Crazz's reviews of 3 Jewish comic books

from The Comic Book Observatory

Testament #1 & 2 Vertigo
What do you get when you combine a story about an oppressive government in a society that is on the brink of social and political upheaval with religious mysticism and prophecy? You get Testament, and it's a pretty cool book! There are themes that may offend someone or group now that religious imagery in comic format is such a political hotbed, but I'm thinking that if you are of that mind set then you're probably not going to be reading ANY comic.

The main character is Jake, who has just become eligible for the newly instituted draft. His father is a scientist that developed a tracking chip that everyone is required to have to keep track of them and register them for things such as the Draft. Jake is also friends with a group of young radicals that are fighting the system by removing their chips and hacking into government computers. As the characters are introduced the story moves towards a confrontation between the government and those protesting the draft and such. Throughout this modern plot biblical interpretations are placed that seem to be mirroring or foretelling events that are happening to Jake and those around them. The biblical pages tell of Abram and his relationship and devotion to God.

The art is good. Very solid and for the most part are believable looking, with the occasional awkward pose of a character in spots. The colors, inks, and letters are all solid, yet I think the style of the art would be better suited for a fantasy story than this mostly modern tale. It's still good, but I think it's not a perfect match.

If this kind of a story interests you, I think it's worth checking out. I've enjoyed it, and I think you will too.

Sgt. Rock: The Prophecy #2 DC
WWII is back in full swing and Sgt. Rock and Easy Company have been asked to go into disputed territory and retrieve and item of great importance. The item just happens to be a Jewish prophet that has an attitude. Stuck between German and Soviet fire, Rock and Easy CO try to make the extraction point.

I was really excited when I heard they were doing a new Sgt. Rock series by Joe Kubert, but after two issues I find it to be a bit substandard. Maybe it just smacks too much of the Silver Age for my tastes, but I'm not going to be picking up any further issues. I don't particularly like the art, the colors, or the story. It's not bad, but it's extremely bland for my tastes and I would rather spend my money elsewhere.

Crazz also had the following exchange with Brant W. Fowler via the comments area :

Brant W. Fowler said...
Months ago I read an interview with the writer of Testament, and his views were so twisted and so far fetched (and they were his actual views, not just something he imagined) that there's no way I could give that book a try. He was misquoting scriptures and making up meanings for words and everything.

I got in a heated debate on the Newsarama boards about it (one of two debates I got in there and learned my lesson that it was pointless because of their attitudes) providing scriptures and breaking down the Greek and Hebrew meanings and everything. This book really got to me.

It's not the book itself or the fictional nature of it, but rather that this is what the guy believes and is trying to pass off as fact that offended me.

Anyway, rant over for the night. :)

11:43 PM
Crazz said...
Yeah, I agree with you Brant. I read some of his personal statements at the end of the 1st issue and I thought the guy was a total looney tune. I don't know where he "thinks" his facts are proven, but I would love to see them at length, especially as a historian who has studied scripture. I didn't want to mention that stuff because I wanted my review to be base soley on his work, not on his psychosis!!

12:06 AM
Brant W. Fowler said...
Lol. That's understandable, man. :)