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Manga Bible #1
Manga Mutiny: Angels and Mankind in Open Rebellion!
"Manga Mutiny "is a Biblically-accurate retelling of Genesis through Exodus 15:27 presented in the authentic Japanese Manga style. This book, third in the Tyndale Manga line, combines cutting-edge illustration with fast-paced storytelling to deliver Biblical truths in a compelling package to an ever changing, post-modern culture. More than 100,000 books sold in series!
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2009
27 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 30, 2015
My third book in my Manga bible reading. After the Manga Messiah (4 stars) and Manga Metamorphosis (4 stars) that both tells the stories from the New Testament, here comes the first of three books about the world before Jesus, i.e., the Old Testament.
Mutiny is a situation in which a group of people (such as sailors or soldiers) refuse to obey orders and try to take control away from the person who commands them. In this book, Manga Mutiny the two books of the OT indeed has many mutinies:
Mutiny is a situation in which a group of people (such as sailors or soldiers) refuse to obey orders and try to take control away from the person who commands them. In this book, Manga Mutiny the two books of the OT indeed has many mutinies:
1. The snake who tempted Eve and Adam to turn against God by eating the fruit from the tree of life.I am sure that there are a few more but these are the ones that fall into the definition of mutiny. Not all mutinies landed very well like those of Adam and Eve or even that of Moses. But that's life. Most mutinies are tainted with duplicity or evil intent and they are part of its nature but the angels lashing out people because they have turned away from God left lasting impression on me through the illustrations in this book. If only those angels can again come down from heaven in this modern times and kill all those terrorists who killed the 44 policemen that were buried to rest yesterday. Why not? This world will be a better place if we have those vigilante angels. Lol.
2. The people on earth against God prior to the Great Flood
3. The angels who warned Abraham and Lot against the people prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
4. Jacob and Rebekah conspiring against Esau to get his firstborn rights from Isaac
5. Joseph's brothers againts the Jacob by selling him to the Egyptian slave owners
6. God, Moses and Aaron are together freeing the Israelites from the bondage of slavery and bringing them to Mt. Sinai.
June 4, 2022
In the beginning...
When I was younger I was told the Bible is the living world of God and thus perfect though later on in life I began to wonder if it was really perfect considering the various variations of the book and that we mere mortals have had a tendency to not only misunderstand things by accident but sometimes on purpose so a narrative fits our ideals. As a simplified telling of Genesis 1 through Exodus 15 (along with a smattering of other chapters before we even get to the opening act of the book this is an easy and well drawn book based on "Ancient Texts" (after all you don't want people to say Bible in certain regions) so you will get a good gist of the beginning of one of the worlds most famous (and ironically stolen) books.
Honestly considering how European artists have depicted Biblical figures over the years as being pale skinned the new manga style doesn't even phase me at this point but I couldn't help but chuckle at one point about how beautiful even the elderly can be in this far flung past. but one of the things I liked best was that every page had the scriptures that the page was based on so if I ever questioned I could pull up the original book and read what inspired the page.
Sadly even simplified there is a lot to cover in the Bible so all we get is up to Moses and his brother leading the children of Israel from Egypt. Personally we are super close to the golden calf and the commandments but that would lead to a whole new chapter as Moses takes his people on a journey of redemption so the book ended well though I would have like to see the emotions drawn as Moses' fury takes him. :)
When I was younger I was told the Bible is the living world of God and thus perfect though later on in life I began to wonder if it was really perfect considering the various variations of the book and that we mere mortals have had a tendency to not only misunderstand things by accident but sometimes on purpose so a narrative fits our ideals. As a simplified telling of Genesis 1 through Exodus 15 (along with a smattering of other chapters before we even get to the opening act of the book this is an easy and well drawn book based on "Ancient Texts" (after all you don't want people to say Bible in certain regions) so you will get a good gist of the beginning of one of the worlds most famous (and ironically stolen) books.
