DC Cancels Comic Where Jesus Learns From Superhero After Outcry (theguardian.com) 348
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.
Damn... (Score:5, Interesting)
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Well, there's always The Last Hangover on Netflix.
Re:Damn... (Score:5, Interesting)
There's the Japanese version.
Saint Young Men [wikipedia.org]
Re:Damn... (Score:4, Interesting)
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Really? Because it sounds like hot garbage to me. I'm guessing DC agreed since they didn't fight very hard for it.
It all sounds like hot garbage to me... never personally understood comic book-love, but to each their own. A lot of people probably don't like what I like... ... nonetheless, them cancelling this will probably make whatever editions they've already published valuable in the future.
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never personally understood comic book-love, but to each their own.
There are good comics out there, even though superhero comics are usually rubbish.
Re:Damn... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Damn... (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.
Re:Damn... (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.
Re: Damn... (Score:2)
Re:Damn... (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.
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If Jesus has any flaws, or resorts to kicking arse, it could come across as blasphemous...
A non-blasphemous, flawless Jesus would be, pretty much by definition, both preachy and boring.
Not quite sure why you would even list blasphemy as a 'trap'. Even though it's been done before, a blasphemous, flawed, kick arse Jesus would be the only hope of making any Jesus story even vaguely interesting. At the very least it might garner enough outrage to sell a few copies.
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Flawless Jesus would not necessarily be boring, or preachy. In fact, you could make him very real human emotions.
Imagine the struggle of always being perfect. It would be tiresome to everyone around him, and he'd probably be very lonely during large stretches of life.
And he wouldn't be "preachy" because that has a definitive negative connotation. To come across as not "preachy", he'd have to have perfect execution in whatever he did.
Writing such a character would be nearly impossible long term, as contradic
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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.
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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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It's pushing the borders of that "blasphemous" label, but I'd recommend Adam Black's comic "Locus". The actual blasphemous parts are supporting details for a bigger story about the sort of things a deity might fear.
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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.
It sounds interesting (Score:2)
until zealots burn your house down.
Holy shit. (Score:2, Insightful)
The Christians are acting as butthurt as the Muslims
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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 tr
Re: Holy shit. (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.
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Except they haven't murdered anyone (that I am aware of) over a comic book.
Re:Holy shit. (Score:5, 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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Remove Jesus, insert other religious figure... (Score:5, Funny)
and someone would get crucified if it were one that was less forgiving.
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Probably someone in some nerd news comment section correcting you where you meant to say Muhammad?
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Maybe replace him with Allah. What do you think would happen next?
Same person. Or god. Or whatever.
Hi Son-man, I'm Dad-man! (Score:2)
I thought they were worried the Aztecs would be upset of the representation of Nanahuatzin in a comic book. Boy, you sure don't want to piss off those Aztecs!
Remove Jesus, insert L Ron Hubbard (Score:5, Insightful)
Clearly you've never offended a Scientologist.
Re:Remove Jesus, insert L Ron Hubbard (Score:5, Insightful)
You've mistaken scientology for a religion.
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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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Charlatan that founded it is dead. So yes, religion not cult.
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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.
Thor (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!
Re: Thor (Score:2)
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The Norse myths are great. I recommend Neil Gaiman's take on them, especially the recent BBC adaptation.
Re: Thor (Score:2)
There's only one God, m'am, and I'm pretty sure He does not dress like that!
April Fools! (Score:5, Funny)
This is an april fools joke right? Who would greenlight this?
Or did Southpark acquire DC comics? Will Jesus defeat Santa Claus?
Special fun-pak games section planned too (Score:3)
In the middle of the comic they were planning to have a connect-the-dots Mohamed image.
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Let's ask Brian Boitano!
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It sounds kinda interesting. Say Jesus came back today, he would be competing for YouTube views with Beyonce and PewDiePie. Okay it's comics so it has to be a superhero in spandex, but the basic premise is there, and was probably an issue back in his time.
