Subject: Manga Reviews: The Manga Bible | Author | Messages | Billy Aguiar
Posts: 84
 | Posted: 1/10/2008 6:34:29 PM | The Manga Bible
Galilee Trade
$12.95, B+W, 224 pages, Available Jan 15th!
By Siku
Reviewed by Billy Aguiar
2 1/2 stars
The Manga Bible is an adaptation, of well, the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, along with Revelations. A rough estimate is that the Old Testament takes up about two thirds while the New Testament is the remainder, while Revelations is just a couple of pages. Most of the big Biblical names have at least a few pages to tell their story, featuring Biblical figures such as Samson, Ruth, David and Moses. While there is understandably a good deal talking about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, for once in one of these abridgments they talk a lot about what happened after the death of Jesus adapted from the Acts of the Apostles. The entire book has reference boxes telling the reader where a particular scene can be found in the Bible. My problem is that you whiz by much of the Old Testament, with new characters/historical figures introduced every few pages. They spend time with some bridging bits that took place between major Biblical figures that basically undo the previous character's life work in a page or two so that the next Biblical figure, who may a minor one, can put it back together. In that way it is presented as a historical narrative, rather individual books of the Bible that focus on a single prophet/Judge/King's actions. Things are thrown at you at such a rate that if you are familiar with the Bible, you will stumble over the missing bits and if you are not, well, after the fifth invasion by the Hittites you will be wondering when someone will hit you to take you out of misery. And because incest, murder and genocide are all parts of the Old Testament, well, let's just say the Big G can seem a little capricious at times even as the title is faithful to the original text.
I see this as more of a trophy book, both for purchasers and retailers, to show to people who say that comics are nothing more than just men in tights. It can also be seen as a good present, because no matter how bloody it is (well, implied rather than portrayed) it is all truly part of the Bible. But because of the content (such as the focus on the Old Testament) it may shock people who expect the read the New Testament form of Christianity.
This is a weekly manga review here on the CBG site, but don’t forgot to check out my other review site, Prospero’s Manga for more manga reviews.
www.themanga bible.com is the original UK site for the book, so there will be some content differences because of the different US/UK printings.
ISBN: 0-38552-431-5
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