A review of Siku's manga style comic book version of the bible. It has earned rave reviews and controversy in equal measure. So which is it? success or sin?
The Manga Bible- Spreading the word of God or Manga?
There is little doubt that since is publication this February the Manga Bible has taken both art and religious worlds by storm. The artist Ajinbayo Akinsiku, who calls himself Siku, uses the Japanese comic book style to aim “The greatest story ever told” to a younger audience. Receiving praise and criticism in equal measure the book has been dubbed both a success and a sin. Whilst dabbling with religious subjects often courts controversy, it would appear this time the critics are closer to home…
The Manga bible is an adapted version of the entire bible spanning both testaments and approximately 200 pages. It was a challenging undertaking for the graphic artist, Siku, a Christian who is from Nigerian and English descent. Siku who has previously worked on both comic books and computer games has had work published globally. More information on his works can be found on www.theartofsiku.com
The Manga bible has certainly succeeded as far as sales are concerned. According to Murad Ahmed writing in The times on 18/02/2008 over 30,000 copies were sold in the first month alone. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3386643.ece
Although Adapting the bible to a new niche market is not itself a new idea, it may be the ‘hip’ and ‘cool’ associations of manga that has won it appeal.
So what do religious groups make of it? The book’s blurb contains a quote from arch-bishop of Canterbury who says “It will convey the shock and freshness of the bible in a new way”.
It is certainly very different from the original version. Jesus is depicted as moody and tough and the language has been brought bang up to date and includes street slang. Inevitably these alterations have offended some more traditional worshippers but as the overall message of the bible remains the same, it would seem most religious readers are praising.
Surprisingly, most critics of The Manga Bible hail from the art world, and tend in particular to be manga enthusiasts themselves. The main criticism of Siku’s work is that the style is actually quite dissimilar to original manga. Traditionally manga artists depict characters that have a wide-eyed and wind swept look and scenes that are full of energy. In this respect Siku fails to disappoint. There are many differences though; most notably The Manga Bible is very wordy for a manga comic who makes it also much slower paced as a consequence. Pictures are less detailed with a sketchy appearance and it sometimes has a heavy monotony not common to Manga.
The success or failure of the Manga Bible depends on how it is judged. It would appear it has brought renewed life and attraction to the original bible and yet as a graphic novel alone, it pictures are disappointingly mediocre. Siku’s original aim was to bring the word of god to new ears. The Manga bible has been hailed by religious groups but failed by art world. It seems Siku may have achieved the opposite of his goal, instead of spreading the word of god to the manga fans perhaps he has instead spread the word of Manga?
