Comments on: The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation

By: Ed Sizemore

Ed Sizemore — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:25:11 +0000

Kelly, I’m glad your able to make gold from this dross. It’s great that your sons respond positively to their readings and have you to guide them to deeper truths.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:27:32 +0000

Both my sons love the manga Bible. One of my sons has a form of autism but responds very well to printed media. He understands the Biblical stories better by seeing some of the exaggerated expressions. Neither of my sons particularly like to sit still reading for periods of time but they couldn’t put this down! I agree that the reviewer judges the work a bit harshly. I would never let my kids use comic-strip style as their sole source of Biblical knowledge. (I read different translations myself, though, to get a better understanding.) For kids, it’s a great introduction to Bible truths. Since reading the manga, my boys have raised a dozen excellent Bible questions and we’ve been able to discuss them as a family. I would say for kids, this is good “milk.” If you want “meat,” you probably won’t enjoy it much.

By: Ed Sizemore

Ed Sizemore — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:10:53 +0000

Jason, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thought. I appreciate your input.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:22:13 +0000

Though I’ve not read the Manga Bible, I browsed through it and found some points worthy of listing here: (1) for the Christian scholar, the Manga Bible is exciting in that the text can be evaluated as to its biblical accuracy (and thereby it fosters thinking) (2) it overviews Bible stories, giving their main points, which is important because it’s common for people to overanalyze verses and words and not see the big picture or message God gives (3) it brings the Bible’s text to life (or at least suggests how it may have been) (does so partly by using pictures), and encourages thought about the characters’ emotions.
So I think the Bible-studier, anyways, should definitely check it out.

By: Ed Sizemore

Ed Sizemore — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:58:51 +0000

Mint, the line, “to give you, the reader, a taste…” is a quote from the introduction by Siku. It’s Siku’s own description of the work. If this book inspired you to go back and reread the original text, thatls great. I’m honestly glad the book worked for you.

My worry is not about people, like yourself, you are already familiar with the Bible. As a gateway to the Bible, this book fails. There are simply too many flaws in the narrative to recommend this book to anyone who isn’t already a student of the Bible. Even for students of the Bible, I only recommend this as a curiosity and not as a serious read.

By: Mint

Mint — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:47:37 +0000

I think the reviewer fails to realize that this in no way should be considered a complete look into the stories of the Bible, but rather, an appetizer to wet the appetite of those who read it, to have a hunger for the word of God.

The reviewer obviously fails to understand this since he compares this work to being “a taste” which in no way is it. It’s a completely separate entity all to itself, and having been inspired by The Manga Bible to reread a few books in the Bible, I would have to say this work was a major success.

By: Ed Sizemore

Ed Sizemore — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:00:05 +0000

Grant,

Mark’s Gospel is an intricately written book. It’s not grandiose in it’s storytelling like the other three gospels, but don’t mistake simplicity for simpleness. Mark’s Gospel has been given an unfair reputation over the centuries. It’s a book with multiple subtle layers that it as well written as the other three Gospels.

The Incarnation is not about accessibility at any cost. Christ never sacrifices the validity of the Old Testament in His own mission and ministry. He is always a careful exegete who often has to remind His audience what the Old Testament actually said versus how it was taught. I don’t
oppose making the Biblical more accessible to modern readers, I oppose any attempt at accessibility that misrepresents or mistreats the text. You have only to read my review of
Zondervan’s Manga Bible to see a good example of accessibility.

By: grant

grant — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:42:12 +0000

“He bulldozes over details and nuances in the Biblical text to move the plot along.” One could as easily make the same comment on the book of Mark vs. the other Gospels. Each of which was also contextualized to its audience.

The tendency to “over sacradize” the bible stories is interesting when contrasted with God born in a stable; killed on a cross – all at His own choice. To the Greeks foolishness, to the Jews a stumbling block.

I love the irony that 2,000 years later, people still criticize this accessibility of the bible stories and God himself!

By: The Manga Bible: Condensed a Bit Too Much at the Dogberry Patch

The Manga Bible: Condensed a Bit Too Much at the Dogberry Patch — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:09:40 +0000

[...] Comics Worth Reading has a very thorough review of the comic. They are not too impressed, either with its graphics or its message. [...]

By: Manga Bible Volumes 1 and 2 (Zondervan) » Comics Worth Reading

Manga Bible Volumes 1 and 2 (Zondervan) » Comics Worth Reading — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:56:15 +0000

[...] dedicated exclusively to their graphic novels. For comparison, I previously reviewed another Manga Bible here. Related Posts: The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation § Mecha Manga Bible Heroes [...]

By: Mecha Manga Bible Heroes » Comics Worth Reading

Mecha Manga Bible Heroes » Comics Worth Reading — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:50:02 +0000

[...] if a Manga Bible or two wasn’t enough, now there’s a new series promising Bible heroes… but with [...]

By: Ed Sizemore

Ed Sizemore — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:52:14 +0000

Alex, All the translations of the text I can find say the same thing, Joseph’s brothers plotted his murder. I’m not sure it’s much of a joke to run away from a younger brother and leave him to the mercy of wild animals. Either way, the brothers want Joseph dead. I think Shoher is trying to be charitable to the brothers, but the Biblical text doesn’t cut them any slack. It lays bare their true intentions without any ambiguity.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:35:21 +0000

What do you think, please, of Obadiah Shoher’s interpretation of the story? (here: samsonblinded.org/blog/genesis-37.htm ) He takes the text literally to prove that the brothers played a practical joke on Yosef rather than intended to murder him or sell him into slavery. His argument seems fairly strong to me, but I’d like to hear other opinions.

By: MangaBlog » Blog Archive » Quick links

MangaBlog » Blog Archive » Quick links — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:52:35 +0000

[...] and vol. 2 of Andromeda Stories at the Manga Maniac Cafe. Ed Sizemore has a thorough critique of The Manga Bible at Comics Worth [...]

By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Jan. 23, 2008: The opposite of sex

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:36:27 +0000

[...] Ed Sizemore on Siku’s The Manga Bible. Semi-related: David Welsh on both The Manga Bible and the first [...]