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Second Coming
Second Coming
The book everyone's talking about, by award-winning writer Mark Russell (Snagglepuss, The Flintstones) and artist Richard Pace (Pitt, New Warriors)! God commands Earth's mightiest super-hero, Sunstar, to accept Jesus as his roommate and teach him how to use power more forcefully. Jesus, shocked at the way humans have twisted his message over two millennia, vows to straighten them out.
168 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2020
11 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Mark Russell
435 books384 followersMark Russell is the author of God Is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now. He also writes the comic book series Prez and The Flintstones for DC Comics. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
June 10, 2022
What's a kid to do when he's saddled with a completely irresponsible father?
And what happens when that father is the Creator of the Universe?
This may not be a comic accepted by Evangelicals, because...well, blasphemy.
But for me, it was a fun story that made Jesus look like a pretty nice dude who was trying his dead-level best to do the right thing for humanity.
And God the Father? Well, he's not evil, just maybe not as hands-on as people might think.
Oh, and he's still pretty pissed about that whole crucifixion thing.
The gist is that God thinks Jesus could do with some toughening up, and sends him to live with Sunstar, a sort of surly Supermanish sort of hero and Earth's top protector.
Sunstar uses his fists to solve everything, and God, thinking that's a mighty fine way to approach humanity, is hoping a bit of that rubs off on his hippie son.
However, Sunstar has his own problems (he and his reporter girlfriend are having fertility issues) and he isn't exactly thrilled to be saddled with a naive God on his couch.
But you don't exactly tell the Creator of the Universe no, now do you?
Sunstar is an interesting character. He's not a bad guy but he doesn't exactly pull his punches. And his home life isn't bad but he and his girlfriend are both struggling with a lot of the same problems that everyone else deals with.
Plus, a few extra issues that only arise when one of you is flying around the world punching robots in the face.
There's quite a bit to unpack in this one, but I think it's better if you read it for yourself.
I personally thought it was good, but it's the sort of tale that is meant for a certain audience and only that audience. I mean, if you're a Christian, you're going to be kind of offended because this is basically saying that your religion got it wrong, Jesus has been misquoted, his message misunderstood, and who is this Paul guy? And I understand why someone would be upset because if your religion demands that you believe, then there's not a whole lot of wiggle room for things that skewer those beliefs.
If you aren't religious at all, then you'll more than likely get a kick out of this, but might not ultimately care as much about the use of Biblical themes, as it will be more of a made-up story trying to correct another made-up story thing.
I think the ideal intended audience is the readers who believe in a higher power but don't necessarily believe the Bible should be followed like it is the actual Word of God. Perhaps feeling that some things have been lost to time and translation, but that the ideals of love thy neighbor and he who is without sin cast the first stone still have a lot of merit.
This really won't be for everyone, but I thought it was a fun What If tale.
And what happens when that father is the Creator of the Universe?
This may not be a comic accepted by Evangelicals, because...well, blasphemy.
But for me, it was a fun story that made Jesus look like a pretty nice dude who was trying his dead-level best to do the right thing for humanity.
And God the Father? Well, he's not evil, just maybe not as hands-on as people might think.
Oh, and he's still pretty pissed about that whole crucifixion thing.
The gist is that God thinks Jesus could do with some toughening up, and sends him to live with Sunstar, a sort of surly Supermanish sort of hero and Earth's top protector.
Sunstar uses his fists to solve everything, and God, thinking that's a mighty fine way to approach humanity, is hoping a bit of that rubs off on his hippie son.
However, Sunstar has his own problems (he and his reporter girlfriend are having fertility issues) and he isn't exactly thrilled to be saddled with a naive God on his couch.
But you don't exactly tell the Creator of the Universe no, now do you?
Sunstar is an interesting character. He's not a bad guy but he doesn't exactly pull his punches. And his home life isn't bad but he and his girlfriend are both struggling with a lot of the same problems that everyone else deals with.
Plus, a few extra issues that only arise when one of you is flying around the world punching robots in the face.
There's quite a bit to unpack in this one, but I think it's better if you read it for yourself.
I personally thought it was good, but it's the sort of tale that is meant for a certain audience and only that audience. I mean, if you're a Christian, you're going to be kind of offended because this is basically saying that your religion got it wrong, Jesus has been misquoted, his message misunderstood, and who is this Paul guy? And I understand why someone would be upset because if your religion demands that you believe, then there's not a whole lot of wiggle room for things that skewer those beliefs.
If you aren't religious at all, then you'll more than likely get a kick out of this, but might not ultimately care as much about the use of Biblical themes, as it will be more of a made-up story trying to correct another made-up story thing.
I think the ideal intended audience is the readers who believe in a higher power but don't necessarily believe the Bible should be followed like it is the actual Word of God. Perhaps feeling that some things have been lost to time and translation, but that the ideals of love thy neighbor and he who is without sin cast the first stone still have a lot of merit.
This really won't be for everyone, but I thought it was a fun What If tale.
February 24, 2020
This was absolutely brilliant. It's in a similar vein as Gaiman and Pratchett's Good Omens, one of my all time favorite books. God returns Jesus to Earth to live with a Superman analogue (Sunstar) in order to toughen him up. Russell's biting wit is in full force scouring society, religion and mankind's propensity to violence. I'm so glad this was able to see the light of day after Vertigo was scared into not publishing it by Fox News.
May 16, 2020
When Jesus decides to take another crack at saving humanity, God persuades Sunstar, Earth's greatest hero, to take His Only Begotten Son under his wing. What could possibly go wrong?
Mark Russell is the Bee's Knees as far as I'm concerned. How could he go wrong with Superman and Jesus teaming up? That's right, he couldn't.
Similar in tone to Lamb by Christopher Moore, Second Coming is a tale of belief, faith, and religion, a tale of what might happen if Jesus returned. Russell tackles a lot of the same themes as it his titantic Flinstones run, like mega churches, organized religion, and people performing acts of cruelty and/or violence in the name of religion. Sunstar is a light yet surprisingly realistic portrayal of how Superman might live, the most powerful being on Earth yet unable to save everyone. Jesus, even the idealist, tries to preach his message in the modern world to an unfortunate but cynically realistic end.
Mark Russell's take on God might be my favorite part of this, an omnipotent creator who is far from omniscient. As Jesus said, "He's the life of the party but doesn't stick around to clean up afterwards." The irreverent tone might turn some people off but, like The Flintstones, this is a bleak, thought-provoking, hilarious book.
Richard Pace's art is a great mix of super hero and serious. His depiction of heaven is to my liking, a place with space whales in the sky and defunct chain restaurants like Burger Chef on street corners. The end of season 1 wraps up a lot of threads but I'm pretty eager for season 2.
Second Coming is easily as good as The Flintstones. Bring on Volume 2! Five out of five stars.
