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Manga Bible #2
Manga Melech: The Rise and Fall of Kings and Nations!
Manga Melech is a Biblically accurate Manga retelling of Bible stories beginning with entry into the Promised Land through the rule of King David. This book, fourth in the Tyndale Manga line, combines cutting-edge authentic Japanese Manga style with fast-paced storytelling to deliver Biblical truths in a compelling package to an ever changing, post-modern culture. Nearly 200,000 books sold in series!
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 18, 2025
i love young david 🤍🤍🤍
February 22, 2015
This is just an okay book for me. I think the reason was that I read a similar comic book that illustrated this part of the Old Testament when I was still in grade school and I could not help but remember how I enjoyed that. I could not forget the battle scenes in that book especially because it was written in Tagalog and I was still young and fond of stories about knights, cavalry, sword fights, etc.
However, there are still some stories that left marks on me like the chivalry and heroism of Gideon, the story of Naomi and Ruth, and the male friendship between David and Jonathan. I read and heard about these stories but it is different when you see them in illustrated version. It is more enjoyable.
This part of this Old Testament also is about God who is vengeful. Who commands his chosen leader to wield his swords or cane and kill many people in one sweep or motion. I have and always am partial towards New Testament and main read the Old Testament to wonder how it foreshadows the New. This is something I learned from attending the many lectures in the Basic Apologetics seminars last year and the year previous to that.
Still, this is an okay book to me especially because I want to complete all the 5 Manga books on the Holy Bible. A very appropriate read to usher the coming of this year's Lenten Season.
Thank you, Weng, for lending this 4th and 5th book of the Manga series to me.
However, there are still some stories that left marks on me like the chivalry and heroism of Gideon, the story of Naomi and Ruth, and the male friendship between David and Jonathan. I read and heard about these stories but it is different when you see them in illustrated version. It is more enjoyable.
This part of this Old Testament also is about God who is vengeful. Who commands his chosen leader to wield his swords or cane and kill many people in one sweep or motion. I have and always am partial towards New Testament and main read the Old Testament to wonder how it foreshadows the New. This is something I learned from attending the many lectures in the Basic Apologetics seminars last year and the year previous to that.
Still, this is an okay book to me especially because I want to complete all the 5 Manga books on the Holy Bible. A very appropriate read to usher the coming of this year's Lenten Season.
Thank you, Weng, for lending this 4th and 5th book of the Manga series to me.
November 10, 2012
Covering the majority of the Old Testament, this book reads like a biblical version of "A Game of Thrones". Conspiracies, treachery, power plays and good old fashioned homicide abound in this manga that covers the Exodus through the reign of King David. While this may not be everyone's cup of tea it is still a fun and powerful read for anyone of faith or just want's to decipher the family KJV bible.
April 2, 2018
Manga Melech is the fourth book of The Manga Bible series and continues the journey from the Exodus from Egypt and takes us to the first couple Kings of Israel all done in a graphic novel form – specifically the East Asian style of manga.
Manga Melech is a great continuation to the previous volume. Again, like most of the series, Hidenori Kumai stayed true to the source. I really liked that there was the corresponding text, so if wished one could go to The Bible and read it from the source. I also like the family tree at the end; it's very helpful to see who is related to whom.
Ryō Azumi continues to do the illustrations and is done rather well. Again, I have the same complaint about the art and that it was too cartoonish and gives a fictional vibe, which is not wanted in a religious text that is illustrated.
It took me a while to figure out the title – melech until I googled it and I found it rather apropos to the volume. Melech is the singular word for King in Hebrew and is used among the Kings of Israel and Judah. After all, the second half of the volume was dedicated to the Kings of Israel, so it was an apropos for the alliterative sounding titles that the series seem to want.
All in all, Manga Melech is a wonderfully depicted version of the Israelites wandering around the desert towards the breakup of the newly found kingdom. Like the previous volumes, Manga Melech serves its purpose very well – to introduce the young to get to know The Bible better.
Manga Melech is a great continuation to the previous volume. Again, like most of the series, Hidenori Kumai stayed true to the source. I really liked that there was the corresponding text, so if wished one could go to The Bible and read it from the source. I also like the family tree at the end; it's very helpful to see who is related to whom.
Ryō Azumi continues to do the illustrations and is done rather well. Again, I have the same complaint about the art and that it was too cartoonish and gives a fictional vibe, which is not wanted in a religious text that is illustrated.
