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DC Cancels Comic Where Jesus Learns From Superhero After Outcry (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

AmiMoJo writes: A new comics series in which Jesus Christ is sent on "a most holy mission by God" to learn "what it takes to be the true messiah of mankind" from a superhero called Sun-Man, has been cancelled by DC Comics. The move follows a petition that called it "outrageous and blasphemous". The Second Coming series, from DC imprint Vertigo, was due to launch on 6 March. Written by Mark Russell and illustrated by Richard Pace, its story followed Jesus's return to Earth. "Shocked to discover what has become of his gospel," he teams up with a superhero, Sun-Man, who is more widely worshipped than him.

50 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. Damn... by rnmartinez · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This sounds like something I would totally read.

    1. Re:Damn... by psergiu · · Score: 4, Interesting

      There's the Japanese version.
      Saint Young Men

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    2. Re:Damn... by EvilSS · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Really? Because it sounds like hot garbage to me. I'm guessing DC agreed since they didn't fight very hard for it.

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      I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
    3. Re:Damn... by Ragnarok89 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This. I'm not a reader of comic by any stretch of the imagination, nor am I religious at all. However, the idea behind this story sounds intriguing. Not only would it be interesting to see what Jesus would think of what became of His Gospel, but of us as well. The idea of him having a discussion with a superhero who is "worshiped" more than Him sounds fascinating... Especially since the "worship" would be of a completely different kind.

      Imagine the discussion about superpowers? Gifts of God to a select few? Were they Chosen? Was it random? Did God have anything to do with it? Do superpowers make them "more" than Jesus is (given He can't fly, no super strength, no laser vision, etc). This would be an incredible analysis/discussion on what it means to be a superhero vs the son of God.

      I can only imagine some of the other discussions and story arcs that might have come from this premise. A shame we'll never know.

    4. Re:Damn... by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This. I'm not a reader of comic by any stretch of the imagination, nor am I religious at all. However, the idea behind this story sounds intriguing. Not only would it be interesting to see what Jesus would think of what became of His Gospel, but of us as well. The idea of him having a discussion with a superhero who is "worshiped" more than Him sounds fascinating...

      It would be difficult to write such a comic though that wouldn't fall into one of three traps:
      Preachy,
      Blasphemous,
      or Boring.

      If you get too much into moral conduct it could come across as preachy. If Jesus has any flaws, or resorts to kicking arse, it could come across as blasphemous... trying too hard to avoid either of the above could become boring.

      A skilled writer could probably come up with some very intriguing story lines as you suggest. But if a less than stellar writing team is involved if would end up a disaster.

      --
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    5. Re:Damn... by EvilSS · · Score: 3, Funny

      Literally anything else. This premise makes the Emoji Movie sound like a brilliant idea.

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    6. Re:Damn... by glitch! · · Score: 2

      Do superpowers make them "more" than Jesus is (given He can't fly, no super strength, no laser vision, etc).

      Give Jesus the special power of knocking over tables with a wave of his hand and give him a magic bull-whip that glows when a banker is near.

      --
      A dingo ate my sig...
    7. Re:Damn... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It would be difficult to write such a comic though that wouldn't fall into one of three traps:
      Preachy,
      Blasphemous,
      or Boring.

      Just stay clear of preachy and boring.
      Being blasphemous is more a virtue than a crime and has been a part of comedy for a long time.

      Either way I doubt it will be more outrageous than the source material.

    8. Re:Damn... by Cryacin · · Score: 2

      You would think so, and you would be right until you figured out that true omnipotence brings impotence. It's a game of not exercising your powers, and rather influencing those around you. Very much like C-Level office politics. You rule the world, seas will rise when you give the word, and how many people need to die so that you can fish from your balcony?

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
    9. Re:Damn... by Scarletdown · · Score: 2

      It would be difficult to write such a comic though that wouldn't fall into one of three traps:
      Preachy,
      Blasphemous,
      or Boring.

      It would be hard to write one that didn't fall in to all three of those.

      South Park managed to pull it off without falling into any of those three through the Super Best Friends. Nope, not blasphemous either; since you have to be religious to be able to commit blasphemy, due to it being a religious law and not secular.

      Or was Seaman blasphemy against poor Aquaman?

