Comics. What could be more innocent? Who has not taken a delve into some fantastic world? But can these theatres of the imagination be used to share scripture? What would those look like? How could this medium express the depth and subtlety which scripture deems to communicate? These and similar questions have been taken up by numerous artists who have crafted a wonderland of images founded on telling the stories of the bible.
“[U]sing these cartoons to present the Gospel … was sacrilegious,”
This quote refers to Jack T. Chick, but seems to be an echo throughout the complicated history of Christian comics. One would think, “What’s the problem? They’re made for kids, right?” These easy questions are at the heart of Christian comics. Provocative images, critical negativity of using scripture, and the long, hard road to get the works published have and continue to riddle the Christian comic world. The proverbial question hangs, “Why is there so much interest, positive or negative-over these comics?”
Chick Tracks
Jack T. Chick may have walked the long and treacherous road of publishing Christian comics. Yet his name has become synonymous with Christian tactics. His works eventually led to a blooming secular audience’s desire for his works. Though Chick desired his work to inspire and help readers come to Christ, following his conversion testimony after hearing the Charles E. Fuller “Old Fashioned Revival Hour” radio program, Chick viewed his work as having a ministry appeal with a cultural connection. The kitchy quality of his artwork accompanied his strong religious viewpoints he expressed in the quick narratives. Viewed today in a low-tech style, Chick used this technique more out of necessity, but established the branding of these tracts. They do not need to entertain a highly polished style. It’s this common man approach, basic and to-the-point attitude at the core of Chick’s art that has caught attention and helped bring thousands to Christianity. The compact size, direct narrative, scripture-centered tone, and pulpy art style made Chick tracts easy to distribute by hand or leave in common public areas. Seeing his unbearable uphill climb to get his works published and distributed, Chick started his own publishing company in 1960.
Ideologically speaking, Chick’s street evangelistic approach is through the transportation of his comics. His ministry begins in the unorthodox art style of his work, which speaks as a general voice for and to faith-based and non-faith-based audiences. The automatic transportation of his works creates a grassroots, or street evangelistic structure. Once the large comic book industry took serious note of Chick’s works, his evangelistic presence through the tracts was able to reach an even larger, unexpected audience.
Creating a brash, sometimes gory, and often controversial art style, Chick found that this approach may work in image, but the same ideology proved to be dire in the dialogue and storylines. Chick was not set on limiting his cultural perspectives and religious critique. He often stated a prominent opposition to what he viewed as negative pop culture entertainment. Chick stated his harsh criticism of the board game Dungeons and Dragons, the Harry Potter series, the Walking Dead television show, and a profound hatred of Halloween. “[T]he core of his beliefs tended to revolve around the feeling that a vast web of conspiracies helmed by the Devil were laid throughout the world in an attempt to sway people’s hearts away from the teachings of Jesus Christ.” Ironically, it is these shocking images accompanied by a narrative structure preaching damnation, ultimately leading to salvation, which proved to be the hook for Chick’s works to cross into the secular comic world. His works have inspired other notable comic artists such as Robert Crumb and have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institute.
To remain current, the official Chick Tracts YouTube channel contains multiple interviews, video adaptations of tracts, and conversations about the work, legacy of Jack T. Chick, and biblical analysis. The expansion of the channel in content explores a variety of biblically related topics. Remaining consistent with the legacy of Chick Tracks, there are some posts that divert and question topics not often entertained in Christian circles.
Chick’s harsh and overt opinions on culture, the Catholic faith, and what he viewed as cultural degenerates, Chick saw his tracts as a way to express his desire to save individuals. This doctrine commitment by Chick reaches back to his conversion through radio ministry. Contextualizing this testimony, the street evangelic approach of his tracts, and the scripture-centered narrative which is at the core of Chick tracts, Jack T. Chick has had a profound influence on pop culture and the introduction of faith-based comics to a vast world audience. Since his passing in October 2016, Chick’s original publishing company has no intent on halting the production of his works, following the same religious ethic, publishing quality, and mass distribution. His art was and remains his ministry.