Mark Russell is the Bee's Knees as far as I'm concerned. How could he go wrong with Superman and Jesus teaming up? That's right, he couldn't.
Similar in tone to Lamb by Christopher Moore, Second Coming is a tale of belief, faith, and religion, a tale of what might happen if Jesus returned. Russell tackles a lot of the same themes as it his titantic Flinstones run, like mega churches, organized religion, and people performing acts of cruelty and/or violence in the name of religion. Sunstar is a light yet surprisingly realistic portrayal of how Superman might live, the most powerful being on Earth yet unable to save everyone. Jesus, even the idealist, tries to preach his message in the modern world to an unfortunate but cynically realistic end.
Mark Russell's take on God might be my favorite part of this, an omnipotent creator who is far from omniscient. As Jesus said, "He's the life of the party but doesn't stick around to clean up afterwards." The irreverent tone might turn some people off but, like The Flintstones, this is a bleak, thought-provoking, hilarious book.
Richard Pace's art is a great mix of super hero and serious. His depiction of heaven is to my liking, a place with space whales in the sky and defunct chain restaurants like Burger Chef on street corners. The end of season 1 wraps up a lot of threads but I'm pretty eager for season 2.
Second Coming is easily as good as The Flintstones. Bring on Volume 2! Five out of five stars.
January 23, 2020
Mark Russell is a genius, but we knew that already. So of course his meditation on religion and superheroes is a brilliant read full of thoughtful observations about the state of our world and society. It's also funny as hell.
I'm so glad the good people from Ahoy Comics saved this title from cowardly hands of Dan DiDio and DC. To think that we could have missed out on such an amazing book because the same people who once published Preacher now got too scared by some idiots from F*x News is absolutely outrageous.
I'm so glad the good people from Ahoy Comics saved this title from cowardly hands of Dan DiDio and DC. To think that we could have missed out on such an amazing book because the same people who once published Preacher now got too scared by some idiots from F*x News is absolutely outrageous.
April 24, 2020
Jesus Christ, the son of God, decides to give Earth and humanity another try. God thinks it'll end badly (again), but lets Jesus go. God turns to superhero of superheroes, Sunstar, to basically babysit Jesus and teach how to use his powers. Jesus won't let go of his general ideal of forgiveness just yet.
I'm not a religious man, but I do think we should be respectful towards other people's beliefs. The surprise the of this book is that it's actually very respectful, and is full of heart. It is also very funny. But between the jokes some real theological concepts are discussed, and the sentiments Jesus brings up, are very human and empathic (perhaps not that big a surprise, I'll concede).
There's also another layer of superhero parody. Sunstar is an obvious stand-in for Superman, as is Night Being for Batman, and so on. Some wry commentary on the day to day life of superheroes is given.
The art is great, and for some reason it reminded me a bit of old Mad Magazine movie parodies - which is a good thing.
Do yourself a favour, ignore all the hullabaloo surrounding the book, and just enjoy it.
(Received an ARC through Edelweiss)
I'm not a religious man, but I do think we should be respectful towards other people's beliefs. The surprise the of this book is that it's actually very respectful, and is full of heart. It is also very funny. But between the jokes some real theological concepts are discussed, and the sentiments Jesus brings up, are very human and empathic (perhaps not that big a surprise, I'll concede).
There's also another layer of superhero parody. Sunstar is an obvious stand-in for Superman, as is Night Being for Batman, and so on. Some wry commentary on the day to day life of superheroes is given.
The art is great, and for some reason it reminded me a bit of old Mad Magazine movie parodies - which is a good thing.
Do yourself a favour, ignore all the hullabaloo surrounding the book, and just enjoy it.
(Received an ARC through Edelweiss)
June 4, 2020
The premise of this book is that Jesus moves in with the world's top superhero. It quickly becomes obvious that the typical superhero work is not what Jesus would do. Russell makes a lot of good points about superhero violence, organized religion, and the importance of having compassion for others. This is well worth a read.
June 12, 2022
I've gotten rather tired of religious satire in the recent years. Not because I'd be any religious myself, or because I think there are any sacred cows that we should never make fun of. It's just that it's become such a low-hanging fruit: so many writers pointing out that God is an asshole and believers are hypocrites and whatever, thinking that's all it takes to be profound.
This comic, however, was a pleasant surprise. It did turn out to be profound, to some extent at least: it had things to say about not just Christianity, but mankind and world as a whole, in a way that did not (for the most part) bash it in with a big unsubtle mallet, and did not blame or judge anyone as a whole, except maybe Satan.
The ending was a little weak, though. It had a few missed opportunities, felt like reversing some of its lessons, and was pretty abrupt overall. But it didn't detract that much from the story as a whole. I can't think of anyone not to recommend it to... except maybe Satan.
This comic, however, was a pleasant surprise. It did turn out to be profound, to some extent at least: it had things to say about not just Christianity, but mankind and world as a whole, in a way that did not (for the most part) bash it in with a big unsubtle mallet, and did not blame or judge anyone as a whole, except maybe Satan.
The ending was a little weak, though. It had a few missed opportunities, felt like reversing some of its lessons, and was pretty abrupt overall. But it didn't detract that much from the story as a whole. I can't think of anyone not to recommend it to... except maybe Satan.
February 3, 2020
This was close to earning an additional star, in part for Russell's idea which was deemed so audacious that DC Comics/Vertigo line declined to publish it and returned to the work to Russell, et al., with full permission to shop it to other publishers. And, yes I know Vertigo no longer exists, but it did at the time it was originally planned for publication, and frankly points to DC for not being complete asses and saying they couldn't shop it to other companies (p.s. eventually they let Ennis/Robertson do that with The Boys, now a popular television shows).
The premise is Jesus returns to earth and ends up living with the world's most powerful and popular super hero. I think pretty much everyone would go, yep Russell gives Superman Jesus for a roommate.
I think this is a great concept where the execution feels just a bit off. As I recall Russell's intro in the first (digital) issue, this is also an exercise for him to to work through, and comment on some of his feelings regrading his religion of choice.
And, he does have some interesting takes on what Jesus said and how it has been interpreted through the centuries. I'm essentially a non-practicing Jew, but when I did go to services I preferred the rabbi who wanted us to question and discuss the day's events, and the teachings of Judaism (yes-we're not supposed to be as monolithic as many presume we are).
Do I suggest this? Yes, if you're willing to bear with a little unevenness in the story telling, and having to think about what is said and happening at times.
The premise is Jesus returns to earth and ends up living with the world's most powerful and popular super hero. I think pretty much everyone would go, yep Russell gives Superman Jesus for a roommate.
I think this is a great concept where the execution feels just a bit off. As I recall Russell's intro in the first (digital) issue, this is also an exercise for him to to work through, and comment on some of his feelings regrading his religion of choice.