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      This space unintentionally left blank.
    10. Re:Damn... by Kyr+Arvin · · Score: 2

      South Park managed to pull it off without falling into any of those three through the Super Best Friends. Nope, not blasphemous either; since you have to be religious to be able to commit blasphemy, due to it being a religious law and not secular.

      The environment changed in between Super Best Friends (aired July 2001) and 201 (aired 2010). In Super Best Friends, Muhammad was drawn, and it caused no controversy. In 201, Comedy Central forced all depictions of Muhammad to be heavily censored over Matt's and Trey's objections, even though it treated Muhammad with respect, the only "offense" being he was depicted.

      Super Best Friends was pulled in 2010 and is no longer available for purchase.
      200 and 201 are similarly unavailable and has not re-aired since its premiere.

      It's pretty clear that there was nothing wrong with the episodes (especially compared to how other figures, religious or not, get lampooned), but Islamic radicals have shown a willingness to murder anyone in any country for any offense.

  2. Remove Jesus, insert other religious figure... by hiroshimarrow · · Score: 5, Funny

    and someone would get crucified if it were one that was less forgiving.

    1. Re:Remove Jesus, insert other religious figure... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      >What do you think would happen next?

      Probably someone in some nerd news comment section correcting you where you meant to say Muhammad?

  3. Thor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, if this is real, then it may finally be time for Norwegians to stand up and demand the halt of this blasphemous portrayal of Thor Odinson, the god of Thunder!

    1. Re: Thor by Frankzy · · Score: 2

      Just Norwegians? What about Swedes and Danes?

  4. April Fools! by goombah99 · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is an april fools joke right? Who would greenlight this?

    Or did Southpark acquire DC comics? Will Jesus defeat Santa Claus?

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    1. Re:April Fools! by turp182 · · Score: 2

      Let's ask Brian Boitano!

      --
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    2. Re: April Fools! by AnonyMouseCowWard · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So instead of getting shot at, you just get censored due to religion...It's better, for sure, but that doesn't make religion better. It's just a religion, you (not you literally, the figurative you) believe what the heck you want and others can do what the heck they please, including drawing comics about your figurehead. Drawing Jesus comics doesn't infringe on your religious rights; however, if you decide to censor, or worse, retaliate against the creators, that just means religion is given way too much power or you're a terrorist.

    3. Re:April Fools! by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      I am a religious person, but I don't see this story blasphemous myself. Currently in our culture there is a disconnect between the teachings from the Christian traditions and the actual actions and call of actions from many predominate Christian leaders.

      I feel the outcry is because the hypocrisy that we all face is being exposed, and the one thing everyone doesn't want is to be shown that they are wrong or immoral.

      A lot of "Religious" people want is a simple If you do these things then you are good. However the Christian teaching actually offers a more complex set of morality then most of us want to deal with. A story set in modern times I feel would help reinforce the Christian teaching, in a non-dogma related media.

      If well written this could be a powerful story to allow people to re-assets their stances and actions, without having to be all preachy. Because people don't like to show they are wrong or immoral, if they can come to the realization themselves, then all the better.

      I expect there would be some outcry, but those are often from the same groups that just hate comic books anyways. I guess it sparked a bigger nerve.

      --
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    4. Re:April Fools! by malkavian · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Ah, you've fallen into the age old trap of believing that a deity/messiah would behave the way you want.
      I have a sneaky suspicion that the any returned Jesus would decry the SJWs as much as the political machinations of the church/political parties and the rest of the divisive ideologies.

    5. Re:April Fools! by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Jesus went against the grain of society, stoop up for the oppressed, advocated equality and social justice for all, disliked the 1%... He even sent himself death threats and his followers have a near-religious fervour. Eventually conservatives got fed up with his BS and constantly claiming to be the victim - "waaah thy nailed me to a cross waaah!" Suck it up, Jesus.

      Sounds like an SJW to me.

      --
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    6. Re: April Fools! by orlanz · · Score: 2

      Only a little religious and not Christian but I will take a stab. For me, it's mentally comforting. And God is a personal and selfish concept for me.

      I understand it isn't necessary for others but it is for me. And it adds quite a bit of relief and quiet internal happiness to believe that there is a higher power above me; above all humans. That one day they would answer for their transgressions. And wrongs not as defined by me but as defined by a greater, more fair power. Kind of like an idealistic Judge. I find it easier to let things go and not become preoccupied with something that happened in traffic and ruin the rest of my good day. I can judge all transgressions before me, but don't have the burden of executing a just punishment.