It took me a while to figure out the title – melech until I googled it and I found it rather apropos to the volume. Melech is the singular word for King in Hebrew and is used among the Kings of Israel and Judah. After all, the second half of the volume was dedicated to the Kings of Israel, so it was an apropos for the alliterative sounding titles that the series seem to want.
All in all, Manga Melech is a wonderfully depicted version of the Israelites wandering around the desert towards the breakup of the newly found kingdom. Like the previous volumes, Manga Melech serves its 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 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).
June 9, 2021
Amazing graphics, and most importantly very close to the biblical account. Love, love, love them.
Beware not suitable for some ages, some pictures are very graphic (ex. blood and gore) and explicit stories such as Lot's daughters deciding to sleep with their father are mentioned.
Beware not suitable for some ages, some pictures are very graphic (ex. blood and gore) and explicit stories such as Lot's daughters deciding to sleep with their father are mentioned.
manga
February 6, 2020Good
April 3, 2020
Brief and easy way to know the history of bible
November 16, 2020
Highly faithful adaptation of the Christian scriptures in Manga format.
October 19, 2025
My favorite book in the Manga Illustrated Novel Bible series
December 14, 2013
In Summary
Manga Melech includes two of the biggest names in the Bible: Moses and David. But though they and the other prophets and warriors of their time were heroes, they weren’t without their flaws. Azumi-sensei paints a very human portrait of the men and women God chose to do his work, showing their highs and inglorious lows in the early days of the nation of Israel.
The Review
Manga Melech is the second in NEXT’s Bible manga series. While it’s not necessary to have read the first volume (Manga Mutiny), it does help in recognizing the characters. Manga Melech picks up where Manga Mutiny left off, the aftermath of the parting of the Red Sea. There are a lot of laws and regulations in this segment of the Bible, but Manga Melech focuses mainly on people, battles, and other historical events. However, the giving of the Ten Commandments gets its own scene, and a couple other major commands get woven into the dialogue.
After the exhilaration of escaping Egypt, things quickly go south for the Israelites as hardship spurs continuous complaining, occasionally bubbling up to rebellion. Moses, Miriam, and Aaron are put to the test as the community’s leaders, and I like how Azumi-sensei shows how their resolve weakens before they fail and the way the camp’s discontent creates tension between the siblings. But while the time of Moses is marked by internal strife, his successor Joshua’s is marked by unity and obedience, which the Israelites sorely need as they fight their way into the promised land.
The adventures of Moses and Joshua comprise the first quarter of the book. The period of the Israelite judges takes up the second quarter of the book, specifically the stories of Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and Ruth. While “The Song of Deborah” is an inspirational chapter, especially with its female characters, the players are a bit two-dimensional. Gideon, however, is the consummate reluctant hero, quaking in his sandals every step of the way to heroism. Azumi-sensei seems to have a lot of fun with the Samson chapter. Everyone knows the story of him and Delilah, but this chapter also includes the details of his ill-fated first marriage, the stuff that makes you scratch your head and wonder how he could be a leader appointed by God. (The illustration of him and the foxes on fire is pretty funny.) And nestled among the tales of warriors and battles is Ruth’s story of providence, acceptance, and love.
The final half of the book goes to the establishment of the Israelite kings, starting with King Saul and ending with King David naming Solomon as his successor. David’s life was intimately connected to Saul’s family. He served Saul, was best friend to Saul’s son Jonathan, and married Saul’s daughter Michal. All the relationships get strained when Saul decides to hunt David down, and Azumi-sensei does an excellent job of showing how everyone’s choices continue to impact David (and Michal) years after Saul and Jonathan are killed. Speaking of family conflict, David had his fair share as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba, and Azumi-sensei makes clear the connection between that personal sin to the tragedy that results within his family and nation decades later.
In addition to being a warrior and king, David was a musician. In fact, our first glimpse of David is of him playing the harp while watching his father’s sheep. The harp shows up over and over again in his life, and a couple of his Psalms get woven into the narrative to reflect his mood at different points of his life. In doing so, readers get a taste of the Book of Psalms as well as an understanding of the circumstances that inspired David’s poetry.
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!
Manga Melech includes two of the biggest names in the Bible: Moses and David. But though they and the other prophets and warriors of their time were heroes, they weren’t without their flaws. Azumi-sensei paints a very human portrait of the men and women God chose to do his work, showing their highs and inglorious lows in the early days of the nation of Israel.
