Reception
The critique that Siku does not use a traditional style of manga, but rather a style that is close to English independent comics, appears in several reviews. The Manga Bible is definitely influenced by the English culture, especially because it retells the story of a book that most people in the West are somehow familiar with.
Another point of critique is that The Manga Bible is too wordy for a traditional manga; Siku sees the need for that in the fact that he condenses the Bible in a 200 page graphic novel. To convey the message, more text is needed, or it would be difficult to follow the story line. It was also pointed out that due to the dense summary, the story moves in a fast pace and causes some theological flaws in The Manga Bible.
While most manga fans and reviews seem to be disappointed by the book and point out its weaknesses, the church praised the work. They see it as a book that opens up new ways of looking at the Bible. The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, says about The Manga Bible: “It will convey the shock and freshness of the Bible in a unique way.”
Siku himself sees in Jesus a superhero and not the traditional blond Christ, people know from Hollywood movies. He is currently working on a three volume book called The Manga Jesus. The first volume was released in November 2008.
Read more about this topic: The Manga Bible: From Genesis To Revelation
Famous quotes containing the word reception:
“To aim to convert a man by miracles is a profanation of the soul. A true conversion, a true Christ, is now, as always, to be made by the reception of beautiful sentiments.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“But in the reception of metaphysical formula, all depends, as regards their actual and ulterior result, on the pre-existent qualities of that soil of human nature into which they fall—the company they find already present there, on their admission into the house of thought.”
—Walter Pater (1839–1894)
“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it.”
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)