesting way.
I also can't review this book without mentioning the art of relative newcomer Jakub Rebelka, whose dark and moody style dares evoke comparison to Hellboy scribe Mike Mignola, something that even Mignola would admit! His style is gorgeous and I am filled with awe whenever I give it a look, and I do plan to experience his work wherever I can find it in the near future.
At the end of the day, Judas shows us that we are given a choice in life, death, and otherwise. Should we embrace hatred and bitterness or should we choose to embrace love and compassion. It is a comic that is meant to be experienced, and I for one was glad to have done so.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13
May 6, 2018
This was a very moving story and definitely not what I was expecting. It manages to take a critical look at the crucifixion story but also not be anywhere near as sacrilegious as I thought it would be. Definitely a very interesting read if you have an open mind about religion. Also the art is just really gorgeous and I think it fits the tone of the story very well.
December 10, 2018
Amazing book. I always felt like Judas was given the rawest of raw deals and here, Loveness does his part to redeem the man, not unlike what John Milton attempted to do with Satan in Paradise Lost. Is this graphic novel the equal of Paradise Lost? Well, no, but it's a start. Judas is "a prisoner of the story," and was destined to do what he did because God needed a villain, just like other figures from the Bible: Goliath, Jezebel, etc. The twist comes when Jesus descends into hell for three days following his crucifixion and finds he has a friend there waiting for him--this always seems to have been the plan--and the realization that this was also a part of the role he had to play sets Judas back on the road to a sort of redemption. A beautiful story told with some of the most beautiful artwork I've seen in a book in years, by Jakub Rebelka.
March 25, 2018
Lo primero que les pasa por la mente es: "Hummm, personajes biblicos. Esto no es para mi."
Pero esperen! Esto no es una propaganda religiosa, no es las mismas historias que ya todo el mundo sabe. Es una historial original, que si, puede estar basada en religion, pero es mucho mucho mas. Es una historia por si misma, una epica para ser exactos.
Si pueden sobreponerse al hecho de la religion, ver mas alla de los prejuicios (que yo incluido tenia por el mero hecho de llamarse de esta manera), van a leer algo fantastico.
El arte es espectacular, nunca vi un comic con colores como el dorado. Al ser solo cuatro numeros no se alarga de manera innecesaria. Los dialogos son excelentes, sobre todo en los dos primeros.
No se me ocurre nada que pueda ser negativo en este comic.
Pero esperen! Esto no es una propaganda religiosa, no es las mismas historias que ya todo el mundo sabe. Es una historial original, que si, puede estar basada en religion, pero es mucho mucho mas. Es una historia por si misma, una epica para ser exactos.
Si pueden sobreponerse al hecho de la religion, ver mas alla de los prejuicios (que yo incluido tenia por el mero hecho de llamarse de esta manera), van a leer algo fantastico.
El arte es espectacular, nunca vi un comic con colores como el dorado. Al ser solo cuatro numeros no se alarga de manera innecesaria. Los dialogos son excelentes, sobre todo en los dos primeros.
No se me ocurre nada que pueda ser negativo en este comic.
April 13, 2022
Intense. Emotional depth and striking, even frightening, artwork. Recounts the typical Judas story until his suicide, then takes a jarring turn to an alternate history in Hell, but manages to do so without being sacrilegious.
May 25, 2019
This is one of the most poignant, stunning, and crippling comics 'I've ever read. Jeff Loveness—who is one of my favorite comic writers right now—has put together a story that's unlike anything else. "JUDAS" is nothing short of a masterclass in emotion and tragedy and represents one of the many, many reasons I love comics because this story 'couldn't have been told any other way.
While 'Loveness' writing is almost universally flawless—he occasionally strays into overemphasis in explaining certain things—'it's the pairing between his writing and Jakub Rebelka's artwork that catapults this into a whole other realm.
'Rebelka's art is genuinely human and viscerally—even terrifyingly—Other. He seems to capture the emotion of the characters on the page effortlessly, and the visual storytelling at work here is so potent that there 'could've been entire pages without a single line of dialogue and the narrative would still have remained clear.
This a story about God and Jesus and religion and heaven and hell, but it tackles the intricate and often conflicting theologies and beliefs of those concepts with relative ease. Loveness' use of Biblical scripture at crucial moments is genius; Colin 'Bell's lettering is evocative and precisely captures the weight and emotion of the words and images on the page, and Rebelka's illustrations bring remarkable life to a wealth of Biblically inspired images and horrors.