Honestly considering how European artists have depicted Biblical figures over the years as being pale skinned the new manga style doesn't even phase me at this point but I couldn't help but chuckle at one point about how beautiful even the elderly can be in this far flung past. but one of the things I liked best was that every page had the scriptures that the page was based on so if I ever questioned I could pull up the original book and read what inspired the page.
Sadly even simplified there is a lot to cover in the Bible so all we get is up to Moses and his brother leading the children of Israel from Egypt. Personally we are super close to the golden calf and the commandments but that would lead to a whole new chapter as Moses takes his people on a journey of redemption so the book ended well though I would have like to see the emotions drawn as Moses' fury takes him. :)
May 26, 2024
Parents bought for me as a child - made all the people in the bible super hot 👍 even the old ones
April 6, 2025
Bitin! 😁
April 1, 2018
Manga Mutiny is the third book of The Manga Bible series and brings us back to the beginning in Genesis and takes us well into Exodus and ends with having the Israelites escaping from Egypt all done in a graphic novel form – specifically the East Asian style of manga.
Manga Mutiny is a great continuation, or rather, a prequel to the previous volumes. For the most part the text stayed true to the source. Like the first two volumes, Hidenori Kumai had taken some creative liberties, added some interpretations sparingly, and added some non-biblical content to further enrich the text. Again, Kumai kept the spirit of The Bible, if not the letter. The corresponding text by the page number and the profiles at the end is very useful.
Ryō Azumi takes over for illustrations in the volume and is well done. It flows rather nicely from the previous two volumes. The art itself is still a tad too cartoonish for me – not that there's anything wrong with it, but it gives a fictional feeling to the volume – something not really wanted in a religious text.
It took me a while to figure out the title – mutiny was such an odd word to use. I ran it through the thesaurus and then I understood – rebellion. This graphic novel showed that God's people were faithful to him for a period of time and then turns their faith away only to return after a cataclysmic event to remind them to remember God – this cycle happened consistently. From the moment Adam and Eve ate the fruit; their decedents would invariably rebel against God.
All in all, Manga Mutiny is a wonderfully depicted version of the Creation story to the Exodus. It serves the purpose very well – to introduce the young to get to know The Bible better.
Manga Mutiny is a great continuation, or rather, a prequel to the previous volumes. For the most part the text stayed true to the source. Like the first two volumes, Hidenori Kumai had taken some creative liberties, added some interpretations sparingly, and added some non-biblical content to further enrich the text. Again, Kumai kept the spirit of The Bible, if not the letter. The corresponding text by the page number and the profiles at the end is very useful.
Ryō Azumi takes over for illustrations in the volume and is well done. It flows rather nicely from the previous two volumes. The art itself is still a tad too cartoonish for me – not that there's anything wrong with it, but it gives a fictional feeling to the volume – something not really wanted in a religious text.
It took me a while to figure out the title – mutiny was such an odd word to use. I ran it through the thesaurus and then I understood – rebellion. This graphic novel showed that God's people were faithful to him for a period of time and then turns their faith away only to return after a cataclysmic event to remind them to remember God – this cycle happened consistently. From the moment Adam and Eve ate the fruit; their decedents would invariably rebel against God.
All in all, Manga Mutiny is a wonderfully depicted version of the Creation story to the Exodus. It serves the purpose very well – to introduce the young to get to know The Bible better.
June 13, 2020
There were some narrative details I thought would have been included that were omitted, and there were a few things the artist got wrong from the biblical text (the depiction of Joseph eating with his brothers on p. 202 contrary to what Genesis 43:32 states particularly seems to bug me). The authors and artists also use some creative license. But given that this graphic novel is actually meant to be an evangelistic tool for the unreached people in Japan, these criticisms are minor in the grand scheme of things. It's otherwise fairly faithful to the Bible and was enjoyable to read and view.
