Punk Rock Jesus: A Cult Tribute

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We're going to try something a little different today with the Cult Tributes. As you probably could've guessed, I'm into comic books. I know, if this constant nerd references in my column weren't a dead giveaway, the Howard the Duck background certainly was. The point is, today I'd like to shine some light on a comic book I'm not sure that many people know about. I've just finished reading it once again today, and just like the previous time, it proved to be one awesome experience. What am I talking about? I'm talking about the story of a clone who turns away from religion and right into the arms of one the greatest things ever invented; punk rock music. That's right everyone, put on that Sticky Little Fingers CD, grab your socks and pull; this is a Cult Tribute to Sean Murphy's seminal, cult classic comic book/graphic novel, Punk Rock Jesus. Are you ready to rock?

Punk Rock Jesus: A Cult Tribute

What You Already Know

Beyond the fact that this is a comic book called Punk Rock Jesus? Absolutely nothing. Seriously, go look at Punk Rock Jesus' Wikipedia page; there's more depth on the Clippers bench than there is there. I may have to rectify it, or someone else will.

What You Didn't Know

Punk Rock Jesus, more than anything else, was a passion project. Murphy, a writer/artist whose biggest work prior had been a run as the writer for Hellblazer (John Constantine for the uninitiated), originally conceived the project in 2003, according to a statement written by him in the back of the comic. Having started work on the story as a devout Christian, Murphy began questioning his faith while researching one of the lead characters of the story (we'll get to him in a moment). He then officially became an atheist after a surfing incident later that year, which allowed him to start over and present the story in it's true form. Even still, the project took nine years before it was published, with Murphy using the media frenzy surrounding the 2008 and 2012 Presidential elections as further inspiration. Punk Rock Jesus was released as a six part miniseries throughout 2012 to considerable acclaim, largely praised for its examination of the media, religion, and what happens when the two are combined.

Now I know what you're thinking; that's all well and good, but what exactly is the story here? Well, let's dive in. Set in perhaps the bleakest non Blade Runner/Mad Max dystopian future in science fiction history, a Television station called Ophis (the word for Serpent in some religious scriptures) has launched the J2 Project. The goal; take the DNA from the Shroud of Turin (a cloth supposedly containing DNA and an outline of Jesus' face) and inject the DNA into the eggs of a young virgin woman, who would then give birth to, in theory, a clone of Jesus Christ. If successful, Ophis would then film the clone and his mother as a reality show. That this ludicrous scenario is actually something I could buy as plausible is terrifying, exactly the effect I imagine Murphy was going for. By the way, the date for when the show would start; December 25th, 2019. I mean, they did everything else, I guess they had to get the date right too.

They made a billboard and everything

The story then builds around an ensemble group of characters, each with a different motivation. Rick Slate, the bloodthirsty producer of the show, wants ratings no matter the cost. Dr. Sarah Epstein, the doctor who was hired to perform the cloning, wants funding for an experiment she believes can reverse Earth's decline. Thomas McKael, a former IRA agent turned J2 head of security (and the character that made Murphy question him faith upon researching), wants redemption for his sins. Gwen, the teenage girl chosen to be the mother, wants her old life back. And then there's Chris, the clone, who is caught up in all of this from the moment he's born. His motivations become shaped by the chaos in and surrounding his life, a series of events that cause him to forsake his destiny and embrace a world of science, questioning and of course, punk rock. The only question is what will be the cost for him and the ones he loves?

Greatest Strength

No Best Character section?! As it's too tough to decide, nope. On the one hand, our main character Chris is fascinating, a clone of the Son of God who transforms from an expected savior to a post apocalyptic Johnny Rotten. That normally would be the most compelling character ever. And yet, Thomas McKael, the IRA soldier turned protector, is just as interesting and might even be the protagonist of the story. You're going to tell me a man tortured by demons and looking to restore himself in God's eyes by protecting a clone baby isn't good stuff? Because of that, we're going a different way here. Yes, I'm totally copping out. But so what? I regret nothing.

What will amaze you about Punk Rock Jesus long after you've put it down isn't its punk rock views or its commentary on everything from mass media to religion. What will leave you breathless (perhaps not in a good way) is the world Murphy has created. Outside of Blade Runner (which I wouldn't doubt heavily influenced Murphy), I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like it. This is as bleak an alternate universe as you can picture; war is rampant between religious zealots and their numerously changing targets, America is sinking into the ocean and Europe doesn't appear to be in a much better state. It's pretty hopeless, no matter how much reality TV produced or how neon tinged the world appears to be (Murphy's comic was done completely in black and white, so my interpretation could be wrong). In fact, I wouldn't doubt Murphy set up Punk Rock Jesus' world this way as a reason for cloning Jesus to exist. Like I said, this is a pretty hopeless wasteland, so it's not hard to imagine that the cloning of the Son of God could be something used to inspire hope in a world without it. Whatever the reason, Murphy's world will stick with you. If Punk Rock Jesus ever gets made into a film (and it should), the first thing I'll be looking forward to is how his universe is created. Well, as long as Mel Gibson doesn't direct.

Dystopian Jerusalem

Conclusion

I have read some amazing comic books in my day, classic works like The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, Crisis of Infinite Earths, Born Again, Sandman, Superman: Red Son, and my all time favorite Batman: Knightfall Part 1, one of the most gripping and exhausting pieces of literature I've ever read. Punk Rock Jesus is up there with all of them; a masterpiece of the field. It's one of the most thought provoking, captivating and even horrifying pieces of science fiction I've ever laid eyes on, a truly remarkable commentary on how religion and media work in our time. It's also an excellent character study, with two flawed but likable protagonists, a great supporting cast and no clear cut villain, unless you're counting the crazy religious nuts. Bottom line, anyone can enjoy Punk Rock Jesus. Whether your religious or atheist, there will be something you can identify with in this comic. Well done Sean Murphy! Now bang out another masterpiece already, my list of things to read is getting low!

That shall do it! Hope you guys enjoyed, and hope you check out that awesome comic. Trust me, you won't regret it. I'll be back later with...something. Who knows what?! Till then, more Summer.

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