I devoured this comic, and it, in turn, devoured me. Please, please read it.
While 'Loveness' writing is almost universally flawless—he occasionally strays into overemphasis in explaining certain things—'it's the pairing between his writing and Jakub Rebelka's artwork that catapults this into a whole other realm.
'Rebelka's art is genuinely human and viscerally—even terrifyingly—Other. He seems to capture the emotion of the characters on the page effortlessly, and the visual storytelling at work here is so potent that there 'could've been entire pages without a single line of dialogue and the narrative would still have remained clear.
This a story about God and Jesus and religion and heaven and hell, but it tackles the intricate and often conflicting theologies and beliefs of those concepts with relative ease. Loveness' use of Biblical scripture at crucial moments is genius; Colin 'Bell's lettering is evocative and precisely captures the weight and emotion of the words and images on the page, and Rebelka's illustrations bring remarkable life to a wealth of Biblically inspired images and horrors.
I devoured this comic, and it, in turn, devoured me. Please, please read it.
June 5, 2019
Another surprising read from the IRCB comic challenge. Loveness explores the story of Judas as it relates to "The Greatest Story Ever Told". In doing so, he uses biblical verses sporadically to make the goings on more poignant. In a sense this is a meditation on what is evil and what is its place in the world? The book seems to favor the roles of protagonist and antagonist moreso than that of hero and villain. An unexpectedly moving read.
The artwork by Jacob Rebelka is unique - I've not seen anything like it to my recollection - and helps to keep the reader in sync with the story, as well as emphasize moments major and minor.
4.5 stars rounded to 5.
The artwork by Jacob Rebelka is unique - I've not seen anything like it to my recollection - and helps to keep the reader in sync with the story, as well as emphasize moments major and minor.
4.5 stars rounded to 5.
February 5, 2022
anybody want to be boy best friends
March 10, 2022
fucking the biblical canon is my favorite pastime. this is so excellent i love judas iscariot and i love boys
July 13, 2022
So this is actually one of the first graphic novels I've ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The artwork was absolutely gorgeous and the story was a beautiful take on the story of Judas. I have always been fascinated by Judas' character in the biblical stories, and this fed the flames of my imagination.
Eldritch horror vibes and a lovely twist to the Judas story we know, this gets 5 stars from me. Highly recommend.
Eldritch horror vibes and a lovely twist to the Judas story we know, this gets 5 stars from me. Highly recommend.
October 10, 2018
Gosh I feel bad for Judas. I have to admit this dimension to the story, or 'the story' as he and Lucifer refer to it, sounds a lot more thought-provoking and just interesting compared to the usual one-dimensional take on Judas' role as the betrayer with the thirty pieces of silver. I did feel somewhat letdown at the end when Judas has that whole realization - which I won't ruin for you - and then resigns himself to spend eternity in Hell. That was disappointing. Was Jesus worth it? Who's the real asshole here? I quite liked Loveness' idea of not accepting or breaking the paradigm/story but it didn't really work out that way in the end and I think that's where my disappointment comes from. All things considered, at least I'll be mulling this over for a bit and I'm definitely up for reading the next installment.
The art, with the exception of the facial expressions which were drawn beautifully, felt flat in certain places.
The art, with the exception of the facial expressions which were drawn beautifully, felt flat in certain places.
September 14, 2018
This was a really great comic! I really liked the message, and I think even non-Christians such as myself and get something from this. The art was amazing also. Highly recommend this!
Pre-Read Comments: So I was only able to read the firs tissue in this and then my LCS never got the other issues in. I was really dissapointed because I really enjoyed the first issue. I saw the trade listing on amazon and preordered it that instant. Very excited that I'm going to be able to read this after all! (I'm not very familiar with Boom and how they produce trades, so I didn't know if this would get one or not.
Pre-Read Comments: So I was only able to read the firs tissue in this and then my LCS never got the other issues in. I was really dissapointed because I really enjoyed the first issue. I saw the trade listing on amazon and preordered it that instant. Very excited that I'm going to be able to read this after all! (I'm not very familiar with Boom and how they produce trades, so I didn't know if this would get one or not.
