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Animated "Jesus Film" in Development
Visual Translation has been working with the Jesus Film Project to craft a short film about Jesus Christ to be done in Japanese Anime style. Currently they are gathering information and opinions on a concept video for a pilot film for use in Eastern Europe. The video is in English, but there is also a Hungarian version. Visual Translation is looking for feedback, especially from the 15-30 year-old audience. They are requesting that people view the video, answer some survey questions at an "anonymous, obligation-free webpage" shown in the video, and then forward the information to others. "This type of exponential multiplication is critical," says Irv Klaschus, who is spearheading the project. "Eventually, we want this creation to reflect what people around the world find interesting to see and to discuss." The Visual Translation web site will announce other language versions as they become available. [SOURCE: The JESUS Film Project / Campus Crusade for Christ, 2 April 2008] |
Manga Bible Series Rolls On
NEXT reports that they have printed 590,000 English, 25,000 Japanese and 5,000 Indonesian editions of Manga Messiah so far. In April they will be printing 10,000 Norwegian, followed by 20,000 Spanish and 20,000 Tagalog. "Chinese will hopefully be ready for the press soon," says Roald Lidal of NEXT, "And we can only thank God for what He is doing and allowing us to have a part in." NEXT has also negotiated the rights for the Portuguese, Khmer, Korean, and Arabic languages, with Dutch coming up soon, followed by French, Russian, Polish and Vietnamese. The second book in the series, Manga Metamorphosis (shown at left), will be printed in Japanese later this month. These books from NEXT remain the only "Manga Bible" series on the market today that are actually written and illustrated by professional Japanese manga-ka who are Christians. [SOURCE: NEXT, 3 April 2008] |
Christians Compete in Secular Russian Festival
Two Christian comics creators are represented in this year's ComMissia-2008 Comics Festival. Igor Kolgarev from Moscow, Russia has entered his comic "World Before the Flood" and Alla Alexeeva from Kishinev, Moldova has contributed "What Measure" to the festival. Visitors to the site can register and vote for their favorite comics. Non-Russian speakers can use the Alta Vista Babel Fish translator to assist them in reading the Russian text in their own language. [SOURCE: Igor Kolgarev, 22 March 2008]
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Crucifixion Art by Christian Comics Pioneer Found
A 50-year-old ink and watercolor picture of Christ’s Crucifixion by cartoonist Dudley D Watkins has been discovered at a private house in Scotland. It was given by Watkins in 1951 to Mrs. Jean Kinnell, the daughter-in-law of a lay preacher with the Church of Christ in Cowdenbeath. "Dudley and his wife often attended his services, and after church we would sit around the kitchen table discussing the Bible," said Mrs. Kinnell. "One day he handed me a roll of cardboard and said ‘That’s for you, Jean’. The painting was in it." Watkins was involved with the Dundee For Christ organisation and was president of the Dundee United Evangelistic Association and Tent Mission. His creation of popular comic strips such as "The Broons" and "Oor Wullie" for Dundee-based publisher D.C. Thomson led to commercial success and a special place of affection in the Scottish psyche, but many found it difficult to deal with his Christian commitment, which extended in the 1950s and 1960s to the creation of evangelical comic strips and an ambition to adapt the Bible into illustrated format. [SOURCE: Ian Ansdell, publisher of Scottish Christian.com, 20 March 2008] |
Comic Brings "New Twist to Old Testament" - UPDATE
The new Mecha Manga Bible Heroes comic from JMG Comics will be distributed to secular comics shops by Haven Distributors. The first 32-page, full-color issue ships in May. "When we announced the series in February, hits to our website increased an astonishing 10,000%," said Managing Editor Paul Castiglia. "Not only did we receive nation-wide coverage [in the US], but the news reached across the globe to Europe, Latin America, South Africa and Eastern Europe… and is still going." To help comic shops promote the series, JMG will provide free wall posters and fliers upon request as well as a customized "ashcan" version at a reduced cost. The Christian bookstore market will still be handled by Anchor Distribution. [SOURCE: JMG Studios, 18 March 2008] |
Latest from Chick Publications
