COMICS CULTURE SHRAPNEL from CBEM 345

Reflections of Faith

Argh! Christmas time already? I'm still smarting from the cash I blew last year! Though upon thinking about it now, I have lots more money this time around, money I am not currently doing anything with. I should spend it.

Of course, we're in a recession so that means that I should hold on to my cash in case of emergency. Even though the government is encouraging me to spend, spend, spend. Well, maybe if they didn't suck so much out at tax-time...

The comics industry also has its Christmas rush. It's an event month at Marvel and DC. Lots of fun products and new books are coming out that practically scream "I was designed as a Christmas gift, buy me already!" I can't resist, I did put "Spirit of Truth" on my Amazon wish list.

I don't mean to exclude all you non-Christians out there. I am quite aware of and rather like Chanukah, for starters. But we worshippers of Jesus are some really omnipresent bastichs, ain't we?

I've never really thought about it, but how prominent is religion in comic books? People say "oh my God!" all the time, but which god? The assumption is that most characters are Christian, though they never really go into it. Whenever a character is not Christian the writer always seems to make a special point out of it. A character can't be religious and Christian. Well, Nightcrawler is a priest. Daredevil is very spiritual. Shame on me, I never read Astro City. But I will amend my comment to "religious and Protestant." Perhaps "religious and Eastern Orthodox." Religious W.A.S.P.?

The issue is rarely brought up on comic books and when it is, it seems forced. It might be that the writer doesn't wish to offend anyone. Like they couldn't take offense at a zillion other things. Maybe they don't want any reader to feel excluded. Like they weren't already excluded because they're female, non-white, foreign?

I don't ask for an increased portrayal of minorities because its important to write what you know, and a lot of these writers are white guys. I don't expect them to know anything but their lifestyle. But while you do that, don't exclude certain aspects of that lifestyle because people might take offense. A good story needs to be realistic, true to life. Religion is part of life, and more than just on holidays.

Though it wouldn't hurt to see more Jewish festivals in comics. Just 'cause.