March 27, 2019
Quite good! Although my own beliefs about Judas and his relationship to Jesus of Nazareth differ significantly from the take presented herein, I found this story compelling. Judas as the tormented, embittered disciple; Lucifer as the silver-tongued master of deceit, posing as a sincere ally; Jesus as the man of sorrows, seeking to do the Father’s will, seeing more than anyone else in this story, and still not quite yet able to see the whole picture.
The images are a bit intense and gothic.
The use of scripture is tasteful and enhances the overall story.
The images are a bit intense and gothic.
The use of scripture is tasteful and enhances the overall story.
December 30, 2021
this made me insane!!!!!!!!
April 7, 2022
There is hope for us all.
April 8, 2020
Wow de verdad que no esperaba mucho, pero es sin duda de las mejores historias gráficas que he leído, la primicia muy sencilla y sin embargo la forma de contar el pasaje de Judas en el infierno fue algo único, es una historia que cuestiona el dogma, vaya la redundancia 😅, me gusta mucho que utiliza momentos y pasajes de la Biblia.
No alcanza las 5 estrellas porque a mi parecer termino de forma muy rápida, daba para más hojas una historia así.
Me encantaron las ilustraciones, se puede ver el talento y el tiempo dedicado en cada una de las páginas.
Por último solo quiero decir que dentro de la historia se puede encontrar muchas enseñanzas para nuestro día a día, la mía? Pues ... todos somos parte de la historia, nuestras acciones son reflejo de lo que somos y cuando nos damos cuenta de quiénes somos (y no nos gusta) tenemos el poder de cambiar la historia.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Mi frase favorita: La historia siempre necesita un villano.
No alcanza las 5 estrellas porque a mi parecer termino de forma muy rápida, daba para más hojas una historia así.
Me encantaron las ilustraciones, se puede ver el talento y el tiempo dedicado en cada una de las páginas.
Por último solo quiero decir que dentro de la historia se puede encontrar muchas enseñanzas para nuestro día a día, la mía? Pues ... todos somos parte de la historia, nuestras acciones son reflejo de lo que somos y cuando nos damos cuenta de quiénes somos (y no nos gusta) tenemos el poder de cambiar la historia.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Mi frase favorita: La historia siempre necesita un villano.
January 26, 2019
A story to explain Judas's betrayal of Christ? I'm not really religious, but this story was amazingly written. It's setting is hell where time has little meaning, but to the outside world it's the three days between Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. The main topic is God's plan for humanity which includes sinners and innocents alike. While most of the arguments are not in Christ's favor, the outcome fits the story in the Bible perfectly.
Judas lost all will to live before he met Christ. He followed Christ for a while, but then doubt was seeded in his mind. He witnessed the wonders, but blamed Christ for not making the whole world better and for being trapped in his role as a betrayer.
Judas lost all will to live before he met Christ. He followed Christ for a while, but then doubt was seeded in his mind. He witnessed the wonders, but blamed Christ for not making the whole world better and for being trapped in his role as a betrayer.
October 18, 2024
4.5 stars
Judas was a stunning retelling and reexamination of a biblical story. Jeff Loveness and Jakub Rebelka explore the nature of free will and the potential for redemption through the infamous betrayer, Judas. We see Judas' life in the aftermath of his betrayal as he's sent to hell for his sins. Here we explore his bitterness at his place in the narrative and the confluence of events that led him to it.
Jeff Loveness and Jakub Rebelka are a well suited pair to tell this story. Loveness's mythic writing beautifully captures the spirit of such a grand tale. He seamlessly weaves bible quotes in with his own writing which is incredibly impressive and has a particular simple but evocative writing that captures the sweeping emotionality of the tale.
Rebelka's mind blowingly art works in perfect tandm with Loveness prose. Every page of this comic could be framed like a painting. The texture, the expression the framing, the colors, the visual metaphor... all of it works together like a symphony. The sheer scope of the beauty of the art in this book is honestly difficult to articulate but believe me when I say every page was a marvel.
My one gripe with Judas is its ultimate reaffirmation of the paradigms it initially challenged. Its ending was deflating because it concluded that God was, in the end, a benevolent presence whose will need not be challenged. But hey, I'm atheist so the ending might work for the more devout.