Kingstone Bible Comics
“The Best Graphic Novel of the Bible in Print”
The website for Kingstone Bible Comics provides the following as a marker of the business faith,
“A descriptive Scripture about the company is Psalm 145:11-12: “They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.” God is faithful. Kingstone is simply a testimony to his faithfulness.”
The incredible backstory to this small start-up Christian comic is a testimony unto itself. Littered with horrific medical issues, financial burdens, business closures, and a failing audience at the start, Kingstone Bible Comics’ CEO Art Ayris persisted in his trust that God had a bright future for this business.
The hallmark complete animated Bible, taking over seven years to complete, remains the firm calling card for the company. The illustrations appeal to younger audiences with the contemporary look and style. Kingstone Bible Comics has not settled on producing biblical comics but extends its work to present political themes and history. The works remain current in the socio-political fabric and do not sway from a strong conservative ethic. Producing package comics about history for schools opens the door for Kingstone Bible Comics to reach youth who would be familiar with their style, making this incorporation into a school history series a welcome companion. Their US website notes other forthcoming works including “biograph[ies], and upcoming action-adventure and sci-fi.”
The niche for Kingstone Bible Comics may sound like a singular Christian faith-based audience. Close attention moves this assumptive needle to include a larger conservative audience and historians alongside a Christian-faith-based audience. The political themes aside, the artwork produced is stunning. The drama-filled narratives complement these images. Kingstone Bible Comics includes a “How To Use” the cartoons on the website. This addition provides parents, guardians, and interested readers with more on how to read these comics to gain the most relevant and important content from a particular comic. A useful tool that focuses the interest on the biblical narrative rather than on the stunning images.
Kingstone Bible Comics can be read as the “little comic that could.” Art Ayris might add to this, “the little comic that could with faith in God.”
The Bold Growth Of The Industry
To date, there is an abundance of Christian comics, each with its flair and design. Separating these from each other is less necessary than settling in on one company’s appeal, which resonates with personal desire. These various publishers place more emphasis on one section of biblical stories than another, which may be attractive. The artists are producing work that’s of a high level. The argument about the value and use of Christian comics may have finally come to a resting point, allowing these publishing companies to produce openly and with a level of comfort, knowing their output is not falling into closed hands.
“Ralph Miley: Comics Writer and Co-founder of New Creation Comics”
Voyage Comics & Publishing (YouTube Channel)
The Voyage Podcast – “Exploring Comic Book Villians Left, Right, and Sideways With the Sinister Six”
“Comic Book Truth on the Street with Ralph Miley”
Christian Comics Arts Society (YouTube channel)
Not Simply For Kids
One original roadblock for Christian comics was to tell biblical stories word-for-word or provide a more general statement about the story. To favor the reader, both options are now available. The depth of the artwork has surpassed the frontier days of single print manuscripts. The ability to share these works online to a host of audiences, young and older, broadens what most of these artists see as their ministry. Secular pop culture remains set on degrading the themes and use of the comic medium to promote biblical stories and scripture. What these critics cannot deny is the size of the reader base and the magnificent work that these companies continue to produce. Some collect these publications not as fans of Christian comics, but in recognition of the work and dedication to the craft, artistic, and scripture-centered, these works maintain. On the surface, the content appears the same. Like any churchgoer knows, the buildings may appear the same, but it’s the content transmitted inside that makes the difference. A similar point can be made of these comics; the stories may be the same, but the approach from the artist and the publishing company tease the subtlety that other publications may not involve. Regardless, the point remains, young or older, new believer or one who has been walking for dcades, those who have an interest in learning scripture and enjoying a good narrative, the modern progression of Christian comics has surpassed early negative criticism to carve a space for such works in both secular and faith-based comic communities.
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