Reviews

So this is actually one of the first graphic novels I've ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The artwork was absolutely gorgeous and the story was a beautiful take on the story of Judas. I have always been fascinated by Judas' character in the biblical stories, and this fed the flames of my imagination.

Spoiler

My favorite part about this story was how tortured Judas was about his own betrayal of Jesus. He asks time and time again if Jesus knew he would be the one to betray him, and if so, why was he chosen? Strangely, after Jesus' death, Jesus appears in Hell with Judas. It made so much sense to me that he would be placed there because he took on all the sins of mankind, and so of course he'd go to Hell. But slowly, it is revealed that Jesus' story would not be so lasting and powerful without Judas' betrayal. And most important of all, Jesus needed someone there in Hell to restore his hope before he was able to rise again. This graphic novel redeems Judas in such a beautiful way, and I really loved that.

Eldritch horror vibes and a lovely twist to the Judas story we know, this gets 5 stars from me. Highly recommend.

zoemitchell's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

some_okie_dude27's review

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5.0

“I may assert eternal providence, / And justify the ways of God to men.
John Milton, Paradise Lost

Much like Jeff Loveness, I was raised in a Christian household and was taught to believe in the message of Jesus, of love, compassion, and forgiveness. But as I grew older, like many, I began to notice the mounting contradictions and, dare I say, hypocrisies that were found in The Bible.

I found that God could be just as contradictory and paradoxical as all men could be. There was the part of me that tried to justify it, but there was that nagging doubt that perhaps God wasn't who I thought he was. It was this, along with the contradictions and hypocrisies of the people who claimed to be believers in the message of Christ and his word, that really influenced my leaving of the church. So when I heard on Youtube of a comic that would tackle the greatest traitor in the history of man (that isn't Benedict Arnold or Brutus) and what happened to him after he made his fateful decision, it tickled my interest. What would happen? How would this comic tackle this approach? Would Judas try to redeem himself of his crimes, or would he wallow in despair and self hatred?

It would safe to say that this short comic really hit close to home for me. It was almost like Jeff Loveness had walked the path that I had, and lived through what I have, or maybe he had lived something similar to what I have. His knowledge of Christian mythos is erudite, and much like John Milton before him, he re-contextualizes Biblical myths and offers interesting interpretations on Biblical events though a new lens, though unlike Milton, Loveness doesn't seek to justify God's ways to man, but rather to allow man to cope with God's ways.

We sympathize with Judas, Loveness gives him philosophical and personal reasons to doubt, and he also shows that Judas simply has no choice but to doubt. He isn't like Satan, though, in that his quest against God is based on rage, bitterness, egotism, and resentment. But Judas is human, full of complexities, conflicts, and questions, and he proves that he is better than Satan by choosing to embrace love and compassion, instead of succumbing to despair and hatred.

There are also interpretations of Jesus having been sent to hell to preach to the damned, which is also explored, as well as attempting to answer where exactly Jesus was in those 3 days that he had been dead. There are also subtle nuances thrown into the story, such as Jesus' dialogue being red until he is thrown into Hell, or biblical references being slid in to add extra flavor, as well as, once again, having Biblical myths be re-contextualized and given new ways to us to experience these stories that we've heard all of our lives in a new and interesting way.

I also can't review this book without mentioning the art of relative newcomer Jakub Rebelka, whose dark and moody style dares evoke comparison to Hellboy scribe Mike Mignola, something that even Mignola would admit! His style is gorgeous and I am filled with awe whenever I give it a look, and I do plan to experience his work wherever I can find it in the near future.

At the end of the day, Judas shows us that we are given a choice in life, death, and otherwise. Should we embrace hatred and bitterness or should we choose to embrace love and compassion. It is a comic that is meant to be experienced, and I for one was glad to have done so.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13