Who is the most influential religious character in comics?
Moderators: Daniel Jackson, greg
- Uncle Yusuf
- My posts can all fit in a short box
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Sun May 19, 2013 11:20:33 pm
- Valiant fan since: 2013 reading Rob Venditti
- Favorite character: Aric of Dacia
- Favorite title: X-O Manowar
- Favorite writer: Robert Venditti
- Location: New York City
Who is the most influential religious character in comics?
I never really thought of this before seeing a web page dedicated to examining the religions of various superheroes throughout pop culture. If I had to choose who I think is the most religious character in comics, I would definitely say Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler), of 'X-Men' fame. He seems to be a really committed Catholic. He even became a priest for a time, from what I remember.
- Chiclo
- I'm Chiclo. My strong Dongs paid off well.
- Posts: 21667
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:09:11 am
- Favorite character: Kris
- Location: Texas
- Contact:
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
This is an interesting question if only for the openness in interpretation of the question. Nightcrawler is certainly the most openly Christian character that I can think of but other, more influential characters have been characterized as religious. This pops up as a sub-plot early in the Infinity Crusade. The heroes assembled by the Goddess are either religious or have had some sort of death from which they recovered. Sue Storm was among the abducted and openly confirmed her Christian beliefs and I would say she is a more influential character than Nightcrawler. Captain America is a pretty religious guy. Thing is pretty openly Jewish.
Then we open up to the non-traditional religions. Thor, Hercules and Wonder Woman are members of pantheons in their own rights and I suppose that their very existence is religious in nature. I am pretty sure Doctor Strange has to observe some sort of religion.
There have been many comic book adaptations of the Bible. Would Jesus count? I don't know of any comic book adaptations of the Koran. The 99 draws heavily on a few passages within the Koran, with each of the 99 representing one of the 99 attributes of Allah (the unseen, the inflictor, the eternal, the lightbringer and so on).
I can't think of any really major comic characters that are openly evangelical, though.
Then we open up to the non-traditional religions. Thor, Hercules and Wonder Woman are members of pantheons in their own rights and I suppose that their very existence is religious in nature. I am pretty sure Doctor Strange has to observe some sort of religion.
There have been many comic book adaptations of the Bible. Would Jesus count? I don't know of any comic book adaptations of the Koran. The 99 draws heavily on a few passages within the Koran, with each of the 99 representing one of the 99 attributes of Allah (the unseen, the inflictor, the eternal, the lightbringer and so on).
I can't think of any really major comic characters that are openly evangelical, though.
- lorddunlow
- I think you might be a closeted Canadian.
- Posts: 13552
- Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:51:31 pm
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
*SQUEE* your science, I have a machine gun.
- MarkRoseHFX
- smother you to death with a big pile of poutine
- Posts: 4697
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 11:03:12 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite character: Chiclo
- Favorite title: Harbinger
- Favorite writer: Dysart,V-ditti,Kindt,Lemire
- Favorite artist: Cary Nord
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Contact:
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Jesse Custer
Hell Yeah Valiant Comics! Tumblr - http://bit.ly/16xoK8x" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://about.me/markrosehfx
PSN- gorakthebunny
Dynamite can suck my balls
http://about.me/markrosehfx
PSN- gorakthebunny
Dynamite can suck my balls
- Burrito Boy
- Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:56:47 pm
- Favorite character: Gunny Lewis
- Favorite title: Armorines
- Favorite writer: Jorge Gonzalez
- Location: Cimmeria
- Contact:
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
The Redeemer from Spawn.
- BugsySig
- I could be talking poo-doo.
- Posts: 9535
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:47:04 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite character: Ivar, Timewalker
- Favorite title: Harbinger/Timewalker
- Favorite writer: Joshua Dysart/FVL
- Favorite artist: Joe Quesada
- Location: Central CT
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Well Magneto, The Thing and Kitty Pride are all well known Jewish characters. Ever since the original XMen movie, Magneto has been closely associated with the Holocaust.
Kurt Busiek wrote:Bull$#!t
- String
- Cruisin' in Darpan's Winnebago
- Posts: 701
- Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:33:18 pm
- Location: The Bright Sunny South
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
+1MarkRoseHFX wrote:Jesse Custer
- DrSoup007
- My posts can all fit in a short box
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 5:36:45 pm
- Valiant fan since: 2012
- Location: Texas
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
I didn't know the Thing was Jewish...the more ya knowChiclo wrote:This is an interesting question if only for the openness in interpretation of the question. Nightcrawler is certainly the most openly Christian character that I can think of but other, more influential characters have been characterized as religious. This pops up as a sub-plot early in the Infinity Crusade. The heroes assembled by the Goddess are either religious or have had some sort of death from which they recovered. Sue Storm was among the abducted and openly confirmed her Christian beliefs and I would say she is a more influential character than Nightcrawler. Captain America is a pretty religious guy. Thing is pretty openly Jewish.
Then we open up to the non-traditional religions. Thor, Hercules and Wonder Woman are members of pantheons in their own rights and I suppose that their very existence is religious in nature. I am pretty sure Doctor Strange has to observe some sort of religion.
