Review: The Lion Comic Book Hero Bible

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Another year! Another beginning! Another opportunity to read the Bible through…

We’re down sick this week – all of us in the household – but it’s a good weekend to cuddle down and listen and read. To focus on the important instead of the mundane – in between blowing noses and trying to minimize germ spread.

So we’ve got this fun book to review – it says “Bible” in the title, but while it walks through the Bible nicely in chronological order, it’s more of an introductory brief – a great way to inspire interest and to get one looking deeper into the Book.

Synopsis of Book

A stunning new comic book version of the Bible now given the superhero treatment by the team behind The Lion Graphic Bible and The Manga Bible.

The story of the Bible is a unique tale of origins and cosmic powers; of the ageless battle between good and evil; of human potential and human treachery; and of a Messiah--a savior for the world. This is indeed the stuff that graphic novels are made of. Superheroes are the biggest comic genre of all, with many heroes having their origins in biblical characterization and imagery. This is the first Bible retelling to engage with and challenge the superhero genre.

The Lion Comic Book Hero Bible is a dynamic expression of the Bible's depth and power, produced in the style of Marvel™ Comics. You've heard of Spiderman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Now meet Earthman, Lawman, Warrior Man, and many others. With dynamic illustration using a range of styles, Siku (Old Testament) and Jeff Anderson (New Testament) bring the Bible stories alive for a new and graphically sophisticated generation.

About the Authors

Siku--artist, author, theologian, and musician--is one of Britain's leading comic book/concept artists, having worked for 2000 AD producing titles such as Judge Dredd. He has also worked for Marvel UK and COM X.

Richard Thomas is an artist, designer, and writer. He was the publisher at End Time Comics and his work includes projects for UNESCO, a graphic novel (Riddler's Fayre), and best-selling comics for Scripture Union. He is also the illustrator on the Book by Book Series of Dr. Paul Blackham and Reverend Richard Beives.

Jeff Anderson is a leading graphic novel artist, best known for his work on the Judge Dredd and Transformers stories. Readers of Comic World voted him runner-up in the best artist category for his Legends of Larian books. He lives with his wife and five children in Durham, England, and is a licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England.

Genre:  Children’s Christian Story Book ages 10+
Physical Description:  Hardback, 192 pages 
List Price:  $19.95
For More Info/To Buy: http://www.kregel.com/bibles/the-lion-comic-book-hero-bible-2/
Mom’s Review:

• Great Overview. The book is chronologically organized and covers many stories – far more than most children’s Bible storybooks I’ve seen – albeit in very condensed form.
• Bible References. There is a page of Bible references in the back.That makes it easy to read the Bible passages that go along with each chapter for more context.
• Quality Graphics. The graphics are very well done. Lovers of comics will appreciate this.
• Creative Names. I’m loving the superhero names the authors have given Bible characters! Rainman becomes Rainbow Man after Waterworld (you can guess who that is), and then there are Earthman, Star Girl, Star-Men and Sheep-Men, Outsider, Deliverer, Rainmaker, Watchman, and many more heroes.
• Dark Side. We’ve dabbled in graphic history books for a bit to meet my 8yo daughter’s nonfiction reading requirements, and she’s noticed that there are often “dark” illustrations, scary even, with shadows and sinister-looking beings. You’ll find the same in this book. While she doesn’t appreciate it, it doesn’t stop her from reading.
• A Softer Side to the New Testament. After seeing the sharp shadows of the Old Testament heroes, I was pleasantly surprised to see a softer side to the drawings of Jesus. I realized later that a different artist did the New Testament chapters. Not that I don’t appreciate the Old – and perhaps it’s fitting for the darker time period that existed before the Light of the World was born?

Overall, this book isn’t for everyone, and it’s not a standalone Bible. The littles, unless they are already comic book lovers, could find it a bit scary. However, it’s a well-designed, entertaining book that can inspire Bible study, and at the very least, encourage readers to see the familiar Bible characters in a whole new light.


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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Kregel Publications for coordinating this book for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.