These days there would also be a backlash against an SJW telling people what to do and making them feel guilty about stuff. Then there is the way his teachings have been re-interpreted and corrupted from their original meaning over the last 2000 years. The
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Jesus wouldn't be gay, he'd be bi- or pan-sexual. Jesus loves everybody!
Re:April Fools! (Score:4, 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.
Re: (Score:3, 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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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. Howeve
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I am a religious person
Why?
Re: April Fools! (Score:3)
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 Judg
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plus Olive, the other reindeer.
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The Religious Majority didn't Dictate it, DC wouldn't be put in jail for their comic book. However... as you state it is the Majority, so I expect declining profits would be the reason to stop it.
It is a redefined version of progress just because someone can do a thing, it doesn't mean they must do that thing.
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Not that easy, all that beard and the towel on the head... Stick to Jesus. A halo is easier to draw than a hairdo on fire.
Re: April Fools! (Score:5, Insightful)
The Youtube Skeptic community made a good point (Score:2)
The Bible really only has 1 punishment: Death. And several of the Commandments folks like to ignore make it so that images of God are a huge no-no. Historically the reason for this was to keep power concentrated with the priesthood (folks who know their history know that government & religion were often the same thing for a very long time).
This comes up when folks ask a YouTube skeptic "why so ma
Re: April Fools! (Score:5, Insightful)
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....
That sounds like a compliment! (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.
Re:That sounds like a compliment! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:That sounds like a compliment! (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
Controversy as Marketing (Score:2)
They ditched when they saw it wasn't going to do well; otherwise, they'd pull crap like killing Superman just to sell some more tired old crap.
Hey, isn't Superman a SUN powered god? Didn't superman become a Jesus proxy? They didn't have the guts to use superman; it had to have crossed their mind.
As stupid as it sounds it could have been funny to see a make over Jesus in spandex and a cape multiplying food and being a preachy un-dead immortal trying to appeal to little boys -- who tend to resolve their emot
Religious fundamentalism is always harmful. (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.
"holy mission by God" (Score:2)
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I consider it a missed opportunity to see Jesus with shades. Would've been the coolest messiah ever. And turned water to beer.
I can only do that the other way 'round.
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I can only do that the other way 'round.
Somehow, I don't think you're actually talking "water" anymore.
Eh - I'd still like to see it. (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
Typical racist bullshit (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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Superman’s possible Judaism shouldn’t be a surprise. The hero’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were the children of Jewish immigrants. The comic book industry, where they spent a significant portion of their young careers, was created in New York by Jews like Max Ginsburg, Bob Kahn, and Jacob Kurtzberg, who hid their ethnicity behind names like Gaines, Kane, and Kirby. Over the years there have been scores of books and articles on the subject with punny names like Up, Up, and Oy Vey or “Mensch of Steel.”
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If someones faith is that shallow (Score:5, Insightful)
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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yes, absolutely.
I have a friend who's pagan (first nations; not new age).
When the evangalists come by his house to proselytize, he asks them "Why should I believe in your God? You don't."
Their response is generally a good indicator of the sincerity of their faith.
It's not about faith (Score:5, Insightful)
Lame (Score:2)
I'm sad to see they buckled to a petition.
To me the comic sounds dumb and offensive and likely to lose money, but it's far better to let the market prove this out than to preemptively censor them via an outrage posse.
A bit ironic (Score:2)
It looks like the story will get out, just that DC didn’t want the controversy.
CitizenGo claimed the decision as a victory, telling Syfy Wire that Second Coming
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They petitioned Portland to drop ads on busses featuring lesbians, so I'm guessing they would take a dim view of Wonder Woman being one.
Of course an impractical skin-tight costume is fine.
Reminds me of the film Hamlet 2 (Score:2)
It's a film I really enjoyed.
It's about a high school theater production where Jesus comes back but has to be cool and he time travels to save characters from Hamlet. Super well made (it's a movie with an actual musical at the end).