I do particularly appreciate that the bottom of each page contains the Bible verses that are being depicted, as the reader should enjoy this manga with the intention of moving next to the Bible itself. It's also notable that for select stories, there is a frame showing either a dark angel with wings or a light angel with wings. It's a reminder that this story is not simply one of the comings and goings of people that lived a long time ago; it's ultimately about the (losing) struggle of Satan and his spiritual forces of evil against the almighty God and His creation (Ephesians 6:12).
I do particularly appreciate that the bottom of each page contains the Bible verses that are being depicted, as the reader should enjoy this manga with the intention of moving next to the Bible itself. It's also notable that for select stories, there is a frame showing either a dark angel with wings or a light angel with wings. It's a reminder that this story is not simply one of the comings and goings of people that lived a long time ago; it's ultimately about the (losing) struggle of Satan and his spiritual forces of evil against the almighty God and His creation (Ephesians 6:12).
January 1, 2026
I bought this for my son to try out because he loves manga and anime. I figured it'd be a good way to get him into the Word.
It's called "Manga" but I wouldn't call these true manga. For one thing, you don't read them "backwards" like most manga.
That said, this first installment in this series of the Bible turned Manga is pretty good. There is obviously some artistic liberty involved to fill in story gaps or dialogue etc., but each page features the relevant Bible passages that match what's on the page for further inquiry, study and reading.
I'd definitely recommend these to anyone who has kids that struggle with wanting to read but maybe like comics.
It's called "Manga" but I wouldn't call these true manga. For one thing, you don't read them "backwards" like most manga.
That said, this first installment in this series of the Bible turned Manga is pretty good. There is obviously some artistic liberty involved to fill in story gaps or dialogue etc., but each page features the relevant Bible passages that match what's on the page for further inquiry, study and reading.
I'd definitely recommend these to anyone who has kids that struggle with wanting to read but maybe like comics.
January 4, 2019
Awesome and fresh way of reading the Bible and understanding the stories..
October 14, 2020
inspirational book for the kenyan youths
November 16, 2020
Highly faithful adaptation of the Christian scriptures in Manga format.
February 26, 2021
Great Lord
Most worth praise Lord
Most worth praise Lord
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
even more slays
January 30, 2025
This definetly deserves a beutifull review but seeing as I'm incapable of spelling correctly I doubt I'll manage a sorta good review
December 31, 2025
Fun to read & see the graphic interpretations Manga-style.
December 6, 2013
In Summary
Although it doesn’t cover every single detail of the ancient texts, Manga Mutiny provides an excellent overview of the first two books of the Bible. Azumi-sensei’s depictions of people, architecture, and clothing are probably more artistic interpretation than archaeologically/historically accurate, but her narrative makes characters relatable while sticking closely to the original story. It’s an excellent resource for teen readers who prefer graphics to text or older readers wanting a quick overview of the Bible.
The Review
To those new to manga, please note, just because Manga Mutiny contains both Bible stories and pictures doesn’t mean it’s meant for little kids. This is because the Bible is NOT rated G. It contains fratricide, incest, and assault, and that’s just the first book. While children’s Sunday school material may skip over this less savory material, Manga Mutiny does not. Azumi-sensei says she tends to be drawn more toward the weaknesses in her characters than their heroic qualities so we see a cowardly Abraham telling the Pharaoh that his wife is his (unmarried) sister and a less than heroic Lot offering to throw his two daughters to an angry mob. Azumi-sensei doesn’t glorify these aspects of the Bible, but they’re not censored out. So keep that in mind before you pass Manga Mutiny to a seven-year-old.
As mentioned before, this is the first in a five-part series, and Manga Mutiny covers the events from Genesis to Exodus. Interestingly, Azumi-sensei doesn’t begin with the creation of the universe, but with Lucifer’s rebellion against God. What that does is place the human story in the context of a greater cosmic struggle so each episode is part of an interconnected whole rather than a stand-alone story. When characters veer toward evil, Satan’s lurking in the background, and when redemption takes place, you see God’s agents at work.
