Second Coming (comic book series)
{{Short description|Comic book series}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
Second Coming is a religious satire comic book series written and illustrated by Mark Russell and Richard Pace. The series was originally going to be published by Vertigo Comics, an imprint of DC Comics, but after criticism from conservative and Christian news outlets as well as a petition the series was canceled and the rights were returned to Russell. The series was later published in March 2020 by Ahoy Comics and was followed by two sequels titled Second Coming: Only Begotten Son and Second Coming: Trinity.
Background
The series is written by Mark Russell, visuals by Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk, colors by Andy Troy, and covers by Amanda Conner and Richard Pace.{{Cite web |last=Franey |first=Christopher |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Second Coming TPB Review • AIPT |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2020/02/26/second-coming-tpb-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015503/https://aiptcomics.com/2020/02/26/second-coming-tpb-review/ |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=aiptcomics.com |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Cody |date=July 18, 2019 |title=Second Coming #1: Things Will Be Different the Second Time Around |url=https://comic-watch.com/comic-book-reviews/second-coming-1-things-will-be-different-the-second-time-around |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015500/https://comic-watch.com/comic-book-reviews/second-coming-1-things-will-be-different-the-second-time-around |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=Comic Watch |language=en-US}} The comic book series was first announced in July 2018 at San Diego Comic-Con, but in January news outlets such as the Christian Broadcasting Network, Christian Headlines, and Fox News began criticizing the series.{{Cite news |last=Gustines |first=George Gene |date=March 12, 2019 |title=Comic Book With Jesus as a Character Finds a New Publisher |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/arts/second-coming-jesus-comic-book.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231130136/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/arts/second-coming-jesus-comic-book.html |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}} The series was originally going to be published on March 6, 2019, but in February Russell and Pace announced that the series had been canceled.{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2019 |title=DC Relinquishes Rights To Comic Book Series About Jesus After Conservative Backlash |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/second-coming-jesus-comic-book-series_n_5c6ad4c0e4b01757c36e497b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015459/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/second-coming-jesus-comic-book-series_n_5c6ad4c0e4b01757c36e497b |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=February 14, 2019 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/second-coming-cancelled/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015501/https://www.comicsbeat.com/second-coming-cancelled/ |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} DC Comics was going to include it in their relaunch of their imprint Vertigo Comics, but after the online petition criticizing the series DC Comics decided to cancel it.{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=2019-02-13 |title=DC Vertigo Cancels 'Second Coming' of Jesus Comic Book Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/second-coming-comic-book-canceled-by-dc-vertigo-controversy-1186499/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=July 10, 2019 |title='Second Coming' Writer Defends Controversial Comic With Author's Note |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/second-coming-writer-explains-origins-controversial-comic-book-1223196/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015459/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/second-coming-writer-explains-origins-controversial-comic-book-1223196/ |url-status=live}} DC Comics had requested that profanity and nudity be removed from the series leading up to its cancellation, but Russell and Pace weren't comfortable with the requested changes.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=February 19, 2019 |title=Second Coming Writer Explains Why DC Canceled the Superhero Jesus Comic |url=https://www.cbr.com/second-coming-jesus-mark-russell-dc-cancellation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015504/https://www.cbr.com/second-coming-jesus-mark-russell-dc-cancellation/ |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=CBR |language=en}} DC Comics decided to cancel issue #88 of Swamp Thing in 1989 for similar reasons.{{Cite web |last=Mozzocco |first=J. Caleb |date=April 27, 2020 |title=Second Coming |url=https://www.tcj.com/reviews/second-coming/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015501/https://www.tcj.com/reviews/second-coming/ |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=The Comics Journal |language=en-US}}