The Review
Manga Melech is the second in NEXT’s Bible manga series. While it’s not necessary to have read the first volume (Manga Mutiny), it does help in recognizing the characters. Manga Melech picks up where Manga Mutiny left off, the aftermath of the parting of the Red Sea. There are a lot of laws and regulations in this segment of the Bible, but Manga Melech focuses mainly on people, battles, and other historical events. However, the giving of the Ten Commandments gets its own scene, and a couple other major commands get woven into the dialogue.
After the exhilaration of escaping Egypt, things quickly go south for the Israelites as hardship spurs continuous complaining, occasionally bubbling up to rebellion. Moses, Miriam, and Aaron are put to the test as the community’s leaders, and I like how Azumi-sensei shows how their resolve weakens before they fail and the way the camp’s discontent creates tension between the siblings. But while the time of Moses is marked by internal strife, his successor Joshua’s is marked by unity and obedience, which the Israelites sorely need as they fight their way into the promised land.
The adventures of Moses and Joshua comprise the first quarter of the book. The period of the Israelite judges takes up the second quarter of the book, specifically the stories of Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and Ruth. While “The Song of Deborah” is an inspirational chapter, especially with its female characters, the players are a bit two-dimensional. Gideon, however, is the consummate reluctant hero, quaking in his sandals every step of the way to heroism. Azumi-sensei seems to have a lot of fun with the Samson chapter. Everyone knows the story of him and Delilah, but this chapter also includes the details of his ill-fated first marriage, the stuff that makes you scratch your head and wonder how he could be a leader appointed by God. (The illustration of him and the foxes on fire is pretty funny.) And nestled among the tales of warriors and battles is Ruth’s story of providence, acceptance, and love.
The final half of the book goes to the establishment of the Israelite kings, starting with King Saul and ending with King David naming Solomon as his successor. David’s life was intimately connected to Saul’s family. He served Saul, was best friend to Saul’s son Jonathan, and married Saul’s daughter Michal. All the relationships get strained when Saul decides to hunt David down, and Azumi-sensei does an excellent job of showing how everyone’s choices continue to impact David (and Michal) years after Saul and Jonathan are killed. Speaking of family conflict, David had his fair share as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba, and Azumi-sensei makes clear the connection between that personal sin to the tragedy that results within his family and nation decades later.
In addition to being a warrior and king, David was a musician. In fact, our first glimpse of David is of him playing the harp while watching his father’s sheep. The harp shows up over and over again in his life, and a couple of his Psalms get woven into the narrative to reflect his mood at different points of his life. In doing so, readers get a taste of the Book of Psalms as well as an understanding of the circumstances that inspired David’s poetry.
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.
February 25, 2011
The fourth installment in Tyndale's Bible Manga series covers the stories from Moses and the Ten Comandments down through Solomon becoming King of Israel. The title is a Hebrew word meaning "king," and refers to the overall theme of this volume: the rise and fall of kings and nations. Manga Melech was a terrific read and really brought to life the Holy Scriptures as few other Bible comics have even come close to. The structure of this volume didn't lend itself to too many great stopping points. So, for the most part, I just read it on through. The really great thing about Tyndale's manga series is that it makes you aware of things in Scripture that you might have missed when reading the actual Bible text. Let's face it, the Bible can be pretty dense reading. Sometimes events in the Scriptures that should have been fascinating and thought-provoking to me got buried in the heavy ages-old writing. The Manga series captures these moments in visuals and provides neat footnotes telling the reader where to look in the Scripture to read these moments. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next volume.
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 Melech (King) provides a fluid, clear and faithful rendering of stories from Joshua to King David. .
For a full review, see: wp.me/p2XCwQ-Pf
Magna Melech (King) provides a fluid, clear and faithful rendering of stories from Joshua to King David. .
For a full review, see: wp.me/p2XCwQ-Pf
August 19, 2012
Wow I don't know how to review this. I feel vaguely blasphemous approaching the Old Testament as a narrative text. It's not my religion but still. I don't think I'd appreciate anyone looking at my religious text and judging my icons. So I'm just going to wrap up this review right here by noting that I found the story compelling and would prefer to refrain from further detail discussion. 3 stars
June 24, 2013
Love the story of David told in this format! It has scriptures that you can look up on the bottom of the page so you can read along with the Bible, and history of the characters and region they lived in in the back.
January 4, 2018
This book is awesome!!! love it
September 8, 2012
I love seeing the Judge's story. One of my favorite books in the bible.
October 19, 2012
Awesome manga!
May 12, 2023
I don't usually like manga but i like how this showed the bible stories
July 20, 2014
Really cute and fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews