NPR: Slideshow: The Bible Gets A 'Manga' Makeover

Slideshow: The Bible Gets A 'Manga' Makeover

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You might know "manga" as a style of Japanese comic book full of big-eyed, gangly-bodied action figures.

One artist in the U.K. used the storytelling genre to recreate one of the oldest known texts - the Bible. It's called ""The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation," and was authored and illustrated by Nigerian-educated Ajinbayo Akinsiku (pen name "Siku"). The latest edition of the graphic novel, including both the old and new testaments, was published in the United States this month.

Listen to a live interview with Siku on our show.

Pauline Bartolone

12:53 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

wow, that's awful. Proof positive that the only people who can actually do manga are Japanese. I know this is all under the guise of providing a different interpretation of the Bible to a younger generation, but I can't shake the feeling that this is pure economic opportunism. Manga is hugely popular in the US now, and this just feels like a cash-in.

Sent by Greg | 2:24 PM ET | 02-29-2008

Greg is right about the cash in. There are 3 manga bibles which all were released in the same time frame. Coincidence? Or divine meddling?

Neither... it's all about $$$.

===========================

"so that we can rape them!???

Really? Really? That line needs to be in the book? Really?

First of all in the mythical tale of Sodom, the city was already sentenced to destruction for inhospitality. Not for being a town of leather-daddies who don't take no for an answer.

Second of all the verb is "to know", not "to rape", not "to molest", not even "to spoon".

To Know.

Thirdly... it's the year 2008, people like "Siku" need to grow up. Yes, Siku did do Judge Dredd in the 90s, but all of that is now sadly outweighed by a line of homophobic tripe. Oh, in the previous sentence, "Siku did do Judge Dredd" means that he was an artist on the comic, not that he raped Judge Dredd. Don't want to cause any confusion.

Sent by Brian | 12:56 PM ET | 03-02-2008

I am a very fond reader of manga and I beleave that putting the bible into manga form will not only change the views of the text but also bring more readers to the table. Though I do have to agree that the Japanese should be the ones to make the manga.

Sent by Jessica | 1:25 PM ET | 04-21-2008

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