Review: Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #4

One of my favorite things about comics is how they can take risks other visual artistic mediums may not be willing to replicate. Vertigo Comics in the ’90s was the poster child of that fact. Cutting-edge storytelling touching about vital issues of the day. Continuing in a similar legacy has been the series Second Coming that centers on taking Jesus and placing him into a modern society superhero world.

Some may look at that concept as a cheap ploy to get attention, but when you look at the actual comic you see this is not a book designed to mock the concept of belief or religion. As someone who grew up going to church three times a week I find this series does a better job representing the message of Jesus than most churches. There is this element of humility that makes its central messages ring more true and effective.

This specific issue centers on the message of forgiveness and the power and challenge behind it. Sunstar continues to try to balance his life as a superhero with his family. This time dealing with the fact that is Mother-In-Law’s nursing home wants to kick her out due to her unruly behavior. With a child on the way, this is the last thing he can afford and luckily for him having Jesus on his side will prove to be a major benefit.

One of the more impressive parts of this comic is how much character it has on each and every page. A lot of that is due to the art of Richard Pace, Leonard Kirk, and colorist Andy Troy. For example, the opening scene is a group of senior citizens getting on a bus headed to the casino. Right away side characters that may never show up again leap off the page as larger-than-life figures. You have this old curmudgeon that looks like a combination of Mr. Burns meshed with Statler and Waldorf. Another elderly woman looks like everyone’s party-time grandma that still knows how to get down, but has a bit of a tragic past.

Economic writing and quality character design take characters that could have just been innocuous blobs and give them life. Small bits like this make the world feel more alive and full. As if everyone has a story that deserves to be heard. This again strengthens the central message of mercy and kindness as simply being willing to listen to that story can alleviate burdens that are unfairly placed on individuals.

In an attempt to help keep Sunstar’s Mother-In-Law from remaining in her home Jesus tells a story of the importance of showcasing such mercy. Much of this issue until the final third is conversational. Despite that, it moves so quickly due to some great staging and fantastic facial expressions. There are a number of scenes with characters expressing a lot of complex and nuanced emotion and each time you can fully comprehend what they are feeling. Also, the use of color does a lot of the heavy lifting as well. Softer and warmer colors are used to express a more joyous feeling. Also using more muted colors for the biblical aids in differentiating between past and present.

If there is one complaint, it is that Sunstar is not quite yet there as a character. We get a bit more here seeing his troubled past as a high school bully. Again forwarding the idea of forgiveness as his past sins are coming back to haunt him. Cranius is determined to use the force of the Moon to destroy Earth to get back at Sunstar. It was a great setup but it fizzled out a bit at the end. Pun not intended but appeared to be setting up a classic ‘Come to Jesus moment’ but never quite got there. That can also be purposeful to show the messiness of mercy and restraint. Some simply may not be capable of it.

Overall Second Coming continues to be one of the more fulfilling reads in comics today. The ideas are clear and precise and executed with a pristine vision. Somehow they have made a book costarring Jesus that could appeal to the most steadfast atheist or an open-minded Christian. If they are only willing to listen.

Overall Score: 4.5 / 5

Writer: Mark Russell
Layouts: Richard Pace
Finishes: Leonard Kirk
Colors: Andy Troy
Letters: Rob Steen

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.