The new March/April issue of the Battle Cry newsletter from Jack Chick's ministry is now available online. Information is included on the effectiveness of giving cartoon tracts to prisoners and tract passing tips from Chick Tract readers. Chick's newest cartoon tract is entitled Fatal Decision, a parable about rejecting Jesus as illustrated through the story of a doctor and his dying patient who doesn't trust him. Chick has sold over 500 million tracts worldwide for 43 years. Tracts are available in nearly 100 languages. [SOURCE: Chick Publications, 17 March 2008] |
More on The Amazing Gospel
Crosswind Comics in Kansas USA reports they have now printed two editions of The Amazing Gospel in English, plus versions in Spanish, Haitian Creole, German, and French. 12,000 copies in Nepali have been shipped to South Asia. The English-language comic is being used to spread the Gospel among a large and unreached people group in Sudan. "I'm told the use of English in Sudan is preferred," says Crosswind founder Daniel Schwabauer. "And I have been told that local young men who read English have been charged with taking the comic book to every village in the tribe and reading it to every person." The Amazing Gospel is a 48-page, full-color comic book based on the Gospel of Luke. [SOURCE: Crosswind Comics, 3 March 2008] |
Manga in Uganda - UPDATE
NEXT reports that the first 40,000 copies of Manga Messiah have been printed for distribution to school children in Uganda. 800,000 books total will be delivered by the end of next year. Books are a scarce commodity in Uganda, where 85% of the population earns less than the equivalent of US$1.00 a day and a Bible costs US$8.00. State officials in Uganda have expressed excitement over the educational and spiritual value these books could bring to the youth of Uganda. Also, the long-awaited Japanese version of Manga Messiah is now available for purchase in Japan. Although the book was originally created by Japanese Christians who are manga professionals, the book was printed first in English. Editions are being prepared for publication in Chinese, Russian, Tagalog, Spanish and Portuguese as well. [SOURCE: NEXT,15 February 2008] |
More Manga Bible Publicity
Several new articles have come out this week, one in the International Herald Tribune, another in the New York Daily News, and another through Religion News Service, all about the Manga Bible produced by British-born Nigerian illustrator Bayo Akinsiku (known as "Siku") and his brother, writer Akin Akinsiku. In one article Siku, who has drawn "Judge Dredd" for 2000AD in the UK, reports that "part of the reason he joined the project is because he believes it's a valid way of communicating to a new generation." Siku's Manga Bible is one of several in the current marketplace including NEXT's Manga Messiah, the Zonderkidz Manga Bible series, and Tyndale's Manga Bible. All these books are available through the Christian Comics Catalog. [SOURCES: Religion News Service, other web sites 11 February 2008] |
Comic Brings "New Twist to Old Testament"
JMG Comics has just announced the upcoming release of its first series, Mecha Manga Bible Heroes. The comics will contain classic Bible heroes drawn in a manga style and featuring "mecha" (robots), a mainstay of manga. "Just like modernized versions of Shakespeare's plays, by taking a solid, meaningful story and translating its elements as faithfully as possible into a new setting, we hope to bring out some of the more amazing details that might get missed by today's readers," says co-writer Tom Hall. The first 32-page, full-color issue, shipping in May, features the story of David and Goliath. "Our creative team consists of Christians who approach the material with a Christian worldview, and we’ve strived to make this the coolest comic book your Sunday School teacher ever confiscated!" adds Managing Editor Paul Castiglia, a comic book veteran who has worked for Archie and other publishers. Anchor is the exclusive distributor for the initial launch and will handle distribution for comic shops, Christian bookstores, libraries, churches, schools and other retailers. [SOURCE: JMG Studios, 5 February 2008] |
Cartoon Tracts Available Through ATS
American Tract Society (ATS)'s Spring 2008 Catalog offers a variety of cartoon and comics-style tracts for children and teens, including these titles listed in their "Clearance Sale" section on page 22: An Eternal Instant Message, True Love (shown at right), Why Wait for the Wedding? and Science 101. There is a Living Water cartoon tract written and illustrated by Greg Laurie and also a "kid-friendly cartoon booklet geared towards elementary age children" entitled Welcome to Heaven. In addition, ATS offers a number of cartoon tracts in Spanish including Chico Raton y Tomas La Tortuga Preguntona En El Regalo, La Luz, and ¿Y...Entonces qué? The ATS website lists 18 cartoon tracts that are currently available, plus a Cartoon Variety Pack containing 60 cartoon tracts. ATS is based in Garland, Texas USA. [SOURCE: ATS catalog and website, January 2008] |
