There are many different angles from which to consider comic book Bibles and plenty of excellent scholarship already shared on Sacred and Sequential. I don’t intend to go over this ground again but instead to consider comic Bibles from the perspective of Religious Education pedagogy; what might educators need to consider before they bring comic book Bibles into the classroom as materials for study and learning. I am not concerned therefore, with comics as tools for evangelising or as supposed miracle cures for reluctant readers. Instead I am coming from the perspective of English mainstream education where Religious Education is a legal requirement. Of course, this is a situation that is not always present in other countries but hopefully I can stir up useful questions and pedagogical judgements that should surround our classroom materials used by all students, regardless of the medium. Or encourage you to think about using comics in your classrooms, because I really think they are a fantastic, much under-appreciated resource!
The Amazing Adventures of the Afterbirth of Jesus is a subversive tale by Biblical scholar and Quaker Peterson Toscano and artist Joey Hartmann-Dow. A slim volume, over twenty-nine pages it tells the story of Hagar, the placenta born alongside Jesus in the stable. Key moments in Jesus’ ministry unfold as we expect in the background while the reader is given glimpses of Hagar’s influence. Born sentient, once used, the afterbirth is ignored and rejected and she consciously names herself Hagar, after a fellow rejected woman of the Old Testament. She follows Jesus carefully and is desperate for acknowledgement and inclusion. It is through her attention-seeking pranks that Jesus’ ministry develops. She causes coins to go missing in the home of a widow, sheep to escape their pen, wedding wine to be spilt, blindness and leprosy to afflict those who flock to Jesus and ultimately, the death of Lazarus. However, cleaning up her mess is not enough and it is only through eventually welcoming her back into his life can Jesus complete his purpose on Earth.
