BOOK REVIEW - "CASE FILES VOL. 1: MURDER AND MEANING," BY J. WARNER WALLACE & JIMMY WALLACE

 

What connection is there between 25 year veteran detective Michael "Murph" Murphy and the serial killer who bashes his victims' heads in and then brands them? Is there a method to the murderer's madness, or is it better put "a message to his madness?" And since he does it the same day of the week, can Murph and his "A-Team" find out who it is and stop him before he strikes again?

"Case Files Vol. 1: Murder and Meaning" is a graphic novel written by Homicide Detective/Christian apologist/Author J. Warner Wallace and his son Jimmy Wallace (also in law enforcement), with great illustrations by Steve Crespo and Dario Formisani. The plot follows seasoned detective Murph, easy going Pete Leota, hard-working young mother Ashley Perez, and self-proclaimed hot shot Marco Russo as they try to catch a serial killer who keeps calling to talk to Murph. 

This story gives me a realistic view of what police-work is like. For example, Leota asked Murph if they used chalk like on TV in the old days, and the fact that the members of a team may have other cases to work on besides the main one. I'll admit that it wasn't the most joyful and enjoyable novel I've read, but the writers did a great job with the plotting and with the character development. And since this is Volume 1 and having read the ending, I'm sure there will at least be a volume 2. And I'm looking forward to it.

BOOK REVIEW - "BATMAN: ONE BAD DAY - THE RIDDLER #1," WRITTEN BY TOM KING, ILLUSTRATED BY MITCH GERADS

 Which is the first Batman villain you remember? For me, it was the Riddler. Frank Gorshin played Batman's opponent in the first two episodes of the '60's TV series and was in 8 of the 34 episodes of season 1 (the Joker and the Penguin had a half dozen each in that first season, and the Catwoman only appeared in two). My all time favorite villain was Gorshin's Riddler (I was disappointed with John Astin's take on the role in the second season). I will admit that I am not a Jim Carrey fan, but I enjoyed his portrayal in Batman Forever. That being said, I had NEVER seen him in the limited comic book viewing I've done.

Needless to say, we're not in the '60's anymore, and "Batman: One Bad Day - The Riddler" is proof of that. I would grade this story with a D: Dark, Depressing, Disgusting, Deplorable, Disconcerting, Disappointing. The story is interesting, and gives some of Edward Nygma's back story, but it left me torn between being sympathetic to the abuse he faced as a boy and utterly despising a totally evil character.

If this is what modern Batman is like, I'd rather stay with the past.

CHRISTIAN COMIC BOOK REVIEWS PART 2 OF 2: SUBMITTING TO BE MORE VILE (THE ILLUSTRATED ADVENTURES OF JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY) BY CHARLIE BABER

 

Yesterday I reviewed James Lawson's comics of Yakov BenTorah and his dog Mattix. Today, I'll be looking at a collection of Wesley Bros. comics by Charlie Baber. 

I fell in love with the premise immediately. Baber takes the Wesleys and puts them in a modern day setting along with other famous people in history. Well, maybe not always modern day - Baber places his characters in take-offs of Marvel Comics, Star Trek, and the like - previously I would never have thought of Tertullian as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

This graphic novel is arranged in thematic order as opposed to chronological. Some of them are a telling of the Wesleys' childhood and the origins of Methodism (though I doubt the real Nancy Wesley asked her mother for a cell phone). The other sections look at theology and church relations.

I'll admit that there are things I like about this collection and some I don't. For one is that while it is about Arminians by Arminians, it doesn't villainize Calvinists. George Whitfield is a regular character in the book as a friend, not as an antagonist. On the other hand, I can tell from the comics that I'm more conservative theologically and politically than they are. For example, there are comics that hint Baber has no problem with female clergy, and there are a few which give an impression that wokism is okay (one which is meant to be pro-immigration but comes across as anti ICE).

Wesley Bros. is a fun way to look at church history. Also, like Yakov BenTorah, there is a challenge to what Lawson describes as Couch Potato Christians, to return to our First Love. However, I have to stop short of an unqualified recommendation of the Wesley Bros.

Is there an artist (musician, novelist, cartoonist, etc.) that you have points of disagreement with but who still have a positive effect in your spiritual life or at least spur you on to thinking issues through? Is there a balance between being too inclusive and too exclusive in your theology?

 

CHRISTIAN COMIC BOOK REVIEWS PART 1 OF 2: THERAPEUTIC INSANITY WITH YAKOV BENTORAH AND HIS DOG MATTIX BY JAMES LAWSON

 

Have you ever seen a series of book reviews? Well, you have now. Today and tomorrow I'll be introducing two different books that have a few things in common:

1. They're both listed as "Graphic Novels".
2. Technically, they're not "Novels" but are collections of cartoons by the author.
3. They are both are Christian, and neither is typical Christian fluff.
4. Neither will be everybody's cup of tea, partially due to humor and partially due to theological reasons.

 Today, I'll start with Therapeutic Insanity by my friend James Lawson is a clever and humorous look into Christianity. The main characters are Yakov BenTorah (which is the author's name in Hebrew) and his Dog, Mattix (another play on words - I'll see if you can figure it out).

The blurb states this isn't for couch potato Christians and challenges those who don't trust Scripture alone. Now, he does have views that are not typical, and some may not agree with everything he says. But it does call for us to think things through.

There will be times you'll be rolling on the floor laughing your head off, there will be times you'll be ready to challenge the author to a theological debate, and there will be times you will give him a hearty amen. I highly recommend this book. 

I've also been following Lawson's Facebook page, and I trust he doesn't mind if I share a couple of my favorites by him.

Lawson's Facebook page is titled Reformed Christian Comic Books. Hence, expect Reformed Theology in the comics. But at James' heart is a desire for the Chruch to return to the five Solas of the Reformation - The Bible Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, in Christ Alone, To the Glory of God Alone -and I agree.

Have you seen any Christian comics you especially like? Any cartoon that have challenged your faith? 

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing about another collection of Christian comics that have some similarities ... and some major differences.