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Notable Comics of the 20th Century
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This is not an exhaustive history of every Christian comic ever produced worldwide during the 1900s. It is a list of known professional publications deemed to be significant for historical, artistic, cultural, or circulation reasons.
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"Aida-Zee" [USA] - Published in 1990 by The Nate Butler Studio - 32 pages + cover, full mechanical color - Various writers and artists including Gaylord DuBois, Nestor Redondo, others - Distribution information: "All 10,000 copies of the original print run [were distributed], but probably only 50-60% of this number represents 'true sales', as many were donated or given away to prisons, other ministries, individuals - The other A-Z Comics productions, Paro-Dee (1993) and Behold 3-D (1996), both sold considerably fewer copies." (From packager/publisher Nate Butler, March 2001) |
"My Witness" ("Mi Testimonio") series [Mexico] - 5 issues (Issue 5 shown here)- Published in 1990 by Editorial Vida Abundante - 32 pages in wash tones + color cover - Written by Graciela Pedraza - Illustrated by Luciano Perez & Mario Jimenez - Published in Spanish only - Find additional series information here. |
"Apocalypse" ("Apocalipsis") series [Mexico] - 5 issues (Issue 4 shown here)- Published in 1990 by Editorial Vida Abundante - 32 pages in wash tones + color cover - Written by Graciela Pedraza - Illustrated by Ricardo Castanon - Published in Spanish only - "Literally hundreds of thousands of all these (Editorial Vida Abundante) comics were distributed by missionary organizations that purchased them for distribution throughout Latin America." (From Dan Nase, Harvest of Life Ministries, February 2002] |
A Personal Testimony Series [Japan] - 3 books (Testimony of Yamakawa Chiaki - Heaven's Newscaster/"Tengoku No Nyuusukyasuta", Testimony of Yoneko Tahara - A Wonderful Life/"Subarashiki Jinsei", pictured here, and Testimony of Morofuji Kenji - Touched by the Light/"Hikari Nifurerarete") Published in 1990 or 91 by Sinsei Undou/New Life League - 24 pages in black & white, with 2-color cover - Illustrated by Madoka Mako - Published in Japanese only, now out of print - No distribution/circulation figures available - ISBNs: 4-88281-035-2, 4-88281-036-0, 4-88281-037-9 |
Middle East Media Series [Arabic] - 5 titles (Book 5, The Parables of Jesus, shown here) - Published in 1991 by Middle East Media - 32 pages, self cover, all in full color - Published in Arabic only - No distribution/circulation figures available |
"Manga Introductory Series" ("Manga Nyuumon Shiriizu") [Japan] - 3 books (First issue shown here) - Published in 1991 by Word of Life Press Ministries - "A serious Bible study for middle or high school youth (seekers as well as believers) in easy-to-read cartoon format ... text edited by Christian pastors" [From the publisher, 1996] - 178 pages each in b&w, with full color covers, hardbacks - Illustrated by Toshio Katsuma - Published in Japanese only - No distribution/circulation figures available - ISBNs:4-264-01265-1, 4-264-01281-3, 4-264-01255-4 |
"The Universe Upstairs" [UK] - Published in 1991 by Frameworks, an imprint of InterVarsity Press - "The first ever cartoon guide to world views" [From the publisher's back cover text] - 129 pages in black & white, with color cover - Written & Illustrated by Merve Jones - No distribution/circulation figures available - ISBN: 0-85111-215-3 |
"Oboe Jones" [USA] - Published in 1992 by Cornerstone Press - 96 page paperback book (40 pages of full color comics, 48 pages of black & white comics) - Written and illustrated by Kevin Frank - Distribution information: "The strip itself ran in Cornerstone Magazine from 1985-1998. In it's heyday, it was being seen by 100,000 readers. (at least that's how many we printed back in the 80's, but later it began to shrink.) The Oboe Jones book was published in 1992, with a press run of 2000 books. They're all gone now (well maybe 100 or so left, not sure) with no plans of a second printing. How many of those were actual sales, and which ones were give-aways I couldn't say." (From Kevin Frank, March 2001)