      I have found my need to talk, ask, beg, thank, and joke with my inner voices I call various Gods to be not only comforting, but also supportive, strengthening, and therapeutic.

      I know some others who believe in their beliefs for similar if not the same reasons. I am sure there are many more that have yet other reasons. To each his own.

      Maybe I am mentally disabled in some way and this is my way to cope with society or appear normal to others. I could probably get the same treatment with drugs and therapy. Or maybe a cure. But that's OK, I am good with the way I am.

    7. Re: April Fools! by meglon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You're worried about the comic "getting things wrong?" Seriously?

      Jesus taught to feed the hungry, to treat strangers with compassion, to cloth those without, to look after the sick, to give to the poor, and to sell ones possessions and share so as there would be no needy.

      BUT, this is the US. In the US we have conservative "christians" who actively do exactly the opposite, and denounce the teachings of Jesus every chance they get.... and yet still call themselves christians. The biggest threat to Christianity is the fake conservative "christians" in the US who are adulterating and abusing his teachings EVERY SINGLE DAY. The only things they teach are being anti-abortion (Jesus never mentioned abortion being wrong, or being against it...even though herbal abortion was commonplace at the time), and being anti gay marriage (again, Jesus never mentions gay marriage). Conservative "christians" are not Christians, they're a cult of anti-Christians.

      But you're worried about if the comic books might get it wrong....

      --
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  5. Re:Oh noes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Judge and my therapist says I shouldn't.

  6. Special fun-pak games section planned too by goombah99 · · Score: 2

    In the middle of the comic they were planning to have a connect-the-dots Mohamed image.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  7. That sounds like a compliment! by ZorinLynx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Outrageous and blasphemous"? Bring it on!

    There's always going to be some people who are pissed off at something. If you always listen to them, you'll never put anything out at all.

    They should have just doubled down and rolled with this.

    1. Re:That sounds like a compliment! by thereddaikon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Easy to say when its Jesus and the worst you get is bad press. Show me how much you really believe in free speech. Do an arc on Mohammed.

    2. Re:That sounds like a compliment! by alvinrod · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It reminds me of when Kevin Smith made Dogma, which received similar backlash from Christian groups. Smith actually went out to one of the protests( which wasn't very large) and joined in with them, which was caught on film by a news crew covering it.

      Comic sales are in the tank and I don't think Christians are the main customer base for DC. If anything, the extra attention would just drum up sales for the first issue because people would buy it just to spite the holier than thou religious types.

  8. Religious fundamentalism is always harmful. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Whether it is middle-eastern suicode bombers, Vatican boy rapists, or this kind of fake-victimhood terrorism.

    Not being allowed to take the freedom of other people does not equal you having your freedom taken away, dear terrorists. It is not harm, to forbid somebody to harm you.

    And free speech is one of he most fundamental guaranteed freedoms.

    You even have the right to *say* you want to take the freedom of others.
    But we are not obliged to comply. And we have the right to say you are morons and terrorists.
    I know factual reality is not your thing, but in his case, such statements are not slander, as they are factually true.

  9. Eh - I'd still like to see it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This isn't completely new territory. Miracleman was notable for its release from the 'superhero' concept once the main character realized his life was a simplistic morality play written for children - and then decided to ACTUALLY start making things better for everyone.

    There's the usual beating someone with the same powers as them (basically superman), with horrific results, and then ... then they legitimately improve the world. Rebuilding, undoing death, creating a post-scarcity society, becoming part of the larger universe.

    And they didn't ignore or shy away from the religious overtones.

    Made for a really good exploration of concepts - shame that it was basically tied up in legal ownership muck for many, many years.

    Think of it this way - if we got time travel, or the ability to re-create things/people from the past - woudln't one of the absolutely first things folks would do would be to visit/recreate Jesus of Nasareth? Even if just to see what that story really was?

    This guy made a fictional story where the Jesus and God are lesser characters in a story. A certain self-proclaimed prophet Mohammad did the same thing, I suppose. There's a lot to learn as long as you don't take it as gospel, so to speak.

  10. Typical racist bullshit by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can have a Norse superhero, you can have a black superhero but god forbid we get a Jewish superhero!

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    1. Re:Typical racist bullshit by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

      What about Bernie Sanders?