But overall Judas is heartbreaking and beautiful and well worth a read. The art alone is worth the price of admission so even if you aren't religious I'd recommend you give it a try.
Judas was a stunning retelling and reexamination of a biblical story. Jeff Loveness and Jakub Rebelka explore the nature of free will and the potential for redemption through the infamous betrayer, Judas. We see Judas' life in the aftermath of his betrayal as he's sent to hell for his sins. Here we explore his bitterness at his place in the narrative and the confluence of events that led him to it.
Jeff Loveness and Jakub Rebelka are a well suited pair to tell this story. Loveness's mythic writing beautifully captures the spirit of such a grand tale. He seamlessly weaves bible quotes in with his own writing which is incredibly impressive and has a particular simple but evocative writing that captures the sweeping emotionality of the tale.
Rebelka's mind blowingly art works in perfect tandm with Loveness prose. Every page of this comic could be framed like a painting. The texture, the expression the framing, the colors, the visual metaphor... all of it works together like a symphony. The sheer scope of the beauty of the art in this book is honestly difficult to articulate but believe me when I say every page was a marvel.
My one gripe with Judas is its ultimate reaffirmation of the paradigms it initially challenged. Its ending was deflating because it concluded that God was, in the end, a benevolent presence whose will need not be challenged. But hey, I'm atheist so the ending might work for the more devout.
But overall Judas is heartbreaking and beautiful and well worth a read. The art alone is worth the price of admission so even if you aren't religious I'd recommend you give it a try.
March 7, 2020
Jako osoba głęboko niewierząca, mógłbym skwitować tę pozycję wzruszeniem ramion, ale nie będę udawał, że nie zaintrygowało mnie to humanitarne podejście do biblijnego bohatera. Spojrzenie na Judasza z zupełnie innej perspektywy, ze współczuciem i zrozumieniem, że jest on tylko częścią planu i tak naprawdę ofiarą, której czyny były nieuchronne, to nadanie tej historii zupełnie nowego wymiaru. Przy tym wszystkim łatwo było pójść w skrajność i stworzyć opowieść ostrzejszą czy wręcz bluźnierczą, ale autorzy chyba tego nie chcieli i nie potrzebowali. Powstała rzecz wielowymiarowa i niejednoznaczna. Jako bonus kapitalne kadry Rebelki.
July 20, 2020
An interesting POV shift creatively reimagines a well-known story while asking familiar but pertinent questions. Its creative retelling might be deemed blasphemous by some and its eventual reaffirmation of the traditional story might frustrate others, but I think this is a worthwhile read for anyone familiar with the original story and not especially dogmatic. Rebelka’s murky watercolor art gorgeously portrays the phantasmagorical details of Hell in a style that sometimes looks like stained glass and sometimes reminds me of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy.
June 10, 2023
An incredible meditation on choice and hope, Judas gave me chills at times. I’m already pre-inclined to these kind of postmodern retellings of Biblical narratives, but this was just so up my alley. I look forward to reading it many times in the future.
The opening four pages are so strong, the transition from Judas’s hanging to his descent into hell, with the thirty pieces of silver taking the place of the rope and letting us know that Judas has hanged himself with his actions, it is his choices that have damned him, but it is also his choices that have brought him grace in hell.
The opening four pages are so strong, the transition from Judas’s hanging to his descent into hell, with the thirty pieces of silver taking the place of the rope and letting us know that Judas has hanged himself with his actions, it is his choices that have damned him, but it is also his choices that have brought him grace in hell.
April 1, 2022
Fascinating, beautifully illustrated and written.
Only taking away a star because of some basic theological flaws vis-a-vis the nature of the incarnation, the harrowing of hell, eschatology, and the question of free will. An interesting take on Judas, one that makes sense in our postmodern world in which no one can be evil, they can only be misunderstood or flawed or confused.
This would be interesting side by side with Screwtape Letters. Ultimately, with Lewis, I would agree that no one will be in hell who longs to be with God.
Only taking away a star because of some basic theological flaws vis-a-vis the nature of the incarnation, the harrowing of hell, eschatology, and the question of free will. An interesting take on Judas, one that makes sense in our postmodern world in which no one can be evil, they can only be misunderstood or flawed or confused.
This would be interesting side by side with Screwtape Letters. Ultimately, with Lewis, I would agree that no one will be in hell who longs to be with God.
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