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"Une Historie du Journal Tournesol" series [France] - 3 titles - Terres glacées ("Frozen Ground"), shown here, Inis: le prix de la paix ("Inis: The Price of Peace"), and L'évangile en Chine avec Portes Ouvertes ("The Gospel in China with Open Doors") - Published in 1992, 1999, 2000 by Ligue pour la Lecture de la Bible - 34-65 pages of full color comics - All paperback - Scripts by Edith Barnaud, Mireille Clavé, Philippe Hochet, Kristina, and Sylvie Croisy - Art by Philippe Hochet, Didier Le Rest, and Jacques Defosse - Editing, Mock ups and Desktop Publishing by Jefko (Jean-Frédéric Kohler) - Published in French only, some are now out of print - No distribution/circulation information available- ISBNs: 2-85031-204-5, 2-85031-355-6, 2-85031-407-2 - Find additional series information here. |
"Jungle Village" series [Malaysia] - 2 issues published in 1992, by Asia's Little Ones/AoG - Repackaged first issue (shown here) published in 1997 by JV Comics/AoG - 28 pages + cover, full computer color - Written by Steve Benintendi and Illustrated by Loh Sy Huey - No distribution/circulation figures available at this time |
"Christian Crusader" series [USA] - 3 issues (Issue 1 shown here)- Begun in 1992, published by CC Comics - 72 pages, black & white with color covers, paperback - Written and illustrated by John Celestri - Distribution information: "Around 30-40,000 of all three." (From John Celestri, March 2001)
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Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft (German Bible Society) series [Germany] - Began publication in 1992 with Jesus der Galiläer, Bd.1 and Jesus der Galilaer, Bd.2. - Published in the UK by the British and Foreign Bible Society as Jesus the Galilean and Jesus the Victor - Four additional books David und Saul, David und Sohne (shown here), Ruth and Adam, Eva und Co. published in German only - 48 pages, full painted color, paperback - All illustrated by Rüdiger Pfeffer - No distribution/circulation figures available
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Jesus Messiah ("Jezus Messias") [Netherlands] - Published in 1993 - Paperback, 64 pages, full color, 15 x 20 cm, for ages 10 & up - Written & Illustrated by Willem deVink - Translated into more than 25 languages and dialects (including Albanian, Arab, English, Farsi, French, Greek, Koerdisch-Bahdini, Latvian, Mongolian, Dutch, Nepalese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili and Turkish) - No distribution/circulation figures available |
"Kidz of the King" original 1st series [USA] - 4 issues (Issue 1 shown here)- Begun in 1994, published by King Comics and KOTK Publishing - 24 pages, full airbrushed & painted color (first 3 books) - 24 pages, black & white with color cover (4th book) - Written and illustrated by Reggie Byers - Distribution information: "Total sales from the original series up to now... approximately 12,000 books." (From Reggie Byers, March 2001) |
"Parables of Jesus" ("Manga Seisho - Iesusama no Tatoebanashi") [Japan] - Published in 1994 by Word of Life Press Ministries - 152 pages in b&w, with full color cover, hardback - Illustrated by Masakazu Higuchi, edited by Noboru Yamaguchi - Published in Japanese only - No distribution/circulation figures available - ISBN:4-264-01508-1 |
"Micro Mini Messages" [USA] - Published in 1994 by Gospel Light Publications -30 pages of reproducible comics and cartoon tracts - Paperback - Illustrated by Rick Bundschuh and Tom Finley - No distribution/circulation figures available
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"The Most Important Story Ever Told" [USA/Canada] - First published in 1995 by WorldServe Ministries - Comic/cartoon booklet explaining Bible, Plan of Salvation - 32 pages + cover, all full color - Team of artists - Distribution information: "Over 10 million copies... in more than 40 countries" (From WorldServe's web site) "There is much fruit from this publication. 4 million are on the presses just now. It is available in more than 70 languages today." [From Frank Arthur, Director of Publishing, WorldServe Ministries, November 2001] - ISBN for first edition: 0-896658-01-6 |