And, he does have some interesting takes on what Jesus said and how it has been interpreted through the centuries. I'm essentially a non-practicing Jew, but when I did go to services I preferred the rabbi who wanted us to question and discuss the day's events, and the teachings of Judaism (yes-we're not supposed to be as monolithic as many presume we are).
Do I suggest this? Yes, if you're willing to bear with a little unevenness in the story telling, and having to think about what is said and happening at times.
Read
February 7, 2020Jesus finally returns to Earth; turns out he's been pretty much grounded by his dad after how badly the last trip went. This time, Dad wants him safer, and also given a bit of a lesson in using his power to more productive ends, so instead of sending him down to live with a carpenter, he gets to room with Earth's foremost superhero. Yes, one pretty much has to end this summary 'with hilarious consequences!', although 'together, they fight crime!' is probably closer to the plot.
When Vertigo announced their last relaunch, a surprising number of people seemed to buy the hype. I knew, just looking at the line-up, that it wasn't going to succeed in recapturing their former glories, but was still surprised by quite how spectacularly it imploded, culminating in the demise of the whole imprint. Mercifully, some of the more promising books did find homes elsewhere, including this one, which was already dealing with the inevitable outcry over its premise, and the censorship (aka 'editorial notes') with which a publisher as cowardly as current DC would always respond to that. So now it's at relative upstart publisher Ahoy instead, who've already demonstrated a willingness to tweak the nose of the devout with High Heaven, an afterlife comedy far less genial than The Good Place. Not to mention a book which has attracted sod-all controversy that I've noticed, despite being far less respectful of the alleged core tenets of Christianity than Second Coming is. It's almost as if the faithful don't really pay attention to comics unless it suits someone to start stirring them up, nor really scrutinise the content once they've been told what to get angry over. Surely not, eh?
Alas, blind faith is not the only reason to criticise this series. I've always been sceptical of the 'Jesus comes back' genre, which almost by definition involves writers outraged at the temerity of institutions who'd put words in Jesus' mouth, but who then respond by...putting words in Jesus' mouth. Sure, if given a choice I would rather have Mark Russell (yes, or Philip Pullman, or even, heavens help us, John Niven) in a position of moral influence and worldly power than the current official interpreters, with their gay-bashing and kiddie-fiddling and euthanasia-blocking and yes, this list could get very long if I don't wrap it up now. But that's a matter of personal preference, and doesn't stop the project being logically incoherent every time. Russell's introduction goes the expected route, talking about how Jesus was more into forgiveness than hate, and as ever with these stories (or at least, the ones I run into), he elides all those awkward lines like 'I come to bring not peace, but a sword' or 'whoever does not hate his mother and his father and his whole life cannot follow me', just as surely as the fire-and-brimstone lot skim awkwardly over any meaningful engagement with the peace and love bits.
On top of which, you've got Jesus paired with a Superman analogue, and if Superman-thinly-veiled-for-legal-reasons isn't quite as common as this-is-what-Jesus-meant-which-coincidentally-agrees-with-me, then he's not far off. Yes, he's called Sunstar here, but he's Earth's foremost superhero, he wears a cape, his human lover is a reporter, he comes from a planet named after a C-list element, and he grew up in 'Littleton'. Which introduces a further problem: in any Superman story worth the name, he's basically a Jesus figure anyway. Except better, obviously. So in order to have the core dynamic of the superhero learning from Jesus, when Jesus' pa wanted it the other way around, Sunstar has to be knocked down into a faintly rubbish Superman – one who's more gung-ho, less competent, fundamentally not as super. Not that there aren't plenty of Superman comics like that, but they're all fairly pointless. Though it should be noted that, unlike Jesus fans who don't appreciate a given portrayal of their favourite character, I do tend to restrain myself to being bitchy about bad Superman comics on Goodreads and in the pub, rather than getting into boycotts and death threats and wars that scar the face of Europe. Seriously, monotheism: Worst. Fandom. Ever.
All of which means the gears are grinding on this one from the off. It runs through a fairly unsurprising assortment of scenes: Jesus convinces Sunstar to forgive minor villains rather than beat them up; Sunstar forgets about Jesus and Jesus then gets into trouble with evangelicals and the law – you can pretty much envisage it all, as too the exposition Jesus is delivering along the way about his message being misunderstood. Some of it is fun – I know it's obvious, but I still enjoy Jesus' bafflement that everyone keeps quoting from Paul ("I asked James to spread my word. I asked Peter to spread my word. I never even asked Paul to spread the jelly!"), and if Sunstar is a bit of a crap Superman, that doesn't mean a Batman-hater like me is going to be any less amused at the utter rubbishness of this world's Batman stand-in, Night Justice. The Richard Pace interiors are very different to the larky Amanda Conner covers, much darker in tone, and did remind me of the friend who thought having different cover and interior artists on comics was false advertising – but I think they do work a lot better for the premise and the treatment. And of all things, I was very touched by the relationship between Jesus and his blood-and-thunder dad, who really cares but can't find a way to express that beyond threatening to smite everyone. By the end it was starting to click, and I can see how a second volume might go a lot better. But overall, it doesn't work for me, the first Mark Russell comic where that's been the case. Sure, his dialogue is generally not very naturalistic, well into larger-than-life territory, but usually that works; here it too often comes across hamfisted, less clever than it thinks it is. Turns out that even a writer who's been able to tell vital, contemporary stories with the Flintstones, the Lone Ranger and Snagglepuss can't salvage a franchise as thoroughly tainted as Christ.
(Edelweiss ARC)
When Vertigo announced their last relaunch, a surprising number of people seemed to buy the hype. I knew, just looking at the line-up, that it wasn't going to succeed in recapturing their former glories, but was still surprised by quite how spectacularly it imploded, culminating in the demise of the whole imprint. Mercifully, some of the more promising books did find homes elsewhere, including this one, which was already dealing with the inevitable outcry over its premise, and the censorship (aka 'editorial notes') with which a publisher as cowardly as current DC would always respond to that. So now it's at relative upstart publisher Ahoy instead, who've already demonstrated a willingness to tweak the nose of the devout with High Heaven, an afterlife comedy far less genial than The Good Place. Not to mention a book which has attracted sod-all controversy that I've noticed, despite being far less respectful of the alleged core tenets of Christianity than Second Coming is. It's almost as if the faithful don't really pay attention to comics unless it suits someone to start stirring them up, nor really scrutinise the content once they've been told what to get angry over. Surely not, eh?
