In my opinion, Mark Russell is one of the most notable rising star in the comic book industry. The author of The Flintstones and Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles brought to the landscape of comic books a satirical voice and a new and much needed eye for contemporary relevant topics that he uses to create some incredible comics. That's why I was thrilled when Second Coming, a new series written by him and drawn by Richard Pace, was announced.
Second Coming is the story of the return of Jesus Christ on Earth, under God's order, to learn how to be the savior of humanity from someone who is already an expert of the job: a superhero. As I was saying, contemporary relevant topics and satire.
At the time of the announcement, conservatives who don't read comics, or don't understand them, started a protest to boycott the comic months before its first issue would come out under the Vertigo's imprint. DC Comics, intimated, first delayed and then canceled the series. Fortunately Russell and Pace's work has found a new home thanks to AOHY Comics, an indipendent publishing house which three weeks ago published Second Coming's first issue. And how's this first issue?
Really great!
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Russell's religious satire does not only show his wit, but also a deep understand of what christianity and its preachings are. There's no disdain for christianity in itself, but a ruthless criticism to humanity. And after framing mankind's problem, Russell start asking questions looking for a solution. In the clash between the ideologies of two fictional characters, Jesus Christ and Sunstar, the reader can find many refereces to sociological and phylosophical issues from the past and the present. The violence used for the greater good of Sunstar or the compassion and pacificism of Christ, which one makes a better savior for humanity? And which one is the right path to a better future?
The first chapter of Second Coming starts right away with some big questions and does it with great craftmanship, switching between great jokes and dialogues full of humanity. All of this is enhanced by the art, which isn't any less great than the writing. Richard Pace soaks in the dichotomy of Second Coming's main characters and uses two different styles which capture the distance between the representation in art of two iconic figures such as Superman and Jesus Christ: on one side a pop look that screams "comic book", on the other side religious inspired art.
A must read.
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