There have been many comic book adaptations of the Bible. Would Jesus count? I don't know of any comic book adaptations of the Koran. The 99 draws heavily on a few passages within the Koran, with each of the 99 representing one of the 99 attributes of Allah (the unseen, the inflictor, the eternal, the lightbringer and so on).
I can't think of any really major comic characters that are openly evangelical, though.
"Having trouble coming up with a signature because my last one really sucked..."
- BugsySig
- I could be talking poo-doo.
- Posts: 9535
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:47:04 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite character: Ivar, Timewalker
- Favorite title: Harbinger/Timewalker
- Favorite writer: Joshua Dysart/FVL
- Favorite artist: Joe Quesada
- Location: Central CT
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
He was modeled after Jack Kirby himself, though it was only fairly recently that his religion was declared as such.DrSoup007 wrote:I didn't know the Thing was Jewish...the more ya knowChiclo wrote:This is an interesting question if only for the openness in interpretation of the question. Nightcrawler is certainly the most openly Christian character that I can think of but other, more influential characters have been characterized as religious. This pops up as a sub-plot early in the Infinity Crusade. The heroes assembled by the Goddess are either religious or have had some sort of death from which they recovered. Sue Storm was among the abducted and openly confirmed her Christian beliefs and I would say she is a more influential character than Nightcrawler. Captain America is a pretty religious guy. Thing is pretty openly Jewish.
Then we open up to the non-traditional religions. Thor, Hercules and Wonder Woman are members of pantheons in their own rights and I suppose that their very existence is religious in nature. I am pretty sure Doctor Strange has to observe some sort of religion.
There have been many comic book adaptations of the Bible. Would Jesus count? I don't know of any comic book adaptations of the Koran. The 99 draws heavily on a few passages within the Koran, with each of the 99 representing one of the 99 attributes of Allah (the unseen, the inflictor, the eternal, the lightbringer and so on).
I can't think of any really major comic characters that are openly evangelical, though.
Kurt Busiek wrote:Bull$#!t
- nutflush76
- Nanite-powered posting
- Posts: 1373
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:29:38 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite character: Bloodshot
- Favorite title: Rai
- Favorite writer: Robert Venditti
- Favorite artist: Clayton Crain
- Location: Palm Desert, ca.
- Bone-A-Fach-ee
- Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
- Posts: 1632
- Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:28:03 pm
- Valiant fan since: '92
- Favorite character: Tony Harada
- Favorite title: Harbinger/Imperium
- Favorite writer: Joshua Dysart
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: The Foundation Zone
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Sabra? she's pretty jewish too. what about daredevil? he's always perched on top of churches and giant crosses...?
- X-O HoboJoe
- Bradley is not unsupervised anymore.
- Posts: 22412
- Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:07:18 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1991
- Favorite character: Aric
- Favorite title: Shadowman
- Location: Adrift on the Seas of Fate
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Amen.String wrote:+1MarkRoseHFX wrote:Jesse Custer
I DO NOT EAT, DRINK OR ABSORB SOULS, DAMMIT!
- dave
- Turok #12 is the 1st appearance of Turok
- Posts: 8233
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 4:06:22 pm
- Valiant fan since: Bloodshot #1
- Favorite character: Rai
- Favorite title: Harbinger
- Favorite writer: BWS
- Location: Hiding in the fetal position
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
The original Archer. He even led an entire group of followers.
- siren3-4
- The best feeling I get is filling holes
- Posts: 8912
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:46:16 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
This is exactly where my mind went . . . I knew this board would not disappoint . .X-O HoboJoe wrote:Amen.String wrote:+1MarkRoseHFX wrote:Jesse Custer
. . . hive mind . . .
- X-O HoboJoe
- Bradley is not unsupervised anymore.
- Posts: 22412
- Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:07:18 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1991
- Favorite character: Aric
- Favorite title: Shadowman
- Location: Adrift on the Seas of Fate
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Fo'evah!siren3-4 wrote:This is exactly where my mind went . . . I knew this board would not disappoint . .X-O HoboJoe wrote:Amen.String wrote:+1MarkRoseHFX wrote:Jesse Custer
. . . hive mind . . .
I DO NOT EAT, DRINK OR ABSORB SOULS, DAMMIT!
-
- I'm just glad it was pretty good, long and drawn out. (that's what she said.)
- Posts: 3292
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2012 9:38:00 pm
- Valiant fan since: Unity
- Favorite character: Tie between Flo and Andy
- Favorite title: Archer and Armstrong
- Favorite writer: The ones that wrote 4 Valiant.
- Location: Here, there, at some point everywhere.
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Hard to say which character would be "influential".. it's kinda a loaded question. Influential as in it's impact on the comic medium or influential as in it's real world influence on religious belief?
For the medium I'd agree on Jesse Custer hands down. Could potentially be the second as well though I've not seen much talk about how Preacher influenced peoples personal beliefs. I think that would be for another thread.
I doubt we'd have many of the edgy religious based comic stories out there today if it wasn't for preacher blowing the doors down, setting them on fire and stringing them up for the world to see.
