COMIC BOOK REVIEW: PUNK ROCK JESUS

What do you get when you cross reality TV, a Jesus clone, and punk rock? One of the most original, awesome, and thought-provoking graphic novels this side of Watchmen.

Punk Rock Jesus, written and illustrated by Sean Murphy (American Vampire: Survival Of The Fittest, Joe The Barbarian, Hellblazer), is about the life of Chris, his time on the reality show J2, his relationship with his bodyguard Thomas, and his protest against the reality show with his band The Flak Jackets. Ya see, Chris is a clone of Jesus Christ, born from DNA from the Shroud of Turin implanted in the belly of a virgin teen. Chris’s life was good in the beginning. He lived on an island/J2 studio with his mother and learned about who he was going to become. It wasn’t until learning the truth about J2 that Chris knew what he had to do. He was gonna rock, and rock he did!

What I loved most about Punk Rock Jesus was the story and the characters. The story is fantastic. What I love most about the story is that it’s message is open to interpretation. It’s one of those books that makes you think. Not just about whether religion is true or false, but about how much is too much religion or how much does reality TV affect our lives, among other things. The ending is a real head scratcher too. The characters are some the best characters ever to grace the comic book medium. Chris is by far my favorite character. Not only is he a fun and interesting character, but he is also a relatable one. I mean everybody was once an angsty teen, and we’ve all had to deal with personal loss and trauma. My second favorite character is Thomas. Thomas is a devout Catholic and former IRA soldier. He is trying to right the wrongs of his past, and he thinks the best way he can do that is by helping Chris out. He also introduced Chris to punk rock, and thank goodness he did. I also liked the character Daisy Milton, the leader of a Christian extremist group call the New American Christians.

In short if you’re a Christian, read it. If you’re an Atheist, read. If you love phenomenal stories with great character, you absolutely have to read it right now, this instant. Punk Rock Jesus is the best graphic novel I have read this year and will always be one of my favorites. I hope it becomes one of yours too.

SCORE: 9.5/10

-Julian

Picture via IndieReader