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The Godman Impacts India
Response to Book of Hope's 1-hour CGI animation story of Jesus Christ, The GodMan, has been tremendous in India. Book of Hope's Founder, Bob Hoskins, reports: "So far, we’ve had over 3,405,000 people that have watched the movie, and we’ve had literally hundreds of thousands of people who have accepted Christ." He says those numbers represent only people who watched in Christians’ homes. Jeff Holder of FlyOver Projects wrote and produced the original version of The GodMan and has produced five additional versions of the movie for Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the one in India. Each version has a new live-action story that wraps around the animation. A version for China is in the works. [SOURCES: Mission Network News via the Gospel.com blog and the Flyover Projects web site, 21 January 2008] |
New Comics Are Bestsellers Downunder
Christian Comics Pioneer Graham Wade's 3 new comics from CEP/Anglican Youthworks in Australia are selling beyond expectations. Christmas: God's Gift ... the Saviour tells about the birth of Jesus, based on Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Who Is This Man? relates stories from the Gospel of Mark, ending with the answer to the title question - Jesus, God's son, Messiah and Saviour. Easter: He Is Alive presents the death and resurrection of Jesus. These small, inexpensive comics are "ideal as gifts and giveaways for Sunday schools, kids' clubs, and beach mission programs for children aged 7-11." Originally only 1000 copies were printed of each title, but sales have climbed to 15,000 and are still growing. [SOURCES: Graham Wade, the Youthworks and Koorong websites, 21 January 2008] |
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Annual Focus on Web Outreach
This year's Internet Evangelism Day (IE Day) will be 27 April 2008. The IE Day website provides downloadable resources with suggestions and background material to help any group create its own IE Day program anywhere in the world. "Internet Evangelism Day is a broad-based interdenominational and trustworthy emphasis focused on encouraging churches and ministries to use the Internet for evangelism," says Dr. Sterling Huston, Chair of the Internet Evangelism Coalition which initiated IE Day. Executive member organizations of the Coalition include American Tract Society, Billy Graham Center, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Gospelcom. [SOURCE: The Internet Evangelism Day Team, 17 January 2008] |
Free Fish Now Available
Community Comics has placed Jesse Hamm's 7 Seconds and a Dead Fish, on the WOWIO website where it can be downloaded without charge. "7 Seconds and a Dead Fish tells the story of a young man as he tenaciously clings to his faith when the religious system he has been brought up in has turned its message to merely speak to the tenets of the government," reports Bud Rogers of Community Comics. "Jesse's excellent black and white artwork captures the bleak landscape and atmosphere of the story, while his expressive style imbues the protagonist with strength and hope. It's a small press classic that exemplifies intelligent inspirational comics." Downloading these comics supports both Community Comics and Jesse Hamm financially, without cost to the reader, but it does require registration at the WOWIO website. [SOURCE: Bud Rogers/Community Comics, 17 January 2008] |
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Pirates in Top 10 at Box Office
Big Idea’s The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie hit 1,337 theaters nationwide Friday. It earned $4.42 million opening weekend, placing it in the top 10 movies at the box office. In summer 2006, Universal Studios agreed to fund the new VeggieTales movie, which stars Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt, and Pa Grape as three wannabe heroes. Universal is promoting Pirates heavily, which includes spots on network television and ads on billboards. [SOURCE: CBA Retailers+Resources Industry Brief, 14 January 2008] |
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Photo by Lizzie Sotola, Letra Viva - Used with permission
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Competition Comic Clicks in Colombia
Eternidad, the prize-winning comic book in the Concurso de Historietas Cristianas en Español (Spanish Christian Comic Competition), was well received at the annual Letra Viva Consulta in Bogotá, Colombia. The comic is written and illustrated by Iván Emilio Tapia Camargo of Mexico. The competition sponsors and organizers were COMIX35, Milamex/Revista Prisma, and Letra Viva. A Letra Viva representative said "People were very positive about the comic ... Everyone says how great the medium is, and that it meets a real need..." and they want to know more about how to best produce and distribute them. Several hundred copies of Eternidad will also be available at the Letra Viva booth during EXPOLIT in Miami USA. [SOURCE: COMIX35, January 2008] |
