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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.

22 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 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.

    3. 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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    4. 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.

  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.

  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!

  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?

    --
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    1. 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.

    2. 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. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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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  8. 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.

    --
    Anonymous comments are as pathetic as the anonymous "sources" that contaminate gutless journalism from the New York Time
  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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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