Alas, blind faith is not the only reason to criticise this series. I've always been sceptical of the 'Jesus comes back' genre, which almost by definition involves writers outraged at the temerity of institutions who'd put words in Jesus' mouth, but who then respond by...putting words in Jesus' mouth. Sure, if given a choice I would rather have Mark Russell (yes, or Philip Pullman, or even, heavens help us, John Niven) in a position of moral influence and worldly power than the current official interpreters, with their gay-bashing and kiddie-fiddling and euthanasia-blocking and yes, this list could get very long if I don't wrap it up now. But that's a matter of personal preference, and doesn't stop the project being logically incoherent every time. Russell's introduction goes the expected route, talking about how Jesus was more into forgiveness than hate, and as ever with these stories (or at least, the ones I run into), he elides all those awkward lines like 'I come to bring not peace, but a sword' or 'whoever does not hate his mother and his father and his whole life cannot follow me', just as surely as the fire-and-brimstone lot skim awkwardly over any meaningful engagement with the peace and love bits.
On top of which, you've got Jesus paired with a Superman analogue, and if Superman-thinly-veiled-for-legal-reasons isn't quite as common as this-is-what-Jesus-meant-which-coincidentally-agrees-with-me, then he's not far off. Yes, he's called Sunstar here, but he's Earth's foremost superhero, he wears a cape, his human lover is a reporter, he comes from a planet named after a C-list element, and he grew up in 'Littleton'. Which introduces a further problem: in any Superman story worth the name, he's basically a Jesus figure anyway. Except better, obviously. So in order to have the core dynamic of the superhero learning from Jesus, when Jesus' pa wanted it the other way around, Sunstar has to be knocked down into a faintly rubbish Superman – one who's more gung-ho, less competent, fundamentally not as super. Not that there aren't plenty of Superman comics like that, but they're all fairly pointless. Though it should be noted that, unlike Jesus fans who don't appreciate a given portrayal of their favourite character, I do tend to restrain myself to being bitchy about bad Superman comics on Goodreads and in the pub, rather than getting into boycotts and death threats and wars that scar the face of Europe. Seriously, monotheism: Worst. Fandom. Ever.
All of which means the gears are grinding on this one from the off. It runs through a fairly unsurprising assortment of scenes: Jesus convinces Sunstar to forgive minor villains rather than beat them up; Sunstar forgets about Jesus and Jesus then gets into trouble with evangelicals and the law – you can pretty much envisage it all, as too the exposition Jesus is delivering along the way about his message being misunderstood. Some of it is fun – I know it's obvious, but I still enjoy Jesus' bafflement that everyone keeps quoting from Paul ("I asked James to spread my word. I asked Peter to spread my word. I never even asked Paul to spread the jelly!"), and if Sunstar is a bit of a crap Superman, that doesn't mean a Batman-hater like me is going to be any less amused at the utter rubbishness of this world's Batman stand-in, Night Justice. The Richard Pace interiors are very different to the larky Amanda Conner covers, much darker in tone, and did remind me of the friend who thought having different cover and interior artists on comics was false advertising – but I think they do work a lot better for the premise and the treatment. And of all things, I was very touched by the relationship between Jesus and his blood-and-thunder dad, who really cares but can't find a way to express that beyond threatening to smite everyone. By the end it was starting to click, and I can see how a second volume might go a lot better. But overall, it doesn't work for me, the first Mark Russell comic where that's been the case. Sure, his dialogue is generally not very naturalistic, well into larger-than-life territory, but usually that works; here it too often comes across hamfisted, less clever than it thinks it is. Turns out that even a writer who's been able to tell vital, contemporary stories with the Flintstones, the Lone Ranger and Snagglepuss can't salvage a franchise as thoroughly tainted as Christ.
(Edelweiss ARC)
November 7, 2020
I love the premise, and I've loved Russell's other humorous take on the Bible, God Is Disappointed in You, but this didn't meet my expectations.
April 24, 2020
Great read. Obviosuly dont go in for any historical accuracy. It reminded me of a modern Life Of Brian and Good Omens style humour.
January 4, 2026
Hoping to toughen him up some, God sends Jesus to live with Superman and Lois La--sorry, "Sunstar" and "Sheila Sharp". Instead, Jesus is the one doing the teaching.
This isn't as sacrilegious as I was led to believe, at most it could be called 'cheeky'. Russell's God is a short-sighted but benign prankster. Loving but error-prone. (Why put the forbidden trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden if He didn't want Adam and Eve--who had no concept of right and wrong at that point--to eat of them?) Jesus is earnest, self-sacrificing, compassionate and loving, pretty much as the bible describes him. Russell finds humor in Christ's innocence and in his odd-couple relationship with Superman, who presents a more human application of omnipotence.
A scene that illustrates their affiliation:
[after Superman beats up a ring of counterfeiters, Jesus heals them and they run away]
As much as I enjoyed the edgy, goofy humor and the sober attempts to find meaning in Christ's words and actions, the effort feels disjointed. Jesus's ponderings and misadventures are interesting; and Superman's professional screwups and personal problems are entertaining; but there's little connecting them. We lurch from scene to scene to a climax that lacks tension or a sense of resolution.
But it is a fun--and occasionally thoughtful--ride.
------------------------------------------------
SECOND READ
I like Mark Russell the writer but I love Mark Russell the human being and philosopher.
Foreword: "Superhero stories are, ultimately, a meditation on power. How you would apply power if you could fly, or melt steel with your eyes, or bend the very world to your will. It's a question comic book writers have wrestled with since Action Comics #1. But while they're good at turning these thought experiments into entertainment, superhero comics are predicated on a dodgy assumption: that, ultimately, it is physical force that solves problems. "Good" is simply a matter of using violence better than "evil". In a world where our problems are increasingly immune to violent solution--no amount of drop kicking people is going to solve global warming or get your sick mom the health care she needs--we need to start incorporating other solutions into the though experiment."
---------------
Lois: "Oh, is THAT what this is? Do you even actually care about my wellbeing or is this just some caveman shit to salve your own feelings of emasculation?"
Superman: ".......................The two are not mutually exclusive."
---------------
God: "I'm more of an idea guy. I mean, I'll CREATE an eyeball, but I won't stick around long enough to make sure it isn't diseased or near sighted or whatever. Gotta keep the assembly line rolling, know what I mean?"
This isn't as sacrilegious as I was led to believe, at most it could be called 'cheeky'. Russell's God is a short-sighted but benign prankster. Loving but error-prone. (Why put the forbidden trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden if He didn't want Adam and Eve--who had no concept of right and wrong at that point--to eat of them?) Jesus is earnest, self-sacrificing, compassionate and loving, pretty much as the bible describes him. Russell finds humor in Christ's innocence and in his odd-couple relationship with Superman, who presents a more human application of omnipotence.
A scene that illustrates their affiliation:
[after Superman beats up a ring of counterfeiters, Jesus heals them and they run away]
Superman: Why did you heal them??
Jesus: Because they were in pain.
Superman: They were only in pain because they were criminals!