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  11. If someones faith is that shallow by pgmrdlm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Then they truly do not believe.
    I am religious, and have faith. But I also enjoy reading fiction that some would find blasphemy. What I read does not shake my faith. If these people are so offended, their faith has been brought into question. Then they are not as religious as they think they are.

    --
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  12. Holy shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Christians are acting as butthurt as the Muslims

    1. Re:Holy shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You will note:

      1. There were no riots.
      2. No one died
      3. It didn't even make the national news until after the fact.
      4. There were no death threats

      Contrasts that with say, some series that portrays LBQTWERTY in a bad light.

      1. There would be protests.
      2. There would be boycotts.
      3. There would be mass Virtue Signalling on all the social media.
      4. There would be talk of how the LBQTWERTY is being attacked and could cost someone their life.
      5. There would probably be death threats.
      6. Some idiot Congressmaggot would try to hold hearings.

      And finally, contrast that with an animated series on Mohammad.

      Riots, murders, etc. You know thew drill from past experience.

    2. Re: Holy shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As a Christian, I say the concept is fascinating. Then again, I'm of the opinion that we've completely botched the gospel and the mission of the church, so " what would Jesus think of what we've made it today" resonates with me.

      That said, it would be very easy to muck up the writing for all the reasons posted earlier in this thread.

    3. Re:Holy shit. by Scarletdown · · Score: 4, Funny

      Let me know when the Christians try to murder everyone involved...

      The Crusades?

      Or the Spanish Inquisition.

      Well, I for one certainly was not expecting that...

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      This space unintentionally left blank.
    4. Re:Holy shit. by Linux+Torvalds · · Score: 2

      Then there was that whole Great Flood thing, but never mind that. Mysterious ways, etc., etc.

    5. Re:Holy shit. by ilsaloving · · Score: 2

      Except they haven't murdered anyone (that I am aware of) over a comic book.

  13. Jesus, the first Trump Republican by NEDHead · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Makes up stories, claims to do AMAZING THINGS, lies about where he spent the weekend, then wants 10% of your income.

  14. Remove Jesus, insert L Ron Hubbard by Comboman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Pretty much the only religion unarguably less forgiving than Christianity is Islam.

    Clearly you've never offended a Scientologist.

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    1. Re:Remove Jesus, insert L Ron Hubbard by mark_reh · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You've mistaken scientology for a religion.

    2. Re:Remove Jesus, insert L Ron Hubbard by cmdr_klarg · · Score: 2

      You've mistaken scientology for a religion.

      Why? Scientology has all the hallmarks as any other religion does. And it is just as valid as the rest of them too.

      --
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    3. Re:Remove Jesus, insert L Ron Hubbard by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      Charlatan that founded it is dead. So yes, religion not cult.

      --
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    4. Re:Remove Jesus, insert L Ron Hubbard by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      Scientology is a religion when it is legally convenient to be a religion, and a business when it is legally convenient to be a business.

  15. Re:Theocracy by Voyager529 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And who says we don't live in a theocracy...

    Is the government threatening DC with fines/jail time/threat of life if they publish it?
    Is there any county, state, or federal law preventing DC from publishing it?
    Is there any county, state, or federal law preventing retailers from selling it?
    If DC were to publish it and retailers were to sell it, and people were to cause quantifiable harm to either of them as a result, would the government fail to arrest those who caused that harm?

    No, no, no, and no. Therefore, I can conclude that we do not, in fact, live in a theocracy.

    What we have is DC making a decision about what they want to publish. Exercising their right to the freedom of the press as they are choosing to not-publish something is basically the antithesis of what a theocratic government would do.

  16. Um... Preacher? by Tyler+Durden · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Whatever you do, don't show these petitioners a copy of Preacher. Their heads would explode.

    On second thought, do. Do show them copies.

    --
    Happy people make bad consumers.
  17. Been done, back in the sixties by whitroth · · Score: 2

    https://comixjoint.com/jesusco...

    "If you liked the New Testament, you'll love this new, improved testament"

    Alternatively: Even the grave couldn't stop him - he's coming after you and he WANTS YOUR SOUL!

  18. Was this supposed to be a pun? by MobyDisk · · Score: 2

    The characters are "Sun-Man" and "The Son of Man" *facepalm*

  19. It's not about faith by rsilvergun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    it's about _control_. You want to be the exclusive source for comment and truth about your God so that folks have to get to God through _you_. Then you can charge them for the privilege.

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