Unlike most manga, this series is done entirely in color like most Western comics, but the artwork is standard shojo style. Azumi-sensei does a satisfactory job of making each member of the sizable cast distinct, but her artwork is probably not the most reliable resource if you wanted to know what the patriarchs actually looked and dressed like. Choices for hair/skin coloring and clothing seem more a function of artistic sense, and you know when you’re dealing with the divine because they have green or purple hair.
Regarding the dialogue, there’s no King James-speak here. In keeping with making this story accessible, characters use colloquial English. Children refer to parents as mom and dad, and people use terms like “okay” and “get lost.” Manga is dialogue-heavy, and there’s quite a bit of dialogue based upon but not actually in the Bible. However, each page includes a footnote referencing which books and verses each scene is drawn from. And to make clear when God is actually speaking, his speech is highlighted in color.
A map and family tree/character profile are included in the back as extras.
For more book and manga reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
Although it doesn’t cover every single detail of the ancient texts, Manga Mutiny provides an excellent overview of the first two books of the Bible. Azumi-sensei’s depictions of people, architecture, and clothing are probably more artistic interpretation than archaeologically/historically accurate, but her narrative makes characters relatable while sticking closely to the original story. It’s an excellent resource for teen readers who prefer graphics to text or older readers wanting a quick overview of the Bible.
The Review
To those new to manga, please note, just because Manga Mutiny contains both Bible stories and pictures doesn’t mean it’s meant for little kids. This is because the Bible is NOT rated G. It contains fratricide, incest, and assault, and that’s just the first book. While children’s Sunday school material may skip over this less savory material, Manga Mutiny does not. Azumi-sensei says she tends to be drawn more toward the weaknesses in her characters than their heroic qualities so we see a cowardly Abraham telling the Pharaoh that his wife is his (unmarried) sister and a less than heroic Lot offering to throw his two daughters to an angry mob. Azumi-sensei doesn’t glorify these aspects of the Bible, but they’re not censored out. So keep that in mind before you pass Manga Mutiny to a seven-year-old.
As mentioned before, this is the first in a five-part series, and Manga Mutiny covers the events from Genesis to Exodus. Interestingly, Azumi-sensei doesn’t begin with the creation of the universe, but with Lucifer’s rebellion against God. What that does is place the human story in the context of a greater cosmic struggle so each episode is part of an interconnected whole rather than a stand-alone story. When characters veer toward evil, Satan’s lurking in the background, and when redemption takes place, you see God’s agents at work.
Unlike most manga, this series is done entirely in color like most Western comics, but the artwork is standard shojo style. Azumi-sensei does a satisfactory job of making each member of the sizable cast distinct, but her artwork is probably not the most reliable resource if you wanted to know what the patriarchs actually looked and dressed like. Choices for hair/skin coloring and clothing seem more a function of artistic sense, and you know when you’re dealing with the divine because they have green or purple hair.
Regarding the dialogue, there’s no King James-speak here. In keeping with making this story accessible, characters use colloquial English. Children refer to parents as mom and dad, and people use terms like “okay” and “get lost.” Manga is dialogue-heavy, and there’s quite a bit of dialogue based upon but not actually in the Bible. However, each page includes a footnote referencing which books and verses each scene is drawn from. And to make clear when God is actually speaking, his speech is highlighted in color.
A map and family tree/character profile are included in the back as extras.