For the medium I'd agree on Jesse Custer hands down. Could potentially be the second as well though I've not seen much talk about how Preacher influenced peoples personal beliefs. I think that would be for another thread.
I doubt we'd have many of the edgy religious based comic stories out there today if it wasn't for preacher blowing the doors down, setting them on fire and stringing them up for the world to see.
It's not that I don't have an avatar... I've just been working on it for the last few hundred years.
- Cyberstrike
- Consider it mine!
- Posts: 5156
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:07:41 am
- Valiant fan since: Unity 1992
- Favorite character: Solar, Man of the Atom
- Favorite title: Unity
- Favorite writer: Jim Starlin
- Favorite artist: Jim Starlin
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Hellshock.
Know this: I would rather be hated for being honest for my opinions, than being loved as a liar!
- Chiclo
- I'm Chiclo. My strong Dongs paid off well.
- Posts: 21667
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:09:11 am
- Favorite character: Kris
- Location: Texas
- Contact:
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Who?Cyberstrike wrote:Hellshock.
I mean, I remember the Image series, but - who? Was Tom Judge not available?
- Dr. Solar
- Spanked like a 4 year old in K-Mart.
- Posts: 10898
- Joined: Sat May 15, 2004 8:09:27 pm
- Favorite character: Sven
- Favorite title: Psi-Lords #2
- Location: Los Angeles Surviving Sectors
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
I agree with the Jesse Custer sentiment.
- Uncle Yusuf
- My posts can all fit in a short box
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Sun May 19, 2013 11:20:33 pm
- Valiant fan since: 2013 reading Rob Venditti
- Favorite character: Aric of Dacia
- Favorite title: X-O Manowar
- Favorite writer: Robert Venditti
- Location: New York City
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
Influential on the comic book medium, not the world. That would be a bit extreme, LolAram wrote:Hard to say which character would be "influential".. it's kinda a loaded question. Influential as in it's impact on the comic medium or influential as in it's real world influence on religious belief?
For the medium I'd agree on Jesse Custer hands down. Could potentially be the second as well though I've not seen much talk about how Preacher influenced peoples personal beliefs. I think that would be for another thread.
I doubt we'd have many of the edgy religious based comic stories out there today if it wasn't for preacher blowing the doors down, setting them on fire and stringing them up for the world to see.
- Uncle Yusuf
- My posts can all fit in a short box
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Sun May 19, 2013 11:20:33 pm
- Valiant fan since: 2013 reading Rob Venditti
- Favorite character: Aric of Dacia
- Favorite title: X-O Manowar
- Favorite writer: Robert Venditti
- Location: New York City
Re: Who is the most influential religious character in comic
You know, if I were being completely objective, I guess technically one could POSSIBLY count Jesus, peace be upon him (if you're talking about which character has been the most influential in the comic book medium), since there have been many comic book adaptations of the Bible here in the United States, if not throughout the rest of the world. Still, if that is the case, then equally Moses, David, and Abraham, peace be upon them, should probably be included in there as well since they're mentioned far more in the Bible than Jesus, peace be upon him. Being subjectively bias however, as I am a Muslim, I'd disagree. All of the Prophets of the Bible are Prophets of Islam as well, peace be upon them, and visually depicting them in any way is completely forbidden in Islam. Islam doesn't really translate well to the comic book medium in my opinion because there are rules which would make it practically impossible to produce a superhero comic book based on the Islamic faith. That is one of the reasons why I don't agree with the production and distribution of 'The 99'. It is created, produced, and written by a Muslim, yet it gives a terribly misleading and confusing explanation of the core tenets of Islamic beliefs, the proper names and descriptions of Allah in the Qur'an, and it fails to mention even the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, much less his name, AT ALL. There is NOTHING Islamic about 'The 99' comic book or animated television series AT ALL. I don't care that it was made by a Muslim. There is nothing in it for non-Muslims to benefit or learn about concerning Allah, The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or Islam AT ALL. I'm a Muslim and I would NEVER buy this comic book. Nor would I allow my children to read it or allow them to watch the animated series. There is NOTHING influential about it. At least, not in a positive way that would benefit anyone.Chiclo wrote:This is an interesting question if only for the openness in interpretation of the question. Nightcrawler is certainly the most openly Christian character that I can think of but other, more influential characters have been characterized as religious. This pops up as a sub-plot early in the Infinity Crusade. The heroes assembled by the Goddess are either religious or have had some sort of death from which they recovered. Sue Storm was among the abducted and openly confirmed her Christian beliefs and I would say she is a more influential character than Nightcrawler. Captain America is a pretty religious guy. Thing is pretty openly Jewish.
Then we open up to the non-traditional religions. Thor, Hercules and Wonder Woman are members of pantheons in their own rights and I suppose that their very existence is religious in nature. I am pretty sure Doctor Strange has to observe some sort of religion.
There have been many comic book adaptations of the Bible. Would Jesus count? I don't know of any comic book adaptations of the Koran. The 99 draws heavily on a few passages within the Koran, with each of the 99 representing one of the 99 attributes of Allah (the unseen, the inflictor, the eternal, the lightbringer and so on).
I can't think of any really major comic characters that are openly evangelical, though.