Meridian Magazine has an interview with Michael Allred, the author of the new Book of Mormon comic book series. Will Primary ever be the same? No doubt this will rub some people the wrong way, and not having paged through an issue I can't speak to the orientation of the storyline as presented in The Golden Plates. The author's goal, he says, "is clarity. I know that the Book of Mormon is the key to the universe." That's the sound of a man who knows where he stands. At least he didn't name the series The Book of Mormon: Key to the Universe. Given that half of Utah makes a buck off the Church, I suppose a comic book guy should get his chance too.
I think it is easy for people to laugh at this if they haven't read (say) Art Spiegelman, Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Brian Bendis, Garth Ennis, or Neil Gaiman (just to name a few). But the comic book as a medium has come of age, and (like any medium) in the right hands it can be a powerful way to tell a story.
Posted by: David King Landrith | Oct 31, 2004 at 01:03 PM
The book of Mormon IS a comic book. Evil villains, mythic superheroes...I can't imagine a book of scripture more well suited to the medium.
Posted by: Ann | Oct 31, 2004 at 04:15 PM
Funny, I was just in Borders on Friday on the way home from work and to my surprise this very gothic-dressed and made-up woman in front of me in line at the register asked the employee whether Borders carries the Book of Mormon comic book. He obviously hadn't heard of it and seemed mystified. She was angry and lashed out, "Well, do you even carry any comic books here at all?" Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.
Posted by: john fowles | Oct 31, 2004 at 07:44 PM
John F, reading the article carefully, it talked about a planned release at the end of October, so if they are delayed by even a few days it may not have been shipped quite yet. I wonder if bookstores are going to put it off in some corner or in the front window?
Posted by: Dave | Nov 01, 2004 at 07:56 AM
His style is too reminiscent of Arnold Friberg, in my opinion. I'd be interested to see how he illustrates the Lamanites.
BTW, from what I hear, the comic book will be in stores on Wednesday.
Posted by: Justin | Nov 01, 2004 at 01:54 PM