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New Christmas Webmanga
Fans of manga in general and Lisa Hutchinson's Shelter of Wings graphic novel in particular will want to seek out A Shelter of Wings Christmas, a new webmanga that will be updated throughout the month of December. Hutchinson reports: "I had no intention of creating a holiday webmanga when I received a sudden inspiration during a sleepless night ... This is my gift to all who have supported me and encouraged me this far, and for those who continue to give their support and prayers. My sincerest thanks, with a hope and a prayer for a Spirit-filled Christmas." The webmanga is scheduled to be completed just before Christmas. [SOURCE: Lisa Hutchinson, 5 December 2007] |
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New Version of Christmas Carol Comic
Edge Group UK, responsible for many Christian comics over the years such as The Graphic Bible and YUN: The Illustrated Story of the Heavenly Man, has announced the 2008 release of a US version of The Illustrated Christmas Story by Christian Comics Pioneer Bob Bond. The book will be a 72-page paperback, published by Amsco Publications, and will contain "the timeless Christmas story ... told with charming illustrations ... including 21 of the best loved carols arranged for piano and voice." Edge Group adds that "It's an ideal way to present The Nativity to young children who will love the pictures and enjoy participating in the story by singing the songs." The book may be pre-ordered through Amazon.com. [SOURCE: Edge Group UK, 5 December 2007] |
Will US Comic Bore & Confuse the French?
Christian comics publisher Gino Balocco, of Editions Husky in Peyrus, France, reports that the French translation/adaptation of US comics creator Jesse Hamm's Comics to Bore and Confuse You has just been printed. Bate et Fonte is a 99-page comic book in the US size, with a color cover. It addresses issues such as "suicide and other youth problems (sex, success, abortion, media)," says Balocco. Regrettaby, this could be the last Husky title to see print, as Balocco is becoming "less and less involved in comics and publishing." Husky has been the producer of several Christian graphic novels and comic albums such as L'Apocalypse de Jean (2006), Jésus chez les Pharisiens (2005), Les Oubliés: L'Ogre d'Ouganda (2005), Les épées de Philistie: David et Goliath (2001) and Frère Jack: Noé Noé matelot (2001). All these books may be purchased online at Librairie Chrétienne CLC France. [SOURCE: Editions Husky, 23 November 2007] |
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From Trilogy to Tetralogy
Texas USA-based Head Press Publishing reports that author/Illustrator Robert James Luedke will extend his award-winning Eye Witness graphic novel series into an additional volume "making the series a tetralogy (utilizing the ancient Greek term for theatrical works constructed in four parts)." Luedke's original volume Eye Witness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth, was published in August 2004, and the second book in the series, Eye Witness: Acts of the Spirit, was released in July 2006. While writing and laying out the third volume, Eye Witness: Rise of the Apostle, Luedke realized it would exceed 170 pages and made the decision to expand it to two volumes. Eye Witness: Rise of the Apostle is scheduled for release in August 2008, while the fourth and currently untitled volume is set tentatively for a release in late 2009. Luedke's Eye Witness: Acts of the Spirit was the winner in the comics category at the 2007 Hollywood Book Festival and won a silver medal for dramatic graphic novels in this year’s Independent Publisher Book Awards. [SOURCE: Head Press Publishing, 15 November 2007] |
New Full-Color Chick Comic
For the first time in a number of years, Chick Publications of California USA has released a full-color, 32 page Crusaders Comic in the standard US size. The new title, The Enchanter (volume 18 in the series), is about Joseph Smith and Mormonism. Chick reports, "It's a story of intrigue, murder, lust and greed ... filled with incredible quotes from Smith himself. After people read this illustrated book, they will not be vulnerable to the Mormon recruiters!" The comic may be purchased through Chick Publications, either individually or as part of a "Jumbo Comic Pack" of all 20 of Chick's color comics. [SOURCE: Chick Publications Newsletter, 2 November 2007] |
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