Jesus: But WHY were they criminals?
Superman: Well, probably because because they were in pa--THAT'S NOT THE POINT!
As much as I enjoyed the edgy, goofy humor and the sober attempts to find meaning in Christ's words and actions, the effort feels disjointed. Jesus's ponderings and misadventures are interesting; and Superman's professional screwups and personal problems are entertaining; but there's little connecting them. We lurch from scene to scene to a climax that lacks tension or a sense of resolution.
But it is a fun--and occasionally thoughtful--ride.
Jesus: For the sin of eating the forbidden fruit, He cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. As extra punishment, he ordered them to become parents.
...
Jesus: People believe in God because they hope for a witness to their suffering. I wanted to show people something inside themselves worth believing in. How to be the cure for each other's pain. But all I did was make them feel better about being the source of the misery.
------------------------------------------------
SECOND READ
I like Mark Russell the writer but I love Mark Russell the human being and philosopher.
Foreword: "Superhero stories are, ultimately, a meditation on power. How you would apply power if you could fly, or melt steel with your eyes, or bend the very world to your will. It's a question comic book writers have wrestled with since Action Comics #1. But while they're good at turning these thought experiments into entertainment, superhero comics are predicated on a dodgy assumption: that, ultimately, it is physical force that solves problems. "Good" is simply a matter of using violence better than "evil". In a world where our problems are increasingly immune to violent solution--no amount of drop kicking people is going to solve global warming or get your sick mom the health care she needs--we need to start incorporating other solutions into the though experiment."
---------------
Lois: "Oh, is THAT what this is? Do you even actually care about my wellbeing or is this just some caveman shit to salve your own feelings of emasculation?"
Superman: ".......................The two are not mutually exclusive."
---------------
God: "I'm more of an idea guy. I mean, I'll CREATE an eyeball, but I won't stick around long enough to make sure it isn't diseased or near sighted or whatever. Gotta keep the assembly line rolling, know what I mean?"
February 25, 2020
I thought this was really funny. If you are easily offended about religion then this graphic novel is simply not for you. I enjoyed it but I am pretty much a life long Christian and able to laugh at the aspects of my faith that don't fit or that defy explanation. I gave this four stars because although I found it entertaining, it did seem to lose energy towards the end or maybe I just didn't get it. In any case I enjoyed reading this.
In an odd way the story manages to raise some complex theological questions too. God sends his son Jesus to share an apartment with a superhero so that Jesus can learn how to be a 'success'. Already this raises theological questions about our purpose, what it truly means to be a success, about power and of course about the nature of God. This comic totally fails when it comes to portraying the nature of God and Jesus as believed by Christians, but I am not sure how anyone can depict a Trinitarian God.
Anyway moving on.
I really don't know why some people (in the US) were protesting about this book before it was even published. The author explains this in his introduction. If the comic had been lewd then I would have understood, but it isn't. It raises questions about the Gospel and what Jesus taught and it also portrays humanity and the way 'God' is used as a source of power by some people. It manages to do all of this in a humorous way. Religion isn't supposed to be a weapon but it is. I don't think that's what Jesus intended and this comic portrays this, albeit in a very roundabout way. I liked this aspect of the story and I appreciated the way the book throws up all kinds of questions about suffering, faith, church, power, ethics, pain etc and why did God create flies? It raises interesting questions in an amusing way via well crafted characters.
Obviously a comic is limited in what it can explore and I do wish it had gone further. God is depicted as an old man with a beard, but I guess God had to be depicted in that way because it plays on stereotypical images of God. In any case this was funny and creative, but underneath all the fun are hard questions about life and faith and our world today. I loved the part about Jesus and Shimon. I think Jesus is portrayed as the Jesus we all would like to believe in and the Jesus we would like to see in those who say they believe in him.
I loved the way that the Superhero had so much power and so many flaws. In a way despite his strength he is the typical human being. He is us. He might be super strength but he has the same problems as everyone else. Also he is a bit arrogant, judgemental and prone to making snap decisions.
God comes across as hardened and uncaring in some ways. In a way God is depicted as being the God who 'zaps' people, very old testament if you forget about the new. In theological terms the comic is rather lacking because it doesn't depict God as Trinity but as an ordinary comic by poking fun and also pinching us at the same time and making us wince, it does a great job.
The artwork is ok. I would have liked brighter colours but that's just me. All in all it is entertaining and thought provoking.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs about faith. Some people might find that offensive but it I think the Christian faith is robust enough to stand a bit of ribbing in a comic. This is a comic that manages to do that, to make us laugh and to make us think at the same time should we wish to.
Copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an unbiased review.
In an odd way the story manages to raise some complex theological questions too. God sends his son Jesus to share an apartment with a superhero so that Jesus can learn how to be a 'success'. Already this raises theological questions about our purpose, what it truly means to be a success, about power and of course about the nature of God. This comic totally fails when it comes to portraying the nature of God and Jesus as believed by Christians, but I am not sure how anyone can depict a Trinitarian God.
Anyway moving on.
I really don't know why some people (in the US) were protesting about this book before it was even published. The author explains this in his introduction. If the comic had been lewd then I would have understood, but it isn't. It raises questions about the Gospel and what Jesus taught and it also portrays humanity and the way 'God' is used as a source of power by some people. It manages to do all of this in a humorous way. Religion isn't supposed to be a weapon but it is. I don't think that's what Jesus intended and this comic portrays this, albeit in a very roundabout way. I liked this aspect of the story and I appreciated the way the book throws up all kinds of questions about suffering, faith, church, power, ethics, pain etc and why did God create flies? It raises interesting questions in an amusing way via well crafted characters.
Obviously a comic is limited in what it can explore and I do wish it had gone further. God is depicted as an old man with a beard, but I guess God had to be depicted in that way because it plays on stereotypical images of God. In any case this was funny and creative, but underneath all the fun are hard questions about life and faith and our world today. I loved the part about Jesus and Shimon. I think Jesus is portrayed as the Jesus we all would like to believe in and the Jesus we would like to see in those who say they believe in him.
I loved the way that the Superhero had so much power and so many flaws. In a way despite his strength he is the typical human being. He is us. He might be super strength but he has the same problems as everyone else. Also he is a bit arrogant, judgemental and prone to making snap decisions.
God comes across as hardened and uncaring in some ways. In a way God is depicted as being the God who 'zaps' people, very old testament if you forget about the new. In theological terms the comic is rather lacking because it doesn't depict God as Trinity but as an ordinary comic by poking fun and also pinching us at the same time and making us wince, it does a great job.
The artwork is ok. I would have liked brighter colours but that's just me. All in all it is entertaining and thought provoking.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs about faith. Some people might find that offensive but it I think the Christian faith is robust enough to stand a bit of ribbing in a comic. This is a comic that manages to do that, to make us laugh and to make us think at the same time should we wish to.
Copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 2, 2021
Bold, Brilliant, and just flippin' Hilarious!
I wonder why D.C. and Marvel passed this one up? ~ LOL!
The writer and artist (team) did an amazing job of conveying humor and satire.
The premise is Genius.
I wonder why D.C. and Marvel passed this one up? ~ LOL!
The writer and artist (team) did an amazing job of conveying humor and satire.
The premise is Genius.
July 9, 2022
Fine. Call this blasphemy. This was LOL funny, Yes blasphemy can be funny. But there are also some profound moments.
Mark Russell does raise some rather interesting questions regarding humanity, religion, Christianity, ethics and all that other deep stuff.
One of the best graphic novels I have read to date. Right amount of funny with some deep questions. Throw in the man of God and the (not quite) man of steel for good measure.
Perfect.
Mark Russell does raise some rather interesting questions regarding humanity, religion, Christianity, ethics and all that other deep stuff.
One of the best graphic novels I have read to date. Right amount of funny with some deep questions. Throw in the man of God and the (not quite) man of steel for good measure.
Perfect.
April 17, 2021
So fun, so great, even for non-believers. Something for everyone, I think!
April 27, 2024
4 stars. Mark Russell is one of the most interesting comic book writers and this is my favourite of his books so far. He writes comedy underpinned by a deeply philosophical, progressive worldview. Satires of consumerism, organised religion, social conservatism and more, approached from an open-hearted, hopeful perspective that I very much enjoy.
Second Coming finds God feeling disappointed in his pacifist son - who isn't nearly eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth enough for his liking - and returns Jesus Christ to earth in the present day to live with a superhero and learn how to solve problems with violence.
Russell uses the comedic premise to explore how the teachings of Christianity have been lost or perverted, not least by certain Christian groups themselves. He digs even deeper into his humanism than in previous books, and I found many moments touching and thought-provoking.
This isn't a perfect book - like Russell's Flintstones before it, there's a lack of consistency in quality from chapter to chapter, and as with all of his previous books, the artists he's paired with are not my favourite. But I laughed out loud many times and had a lot of fun with the story, and I can't wait to read part two.
Second Coming finds God feeling disappointed in his pacifist son - who isn't nearly eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth enough for his liking - and returns Jesus Christ to earth in the present day to live with a superhero and learn how to solve problems with violence.
Russell uses the comedic premise to explore how the teachings of Christianity have been lost or perverted, not least by certain Christian groups themselves. He digs even deeper into his humanism than in previous books, and I found many moments touching and thought-provoking.
This isn't a perfect book - like Russell's Flintstones before it, there's a lack of consistency in quality from chapter to chapter, and as with all of his previous books, the artists he's paired with are not my favourite. But I laughed out loud many times and had a lot of fun with the story, and I can't wait to read part two.
March 22, 2020
This is absolutely incredible. Great art, great storyline. A fantastic new take on a overdone topic. Hysterical yet incredibly deep. I am blown away.
June 5, 2020
One of the funniest and smartest comics that I've ever read. I´m waiting for the next!
November 2, 2022
“Second coming: Volume 1” is an unusual graphic novel involving God commanding superhero Sunstar to accept Jesus as his roommate and teach him how to use his almighty powers more forcefully.
This graphic novel consists of six chapters show God being lonely, creating humans to keep him company then becoming angry because he wants humans to view him as a friend but to also worship him as their almighty God. As the graphic novel progresses, God’s relationship changes with the humans he created, with Jesus, and with Satan. In addition, through returning to Earth, Jesus learns about friendship and about helping humans accept that God should not be expected to always bail humans out.
Chapter one provides that backstory on God, Jesus, and superhero Sunstar. God is presented as an absentee dad who only returns to heaven after he has tired of humans not obeying him. Jesus goes to Earth in an attempt to redeem the human race but it is unsuccessful. God finds a mentor to Jesus in Sunstar, a superhero with God like powers who has the mind of a man but wrestles with feelings of unworthiness in his professional and personal life.
Chapter two shows Sunstar attending a superhero support group while his relationship with girlfriend getting worse. Jesus is interested in seeing how the Earth has changed in 2,000 years since God banned him from watching Earth from heaven.
Chapter three provides Sunstar and Jesus an opportunity to rehabilitate a supervillain and also provides Sunstar’s childhood. Jesus looks for signs on Earth the he has not been forgotten. Jesus has an unexpected reunion and is reminded of the true state of the world.
Chapter four shows fellow superheroes exhibiting hate towards Sunstar. When Sunstar asks for help, he’s met with reluctance then help. Jesus is jailed but is eventually released.
Chapter five, Sunstar is invited to a dictator’s country with the promise of adding to his family. God and Satan have a meeting regarding Jesus. The possibility that God created sex to increase the population and violence to keep the population down. Jesus admits that he’s come to Earth to teach people to rely on each other for what they used to get from God. Satan creates a team to destroy Sunstar and Jesus.
In chapter six, Sunstar makes permanent commitment to his girlfriend but feels bad about possible deaths while he goes on a honeymoon. Jesus gets a new group of followers and reconciles with Satan as well as God. God repays Sunstar for helping Jesus.
This graphic novel is entertaining, thought provoking and definitely for adults due to brief nudity. After finishing the graphic novel, I felt that that the authors created a realistic depiction of what could occur if Christ came to Earth in the present day and the reaction of disbelief of Jesus’ second coming to Earth.
This graphic novel consists of six chapters show God being lonely, creating humans to keep him company then becoming angry because he wants humans to view him as a friend but to also worship him as their almighty God. As the graphic novel progresses, God’s relationship changes with the humans he created, with Jesus, and with Satan. In addition, through returning to Earth, Jesus learns about friendship and about helping humans accept that God should not be expected to always bail humans out.
Chapter one provides that backstory on God, Jesus, and superhero Sunstar. God is presented as an absentee dad who only returns to heaven after he has tired of humans not obeying him. Jesus goes to Earth in an attempt to redeem the human race but it is unsuccessful. God finds a mentor to Jesus in Sunstar, a superhero with God like powers who has the mind of a man but wrestles with feelings of unworthiness in his professional and personal life.
Chapter two shows Sunstar attending a superhero support group while his relationship with girlfriend getting worse. Jesus is interested in seeing how the Earth has changed in 2,000 years since God banned him from watching Earth from heaven.
Chapter three provides Sunstar and Jesus an opportunity to rehabilitate a supervillain and also provides Sunstar’s childhood. Jesus looks for signs on Earth the he has not been forgotten. Jesus has an unexpected reunion and is reminded of the true state of the world.
Chapter four shows fellow superheroes exhibiting hate towards Sunstar. When Sunstar asks for help, he’s met with reluctance then help. Jesus is jailed but is eventually released.