After the series was cancelled Russell asked DC Comics to have the rights to the story and they gave it to him.{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Minyvonne |title=DC cancels comic book about a second coming of Christ amid backlash |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dc-cancels-comic-book-about-jesus-christ-s-second-coming-n973471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324020449/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dc-cancels-comic-book-about-jesus-christ-s-second-coming-n973471 |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=www.nbcnews.com |language=en}} The comic book was later picked up by Ahoy Comics in July 2019 and the first issue was published in March 2020.{{Cite news |title=New comic book series features Jesus as a character |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/new-comic-book-series-features-jesus-as-a-character/articleshow/68428050.cms |url-status=live |access-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015508/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/new-comic-book-series-features-jesus-as-a-character/articleshow/68428050.cms |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |last=Alverson |first=Brigid |title=The Second Coming of 'Second Coming': PW Talks with Mark Russell |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/82708-the-second-coming-of-second-coming-pw-talks-with-mark-russell.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015459/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/82708-the-second-coming-of-second-coming-pw-talks-with-mark-russell.html |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}} Russell has previously published books that were similarly focused on Christianity such as God is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now.{{Cite web |title=Second Coming |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5038280 |website=CBC |access-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324042319/https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5038280 |url-status=live}} Russell and Pace both cited Monty Python's Life of Brian as their favorite example of religious satire.{{Cite web |title=How a cancelled comic about Jesus and superheroes found its resurrection |url=https://www.polygon.com/comics/2019/5/26/18639014/second-coming-jesus-superhero-comic-mark-russell-dc-ahoy |access-date=March 24, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324021001/https://www.polygon.com/comics/2019/5/26/18639014/second-coming-jesus-superhero-comic-mark-russell-dc-ahoy |url-status=live}} The series was originally intended to be composed of six issues, but Russell planned to write as many as 18.{{Cite web |last=Nevin |first=Will |date=March 18, 2019 |title=Portland writer's Jesus comic sees revival after cancellation |url=https://al.com/life/2019/03/portland-writers-jesus-comic-sees-revival-after-cancellation.html |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=al |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015501/https://www.al.com/life/2019/03/portland-writers-jesus-comic-sees-revival-after-cancellation.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=July 5, 2019 |title='Second Coming' comic resurrects Jesus as controversial superhero |url=https://nypost.com/2019/07/05/second-coming-comic-resurrects-jesus-as-controversial-superhero/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=New York Post |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015459/https://nypost.com/2019/07/05/second-coming-comic-resurrects-jesus-as-controversial-superhero/ |url-status=live}}
Russell intended to portray Jesus in a subversive manner in the series.{{Cite web |last=Dominguez |first=Noah |date=May 23, 2019 |title=Mark Russell Explains Second Coming's Approach to Jesus Christ |url=https://www.cbr.com/mark-russell-second-coming-jesus-christ-approach/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=CBR |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015502/https://www.cbr.com/mark-russell-second-coming-jesus-christ-approach/ |url-status=live}} The second series was titled Second Coming: Only Begotten Son.{{Cite web |last=Arvedon |first=Jon |date=November 11, 2021 |title=Jesus' 'Superman' Sidekick's Origin Revealed in Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #1 (Exclusive Full Issue) |url=https://www.cbr.com/jesus-superman-sidekick-origin-second-coming-only-begotten-son/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=CBR |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015500/https://www.cbr.com/jesus-superman-sidekick-origin-second-coming-only-begotten-son/ |url-status=live}} The second series was written by Mark Russell, drawn by Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk, colored by Richard Pace and Andy Troy, lettered by Rob Steen, and cover art by Richard Pace.{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/exclusive-preview-jesus-hits-the-street-in-second-coming-only-begotten-son-3/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=The Beat |language=en-US |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015510/https://www.comicsbeat.com/exclusive-preview-jesus-hits-the-street-in-second-coming-only-begotten-son-3/ |url-status=live}} The third series was titled Second Coming: Trinity.{{Cite web |last=Epps |first=Justin |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Ahoy's Second Coming: Trinity Reunites Jesus and His Superhero Roomie (Exclusive) |url=https://screenrant.com/ahoy-comics-second-coming-trinity-russell-pace-kirk/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015459/https://screenrant.com/ahoy-comics-second-coming-trinity-russell-pace-kirk/ |url-status=live}} The third series was written by Mark Russell, art by Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk, and cover art by Richard Pace and Tom Fowler.{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=January 10, 2023 |title=EXCLUSIVE AHOY First Look: Second Coming: Trinity #2 cover art • AIPT |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2023/01/10/exclusive-ahoy-first-look-second-coming-trinity-2-cover-art/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=aiptcomics.com |language=en-us |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324015501/https://aiptcomics.com/2023/01/10/exclusive-ahoy-first-look-second-coming-trinity-2-cover-art/ |url-status=live}}
References
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External links
- {{Official website|https://comicsahoy.com/series/second-coming}}