"Archangels: The Saga" original series [USA] - 9 issues (Issue 1 shown here) - Begun in 1995, published by Eternal Studios - 28 pages + cover, all full computer color - Co-authored and co-created by Patrick Scott, John Leger, Andy Orjuela - Distribution information: "In May of 1995 we released ATS issue one. We sold 12,132 issues (give or take a few) through Diamond comic book distributors ... Last year, we finished issue nine of ATS ... the finally book from the first series of Archangels: The Saga ... We have sold over 600,000 copies of our comic book series to date." (From a letter to the Xn Comix message board posted by Patrick Scott, Eternal Studios president, May 2001)
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"New Pilgrim's Progress" [HK/China] - Published in 1995 by China Alliance Press - 190 pages in black & white + color cover - Adapted & Illustrated by Choy Chin-ming & Leung Mei-see, Edited by Fan Yuen-kwan - No distribution/circulation figures available - ISBN: 962-244-434-2 |
"Son of Man" [Denmark] - Published in 1995 by the Danish Bible Society (and by Delcourt in France as Jésus de Nazareth, shown here) - 136 pages + cover, full painted color, hardback - Illustrated by Peter Madsen - No distribution/circulation figures available - ISBN for French edition: 2-84055-074-1 |
"Truth for Youth Bible" (with comics) [USA] - First published in 1996 by Tim Todd Ministries - Paperback - Various writers - Distribution information: Total in print: 450,000 copies; First edition (KJV with black & white Jack Chick/Fred Carter comics) 100,000; 2nd edition: (NIV with black & white amateur comics) 150,000; 3rd edition (NIV w/full computer color comics, illustrated by Frank Fosco and Danny Bulanadi) 150,000 with 95,000 distributed - 3rd edition (with 53 pages of color comics) is in its third printing. (From publisher Tim Todd, March/July 2001, and print broker Harold Buchholz, January 2001)
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"Revelation: The Comic Book" original series [Canada] - 6 issue series (Issue 1 shown here) + graphic novel compilation - Begun in 1996, published by Draw Near Art Studios - 32 pages in black & white, with full color painted covers - Written & illustrated by Leo Bak - Distribution information: "They were mostly sold across the USA, distributed by Diamond Comics. The mini-series sold about 1000 of each... about 200 units of the graphic novel sold." (From Leo Bak, March 2001) - ISBNs for issues 1-3 of the original series: 1-896788-01-7, 1-896788-02-5, 1-896788-03-3 |
"True Love Waits" [Japan] - First published in 1996 by ICM Press (shown here), republished in 1999 with different cover - 32 pages + cover, all 2-color - Written & illustrated by Madoka Mako - Currently available in Japanese only - Distribution information: "Total printing: 56,000 copies, balance on hand 8000..." (From publisher Jim Blocksom, March 2001) |
"Even Though You Believe, You Still Have Questions" ("Shinjitatte Naiyanjau") series [Japan]- 2 books (First one shown here) - Published in 1996 and 1999 by WLPM Publishing - 138 and 136 pages, black & white, paperback - Written and illustrated by Nanami Minami - Available in Japanese only - "Through the means of engaging manga, readers receive insights on how to deal with society's problems as Christians." (From information in WLPM's online catalog) - No distribution/circulation figures available at this time - ISBNs: 4-264-01610-X, ISBN: 4-264-01757-2
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"Pakkins' Land" series [USA] - First published in 1996 by Caliber Comics ("15 comic books, a 'zero' issue and one trade paperback" From the Shipmans, March 2001) - 1 issue published by Image Comics - Now being self-published - 32 Pages, black & white with color covers - Written by Gary & Rhoda Shipman, illustrated by Gary Shipman - No distribution/circulation figures available at this time
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"Lammy Chan's Bible Character Collection" ("Ramii Chan no Seisho Jinbutsuden") [Japan] - Published in 1997 by Creation Productions/WLPM Publishing - 156 pages + cover, part color/part black & white, paperback - Illustrated by Hanna Miyashita - Available in Japanese only - "131 manga (cartoon) stories. Easy to read with furigana above all kanji. In delightful style this book introduces Bible characters from both the Old and New Testaments. Enjoyable informative reading suitable for either adults or children." (From information in WLPM's online catalog) - No distribution/ci | | |