Chapter five, Sunstar is invited to a dictator’s country with the promise of adding to his family. God and Satan have a meeting regarding Jesus. The possibility that God created sex to increase the population and violence to keep the population down. Jesus admits that he’s come to Earth to teach people to rely on each other for what they used to get from God. Satan creates a team to destroy Sunstar and Jesus.
In chapter six, Sunstar makes permanent commitment to his girlfriend but feels bad about possible deaths while he goes on a honeymoon. Jesus gets a new group of followers and reconciles with Satan as well as God. God repays Sunstar for helping Jesus.
This graphic novel is entertaining, thought provoking and definitely for adults due to brief nudity. After finishing the graphic novel, I felt that that the authors created a realistic depiction of what could occur if Christ came to Earth in the present day and the reaction of disbelief of Jesus’ second coming to Earth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2021
Tohle bylo fakt krásný, já sám pocházím z křesťanské rodiny a upřímně mám vlastní názory vůči církvi a na to jak víru prezentují a to docela dost negativní. Mark Russel, ale tím jak to umí nejlépe a to s patřičnou dávkou ironie ukazuje takový jiný pohled jak se vše mohlo udát a docela s tím co se tady děje dost sympatizuji a dost tu řeší věci které i já často rozebíral s ortodoxně věřícíma.
Za příslibem sitcomu s Ježíšem který bydlí s rip offem Supermana, se skrývá docela milá a věcná satira která fakt pobaví a zároveň i dovede k zamyšlení. Fakt mě to neskutečně bavilo a to jak scénář tak i střídání dvou kresebních stylů. Tohle se fakt povedlo !!!
Za příslibem sitcomu s Ježíšem který bydlí s rip offem Supermana, se skrývá docela milá a věcná satira která fakt pobaví a zároveň i dovede k zamyšlení. Fakt mě to neskutečně bavilo a to jak scénář tak i střídání dvou kresebních stylů. Tohle se fakt povedlo !!!
April 25, 2020
I liked the concept of Jesus coming back to hang out with a super hero, not too unlike Superman. And some of the humor of God with a potty mouth was funny, but it got boring after a bit. There are only so many fight scenes, and extra stuff that I can handle.
So, good story idea. OK execution. I probably will not read the next colleciton.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
So, good story idea. OK execution. I probably will not read the next colleciton.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
July 1, 2021
As a raging atheist, I thought Jesus was a pretty cool dude in this.
I enjoyed Russel's Snagglepuss, and he brings that same level of sophistication in the face of vulgarity to this comic. This could have very easily been offensive, but I thought Russell did a great job at trying to modernize Christ.
I enjoyed Russel's Snagglepuss, and he brings that same level of sophistication in the face of vulgarity to this comic. This could have very easily been offensive, but I thought Russell did a great job at trying to modernize Christ.
October 13, 2022
Oh, this was great. Hilariously intriguing concept. Patton Oswalt's introduction comparing the character of God to Brian Cox in Succession felt accurate. Good jokes. Lovely drawings. The food court in heaven being populated with closed down (ie. Dead) chain fast food places is just one example. And I very much enjoyed the portrayal of Jesus in this story. Sorry to learn of the writers' publishing woes, but glad this finally found a way to exist. Big ideas and big questions, surrounded in world of superheroes and modern day hardships. Good stuff.
March 19, 2021
A pretty odd take on christian religion with a curveball to set it up in a superheroes setting: despite the unusual set up, it works actually pretty well.
A tale of a man who got god-like powers and of a god who tries to be close to humanity.
It gives a good amount of food for thought.
A tale of a man who got god-like powers and of a god who tries to be close to humanity.
It gives a good amount of food for thought.
June 25, 2024
Honestly, this book teaches a lot of good stuff you come for the humor and the fresh take, but the parables and the lessons stick with you, as someone with complicated feelings about religion I honestly can say this helped me
July 7, 2022
The people who objected to this comic are the very people who should be reading it. Lighten up, evangelicals. SECOND COMING is a thoughtful bit of entertainment and not a blasphemous work to be dismissed or blocked. That a Fox News report about it persuaded DC/Vertigo to abandon plans to publish it is a shame. Ahoy Comics took a chance, a giant leap of faith, and released it. Glad they did.
Besides, this is just so damn funny.
If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's GOOD OMENS then you'll really appreciate this. Writer Mark Russell pokes fun at humanity, religion, faith, violence in a respectful manner and his satirical pen is sharp.
God is unhappy with the way his son, Jesus Christ, handled his first mission to Earth - - so he pairs him up with an alien superhero called Sunstar, with abilities like Superman, and hopes that he'll learn how to tactfully use force to save humanity and get his message across. It plays out exactly like THE ODD COUPLE. It's Jesus who ends up teaching Sunstar what's important.
Just brilliant. I loved this.
Besides, this is just so damn funny.
If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's GOOD OMENS then you'll really appreciate this. Writer Mark Russell pokes fun at humanity, religion, faith, violence in a respectful manner and his satirical pen is sharp.
God is unhappy with the way his son, Jesus Christ, handled his first mission to Earth - - so he pairs him up with an alien superhero called Sunstar, with abilities like Superman, and hopes that he'll learn how to tactfully use force to save humanity and get his message across. It plays out exactly like THE ODD COUPLE. It's Jesus who ends up teaching Sunstar what's important.
Just brilliant. I loved this.
November 6, 2020
This actually surprised me. The plot was 180 degrees from what I was expecting. Thus, I really liked it and it had a good message. Loved that different art "styles" were used for depicting those scenes that take place between the sacred and the secular (locations and characters).
February 23, 2020
Funny, Pointed and Thoughtful
Back in the 1970's,when the album and then musical "Jesus Chris Superstar" was getting everyone into a twist, the evangelist Billy Graham weighed in by observing that it "bordered on blasphemy and sacrilege", but also conceded that "if the production ... causes young people to search their Bibles, to that extent it may be beneficial.". Well, I'm not in a twist, I don't worry about blasphemy or sacrilege, and reading the Bible through once was enough for me, but by gosh this book, like "Superstar", is funny, insightful, graceful, edgy, remarkably kind, and wistfully forgiving.
While there's a lot of witty snappy banter and some great deadpan bits and throwaway lines, the heart of this book is earnest and surprisingly good humored. This isn't the scorched earth approach of people like Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, both of whom I admire when they back off from their most strident. This is a kinder, gentler, and more bemused version by an author who seems most interested in where it was, exactly, that we all went wrong.
There's lots to enjoy here, if you just want to speed along. There's also a lot to think about, if you want to pause and consider the points being made by the author. It's not terribly groundbreaking, but questions about human nature, forgiveness, cooperation, and kindness are always worth putting on the table. And as an added filip, it was inspired to balance a superhero, whose only response to a situation is violence, against Jesus, whose primary response to a situation is to urge peace and forgiveness. Think about that for a while.