For more book and manga reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2010
This is the third in a series of Bible Manga which began with Manga Messiah (the four Gospels) and continued with Manga Metamorphosis (the Acts and Letters of Paul). Here, the creators ambitiously take on the Genesis through Exodus with a small bit of non-canonical tradition. The book succeeds just as the previous two volumes in making the lore of the Bible really come alive, but is perhaps less cohesive than the others, lacking a central character to follow throughout. Unless you count the cameos by Lucifer. But, didn't it occur to them they could have made God himself a mover visible character? Here, the creators were a little less bold in incorporating manga elements like the raised veins on the forehead and sudden super-deforming of characters than they were in the first two books. These elements were what set the series apart from other Bible comics. This is not to say that the book lacks creativity. When I first read the title online, I thought, "Okay, they're keeping the alliteration going, but what story could that possibly be?" But seeing the tagline "Angels and Humans in Open Rebellion" explained it nicely. The books seems to end prematurely, with Moses leading the people out of Egypt, but well ahead of him receiving the Ten Commandments. The foreshadowing dialogue at the end, however, suggests that that will be used in a fourth volume. I certainly hope so.
November 19, 2014
Chronologically Manga Messengers from NEXT is the first book (of five so far, a sixth book is planned) that sets the Old Testament narrative in context with a story that invites you to join with believers all over the world and begin the stories of the Bible from the beginning with Manga Mutiny. These books are absolutely the most powerful way for young people of all ages to spend time in the Word - you will find that your child turns to the full Bible in order to go deeper into the meaning - but these books are awesome for setting them on a course filled with excitement! With editions now published in over 25 languages, young people celebrate that their faith is part of a global youth culture movement - that they are enjoying the word of God just as millions of other kids are in many languages. Because it is so accessible and (dare to say, FUN) kids are sharing their faith through telling the stories in Manga Mutiny, Manga Melech, Manga Messengers, Manga Messiah and Manga Metamorphosis from NEXT.
April 12, 2014
What I liked about this was it was an innovative way to tell the stories from the bible without compromising either the manga art form of the truth of the scriptures. It managed to be true to the art by using a celebrated artist and followed (and expanded) the form of manga. But at the same time it told the story from the bible with accuracy and not taking tons of liberty to make it "better," as is often done. I highly recommend this, whether you are drawn to the art style or the bible or both.
July 24, 2014
The Next Manga (Japanese stylized comics) series is a vibrant, faithful look at Bible stories that provide a fresh and unique viewpoint in which to be immersed in and engaged by God's love and redemption for His people. It also does a beautiful job pointing to the source of those stories - God's word. I know for me, it's been a great way to reorient myself to well known stories in a fresh way.
Magna Mutiny provides a fluid, clear and faithful rendering of stories from Genesis.
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For a full review, see: wp.me/p2XCwQ-Pf
Magna Mutiny provides a fluid, clear and faithful rendering of stories from Genesis.
.
For a full review, see: wp.me/p2XCwQ-Pf
June 5, 2016
Fantastic drawings. This series gives you the stories of the Bible in an easy-to-read format. Worthwhile reading. Excellent as base knowledge for those who haven't read the Bible in full yet. Motivated me to want to read the Bible in full after I've finished the series. Great for those who love manga or graphic novels. This book Gives you a real sense of the Old Testament up to Exodus.
August 24, 2012
I thought it was really interesting and brought a fun way for people to read the bible. It was super interesting and the more I read it the more I got curious about the different kinds of stories in the bible.^_^
July 31, 2016
I enjoyed reading Manga Mutiny. I loved reading Genesis and Exodus in this version. I liked how they had the bible verses and chapters at the bottom. My favorite story in this Manga was the story of Jacob which he was later called Israel. A great book for Christian teens!
June 25, 2010
Amazing comic book featured Hall of Faith from the book of Genesis to Exodus . . .
October 19, 2012
Amazing manga!
October 27, 2013
This is awesome I enjoyed it. One way to enjoy reading bible is the one like this. Manga Comic type this is good for children. Godbless reading everyone.
July 11, 2016
Pretty good, broad strokes version of the book of Genesis. Provides plenty of food for thought and is very well produced.
August 3, 2016
Its a very good book for children. Most of the children don't read The Bible and this book conveys the message to them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews