Those of us who read the Bible and other ancient texts as literature know that these are deeply political works, perhaps none more so than the New Testament with its radical ideology and characters set on upending the status quo (one that has only grown more entrenched over the following millennia).
This is partly what makes the arrival of Evan Dahm’s latest graphic novel from Iron Circus Comics such a joyous occasion. In The Harrowing of Hell, inspired by the Bible’s apocryphal works, Evan has given us back the original revolutionary Jesus of Nazareth in a deep, sometimes unsettling, and ultimately inspiring fable for today.
But before we get too far down that path, it's worth pointing out how gorgeously illustrated this is — exactly what fans of Evan’s Rice Boy graphic novels have come to expect. His hallmark deep, inky blacks are punctuated with blazing white and nefarious spot reds as Jesus descends into Hell and flashes back to relevant moments and conversations back in the land of the living. It’s a pleasure to read and escalates so fast that you find yourself doubling back to take it all in more slowly, absorbing the slight changes in facial expressions and environments that push the story along.
The most interesting thing about HARROWING for someone who isn’t very well-versed in scripture is what it has to say about humanity, who our “enemy” really is, and who are saviors really are (or could be). This feels like myth, echoing back to us from ancient times: opaque, mysterious, and inviting. And this will be a welcome addition to bookshelves for religious experts, as well, or at least those who love alternative takes on Biblical teachings.
This is partly what makes the arrival of Evan Dahm’s latest graphic novel from Iron Circus Comics such a joyous occasion. In The Harrowing of Hell, inspired by the Bible’s apocryphal works, Evan has given us back the original revolutionary Jesus of Nazareth in a deep, sometimes unsettling, and ultimately inspiring fable for today.
But before we get too far down that path, it's worth pointing out how gorgeously illustrated this is — exactly what fans of Evan’s Rice Boy graphic novels have come to expect. His hallmark deep, inky blacks are punctuated with blazing white and nefarious spot reds as Jesus descends into Hell and flashes back to relevant moments and conversations back in the land of the living. It’s a pleasure to read and escalates so fast that you find yourself doubling back to take it all in more slowly, absorbing the slight changes in facial expressions and environments that push the story along.
The most interesting thing about HARROWING for someone who isn’t very well-versed in scripture is what it has to say about humanity, who our “enemy” really is, and who are saviors really are (or could be). This feels like myth, echoing back to us from ancient times: opaque, mysterious, and inviting. And this will be a welcome addition to bookshelves for religious experts, as well, or at least those who love alternative takes on Biblical teachings.
TITLE: The Harrowing of Hell
WRITER: Evan Dahm
ILLUSTRATOR: Evan Dahm
TRIM: 8 x 10
AGE RANGE: General Adult
GENRE: Religion / Philosophy
SRP: $15
FORMAT: Hardcover
PAGE COUNT: 128
PUB DATE: August 11, 2020
ISBN #: 9781945820441
ITEM CODE: JAN201846
PUBLISHER: Iron Circus Comics
TRADE DISTRIBUTOR: Consortium
WRITER: Evan Dahm
ILLUSTRATOR: Evan Dahm
TRIM: 8 x 10
AGE RANGE: General Adult
GENRE: Religion / Philosophy
SRP: $15
FORMAT: Hardcover
PAGE COUNT: 128
PUB DATE: August 11, 2020
ISBN #: 9781945820441
ITEM CODE: JAN201846
PUBLISHER: Iron Circus Comics
TRADE DISTRIBUTOR: Consortium
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