Christian comics finding a new audience

[Amelia]

Christian comics finding a new audience

By Jeff Baenen

The Associated Press

Posted July 9 2005

Whether it's fanciful tales of jewel-colored angels battling demons for a man's soul or retellings of familiar stories from the Bible, Christian comic books are taking wing.

"Christians have the best stories to tell," said Sherwin Schwartzrock, a Christian comic book artist and graphic designer. "The world is full of hurting people, with drug abuse and with all types of problems. Jesus Christ is an answer."

Creating comics is a delicate balance for artists and writers using a medium sometimes viewed as frivolous or tawdry. But Schwartzrock compares them to movies: They can spread an uplifting message as easily as an immoral one.

The Christian comic industry has grown rapidly in the last few years. Some creators teamed up to form Community Comics LLC, a cooperative that links artists and helps promote and distribute their books.

While reliable sales figures aren't available, the number of titles has at least doubled, if not tripled, in the past year alone, said Steve MacDonald, who runs the Web site www.christiancomicbooks.net. He estimates 40 to 50 ongoing Christian series.

Schwartzrock has adapted and illustrated Old Testament stories including Korah's rebellion against Moses and Absalom's revenge against his half-brother. Other comics use superheroes: The PowerMark series has a hero who wears a suit emblazoned with a cross.

Schwartzrock, 35, who works at his studio in suburban Minnetonka, Minn., says Christian comics don't get a pass with fans just because of their content.

"We have to create professional quality stories that will stand on their own two feet and not be labeled, `Well, it's Christian and God will bless it, even though it looks'" lousy, he said.

Among other titles is David's Mighty Men, an adventure featuring King David and his three warrior companions created, written and drawn by Javier Saltares, who has worked for Marvel, DC and Dark Horse Comics.

There's also David: The Shepherd's Song, retelling the early life of the boy who became king of Israel, by Royden Lepp.

And ArmorQuest, written by Ben Avery and illustrated by Schwartzrock, is an allegorical tale of a boy putting on the "full armor of God" from Ephesians to battle the Dragon Prince.

Religious comics are not new. In the 1970s, Spire Christian Comics told inspirational stories of Jesus and Johnny Cash, and cartoonist Al Hartley illustrated such titles as The Cross and the Switchblade and a line of Christian-themed Archie comics. Marvel Comics published biographies of Pope John Paul II in 1983 and Mother Teresa in 1984.

Archangels: The Saga, by Cahaba Productions of Houston, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The nine-book series, featuring sword-carrying angels battling grotesque demons for a man's salvation, has sold 729,000 copies worldwide in 10 years.

"It's definitely a ministry tool," said 36-year-old Archangels creator and writer Patrick Scott. "It's really meant to evangelize and to plant a seed of hope in the minds of people that have no hope."

Archangels: The Saga is a powerful tale of four angels who are sent by God to help prevent a young man from committing suicide. The gripping nine issue series on spiritual warfare centers around the life of a high school senior who's friends are tragically killed in an automobile accident. Justin Griffin begins to question his destiny and embarks on a life journey to find the answers he so desperately needs. Will he face his own demise or will he choose God's greatest gift of all . . . SALVATION.

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[Pockey]

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