"Rock me, rock me, rock me sexy Jesus!":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Jesus, the first Trump Republican (Score:3, Insightful)
Makes up stories, claims to do AMAZING THINGS, lies about where he spent the weekend, then wants 10% of your income.
Offense culture leads to blasphemy culture (Score:2)
Yes how dare they (Score:2, Insightful)
"He was like us in all things but sin" (Score:2)
At least, that's what they told me in religion class.
Thus, those who call it blasphemy to show the Son of God taking a lesson from someone his Father created have told us that God wouldn't do that.
Like us in all things but sin; unlike us in $act; therefore $act is sinful.
I see their unspoken position--taking a lesson from you means I'm less than you; to show God as "less than" would be blasphemy.
For them, hubris is a virtue (they call it being "righteous")
In this case I can't fault them for hypocrisy; they
Fundie Follies (Score:2)
I think the religious fundamentalists and critics who are trying to stop Second Coming aren't interested in protecting Christ so much as their ability to control his narrative... They probably (correctly) suspect that it's not Christ who's being parodied, but themselves and how they've twisted his teachings of mercy for the powerless into a self-serving tool of the powerful. - Comic's Author Mark Russell
breath of fresh air that.
- js.
Um... Preacher? (Score:5, Interesting)
On second thought, do. Do show them copies.
i was expecting an atheist uproar. (Score:2)
When reading the title i was expecting non religious people to be miffed by the intrusion of religious fanfiction in their stuff. Well, it was the other way around. But i know next to nothing to seperheroes and the public interested in them.
Isn't all sort of advert a good advert ? Coudln't they sell the comic surfing over a wave of comical christfags whining ? For the fun of it ?
Second Coming (Score:2)
So, he was here before?
Oy vey!
Incentive (Score:2)
If we don't extend permanent copyright protection to the bible and derived works, then its authors will retroactively lose all their incentive to have created the work.
Buddha (Score:2)
Jesus is the third rail of popular culture (Score:2)
Been done, back in the sixties (Score:3)
https://comixjoint.com/jesusco... [comixjoint.com]
"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!
SJWs ruining comics again (Score:2)
The SJWs (Super Jesus Warriors) strike again.
Is marketing dead??? (Score:2)
I can't believe they canceled a comic with such marketing potential.
If I were in charge of DC I would not only have NOT canceled this comic, I would have made a special edition cover with sun-man in gold foil, Jesus in silver foil, and in big letters proclaimed it to be the "Blasphemous Solarity Edition". Probably only 500k run at first just to be a bit safe, charging $20 a pop. You'd sell 100k copies just to the people who wanted to burn a copy on YouTube alone!
In fact that brings to mind ANOTHER brillia
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Maybe they could just store it in a freezer, so as to keep it cold so it doesn't hurt precious religious snowflakes.
Was this supposed to be a pun? (Score:3)
The characters are "Sun-Man" and "The Son of Man" *facepalm*
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Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, Xenu... same bull, other flavor.
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Jesus had the cooler story. And he was the better Copperfield.
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I've seen hundreds of Mohammed cartoons since the Charlie Hebdo massacre. In general, publishing a Mohammed cartoon isn't a problem.
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On a different front, these guys [google.com] probably didn't want the competition.
Tthe R. Crumb book of Genesis came too late for poor little Sheldon Cooper.
Re:Theocracy (Score:5, 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.
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Hey there Mr. 666, as an aside, did you know there was a Son of Satan comic? Marvel ran it in the mid-seventies.
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This is literally Christians acting like Muslim fundamentalists...
Wait, did the studio receive multiple credible death threats after announcing it?
Re: Looking forward (Score:2)
It's already been described in Dune.
Women breeders chained forever (like the latest Mad Max movie)... and they also made the most popular meat in the Empire. Crosbreed between slugs and swines if memory serves. Oh, and facedancers...