I enjoyed this as a work of art, (the drawing completely complements and fully supports the tale), and as a meditation on classic religious themes. It is a clever critique of the current state of organized religion, and a knowing commentary about current culture. It's also often laugh out loud funny.
This is worth reading.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
Back in the 1970's,when the album and then musical "Jesus Chris Superstar" was getting everyone into a twist, the evangelist Billy Graham weighed in by observing that it "bordered on blasphemy and sacrilege", but also conceded that "if the production ... causes young people to search their Bibles, to that extent it may be beneficial.". Well, I'm not in a twist, I don't worry about blasphemy or sacrilege, and reading the Bible through once was enough for me, but by gosh this book, like "Superstar", is funny, insightful, graceful, edgy, remarkably kind, and wistfully forgiving.
While there's a lot of witty snappy banter and some great deadpan bits and throwaway lines, the heart of this book is earnest and surprisingly good humored. This isn't the scorched earth approach of people like Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, both of whom I admire when they back off from their most strident. This is a kinder, gentler, and more bemused version by an author who seems most interested in where it was, exactly, that we all went wrong.
There's lots to enjoy here, if you just want to speed along. There's also a lot to think about, if you want to pause and consider the points being made by the author. It's not terribly groundbreaking, but questions about human nature, forgiveness, cooperation, and kindness are always worth putting on the table. And as an added filip, it was inspired to balance a superhero, whose only response to a situation is violence, against Jesus, whose primary response to a situation is to urge peace and forgiveness. Think about that for a while.
I enjoyed this as a work of art, (the drawing completely complements and fully supports the tale), and as a meditation on classic religious themes. It is a clever critique of the current state of organized religion, and a knowing commentary about current culture. It's also often laugh out loud funny.
This is worth reading.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
September 30, 2020
Second Coming has shining moments of brilliance and humanity, criticizing paradoxically vulnerable targets like organized religion and superheroes, some of the most powerful institutions and characters in reality and/or fiction. When you take the unique perspective of someone peace-loving like Jesus Christ and mix him with a Superman-analogue character who uses force to get things done, you get special things. In this story Jesus is the literal son of God and the same one that appears in the bible, but he is updated in diction for modern Americans and placed in the middle of Urban City, home of the omnipotent superhero Sunstar, the Superman analogue. Sunstar is a God in his own right who wants to make a baby with his girlfriend and will recklessly protect her from any mentionable threat, among other character flaws making him arrogant and bold. What you get when all those pieces interact in the mind of writer Mark Russell and artist Richard Pace, is a hilarious and honest look at the way things do not work for the best when power and superiority and punishment are the true Gods society worships.
The writing is sharp and bold, reestablishing Jesus Christ’s ideals and teachings in a relatable way, and excellently establishing and developing the characters of the two main protagonists, as well as providing a funny development of God, a rude and unbalanced “life of the party”, but I find the execution of the dialogue and action to come at an oddly timed pace. I did not feel that there was an always consistent flow of jokes and drama, but I suppose that indeed setup is necessary to establish the jokes and drama in the first place. When the punchlines do appear, they are certainly intriguing, though not quite laugh out loud funny for me. The drama was more my cup of tea, as it touches on serious issues of society and religion and it has something clear and concise to say about those things. I will say that the drama and jokes tend to intermingle a lot, which works for the best. The plot in some ways seems a little meandering, but things do develop more purpose and danger as the series progresses.
The art is split between the detailed and a bit dirty and ancient look of the Jesus-centric parts, and the clean and shiny and mainstream look of the Sunstar parts. Both have their ability to convey emotion and story, though I preferred the first style because it seemed more raw and artistic. The Amanda Conner covers are just fantastic and my favorite (Issue #4) was loaded with little jokes. The colors are as unique as the drawing styles and help distinguish them from each other even more.
I’ve never read a single word that Jesus Christ reportedly said, but this makes me feel like he was an okay guy. It kind of makes me feel like what is truly the point of a man like Superman if the main thing that he does is impose the punishments of society’s laws—sure he saves people, but he also keeps down the already oppressed. But ignore me: these are just my personal feelings. Wait. I mean, thoughts. They probably have nothing to do with the comic itself, and I’m just indulging my opinions.
Second Coming is a decent pick-me-up if you think comics are either too silly or too jaded and serious. This provides samplings of all three, and these different tones work together to make something that goes beyond a simple setup for a joke. This story has texture and detail and pathos, and while it is not without some flaws that mar its execution, it is certainly worth a read for people who want to see history come alive and interact with the modern day. Will this satisfy hardcore Christians? Probably not, but that is not the point. It is more angled toward the secular part of society, I think.
The writing is sharp and bold, reestablishing Jesus Christ’s ideals and teachings in a relatable way, and excellently establishing and developing the characters of the two main protagonists, as well as providing a funny development of God, a rude and unbalanced “life of the party”, but I find the execution of the dialogue and action to come at an oddly timed pace. I did not feel that there was an always consistent flow of jokes and drama, but I suppose that indeed setup is necessary to establish the jokes and drama in the first place. When the punchlines do appear, they are certainly intriguing, though not quite laugh out loud funny for me. The drama was more my cup of tea, as it touches on serious issues of society and religion and it has something clear and concise to say about those things. I will say that the drama and jokes tend to intermingle a lot, which works for the best. The plot in some ways seems a little meandering, but things do develop more purpose and danger as the series progresses.
The art is split between the detailed and a bit dirty and ancient look of the Jesus-centric parts, and the clean and shiny and mainstream look of the Sunstar parts. Both have their ability to convey emotion and story, though I preferred the first style because it seemed more raw and artistic. The Amanda Conner covers are just fantastic and my favorite (Issue #4) was loaded with little jokes. The colors are as unique as the drawing styles and help distinguish them from each other even more.
I’ve never read a single word that Jesus Christ reportedly said, but this makes me feel like he was an okay guy. It kind of makes me feel like what is truly the point of a man like Superman if the main thing that he does is impose the punishments of society’s laws—sure he saves people, but he also keeps down the already oppressed. But ignore me: these are just my personal feelings. Wait. I mean, thoughts. They probably have nothing to do with the comic itself, and I’m just indulging my opinions.
Second Coming is a decent pick-me-up if you think comics are either too silly or too jaded and serious. This provides samplings of all three, and these different tones work together to make something that goes beyond a simple setup for a joke. This story has texture and detail and pathos, and while it is not without some flaws that mar its execution, it is certainly worth a read for people who want to see history come alive and interact with the modern day. Will this satisfy hardcore Christians? Probably not, but that is not the point. It is more angled toward the secular part of society, I think.
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