CHOSEN #1

[MattBrady]

Mark Millar and Peter Gross have provided Newsarama with an eight page preview of this month’s Chosen #1 - what the writer has described as Ultimate Jesus – the story of the savior, without the continuity.

Originally scheduled to ship, appropriately enough, in December, Chosen #1 is now tentatively scheduled to hit stores on February 4th.

From Newsarama’s earlier interview with Gross:

Back in August when Newsarama spoke with Millar about the four books, he described Chosen as…well, Ultimate Jesus, referring to the Marvel Comics line of “Ultimate” titles aimed at new readers that strip 30+ year old characters of their continuity, and start telling their stories anew.

“We've got a twelve year old boy and his small social circle coming to terms with his incredible destiny just like Ultimate Spider-Man, but the character of Jesus has, without sounding crass, really been Ultimized here in the sense that he's been stripped back to basics after 2000 years of conflicting continuity and put back in touch again with a younger audience,” Millar said. I'm only half-smiling as I say this. You'll see what I mean when you read the book.

”Chosen is a three issue series that kicks off with this premise and explores where he and his family go from here. It's Stand By Me meets the Book of Revelations as a kid finds out he's the real deal and has a terrifying destiny ahead of him. This is Harry Potter for fundamentalist Christians.”

Or, as Dark Horse’s solicitation for issue #1 reads: “Imagine you’re twelve years old and suddenly discover that you’re the returned Jesus Christ. You can turn water into wine, make the crippled walk again, and perhaps even raise the dead. What do you do, what does your family do, and how does it affect you knowing that you’re destined to grow up and take part in a conflict that people have been waiting almost two thousand years for?”

[tralfaz]

waiting... waiting... waiting....

[MisterE]

Now this... THIS looks interesting.

I bet Ultimate Jesus starts a rock band and lays down some celestial chords and then annoints some groupie chicks backstage.

And rides a motorcycle.

And wears shades.

[Phoenix_Tetsu]

Hm..... What will the tone of the series will be?, that is what has me intrigued..... if is not satire I will stick with Jesus Christ:Vampire Hunter or Ultra Christ.

[djcoffman]

I tend to wonder about things...

I wonder that, well, for a good spell, there was buzz about Frank Miller doing a Jesus book, and he never got around to doing it yet, but people were always asking about it... and then, all of a sudden, there's a Jesus book by another guy named MILLAR.. Conspiracy?

IT COULD BE!

[Cmdr_Y]

hey --- I think I went to college with that guy. You know, the guy with the long brown hair, long beard. He always wore sandals with jeans and old t-shirts.... yeah --- that ONE guy.



When I was in college (all those 6 years ago) it was the in thing to be a Jesus-Freak (aka jesus look-a-like). I used to think it was funny to consider what it would be like if one of those guys turned out to be the actual 2nd coming of Christ. Then I realized that it was just that most of them thought they were the son of god... of course, now I know that Jesus was actually arabic in appearance, looking nothing like the fair-skinned long-haired KING that we're shown as children.... and Jesus-Freak has a whole 'nother meaning...

[The Mirrorball Man]

The real controversy here is that Peter Gross appears to be puzzled by even the most basic sense of spatial relationships in a scene or even the thinnest veneer of normal human anatomy.

[gredenko]

Maybe I'm crazy, but from reading that description I would have guessed that an "Ultimatized" Jesus would mean the FIRST story of Jesus being retold, not a modern-day second-coming of Jesus in a world where the story of Jesus obviously already exists? If this is the second coming of Christ, the revelations version of God coming to judge the world, well that's not really 'throwing out 2000 years of continuity' is it? Personally, I think a 'reboot' of the original Jesus story would be more interesting than what this looks to be.

[Dave Accampo]

Originally posted by gredenko
Maybe I'm crazy, but from reading that description I would have guessed that an "Ultimatized" Jesus would mean the FIRST story of Jesus being retold, not a modern-day second-coming of Jesus in a world where the story of Jesus obviously already exists? If this is the second coming of Christ, the revelations version of God coming to judge the world, well that's not really 'throwing out 2000 years of continuity' is it? Personally, I think a 'reboot' of the original Jesus story would be more interesting than what this looks to be.

I think the Ultimate reference was kind of a throwaway joke, but technically, you're right...And it's an interesting proposal...the original Jesus story set in modern times...but then I got to thinking...it'd be a huge alternate history kind of thing...I mean the affect of Christianity on the history of the world is huuuuuge...I can't even begin to imagine the divergent reality that would have started 2000 years ago...interesting, you got my brain rolling and I haven't even had coffee yet...

But I'm looking forward to this; it's got a nice Harry Potter/Stand by Me/Exorcist/Unbreakable vibe...seems very cinematic, but I like the narration in the beginning, as well. Looks to be a good story. I really enjoyed Wanted #1 a few weeks ago, so Millar's on a bit of a roll for me!

[FigNewton]

So far looks like Unbreakable featuring kids with the mouths of sailors.

Probably not a completely fair evaluation as it is only 8 pages, I admit. Still, that is the impression I got from this promo.

[bumpusth]

Originally posted by FigNewton
So far looks like Unbreakable featuring kids with the mouths of sailors.

Probably not a completely fair evaluation as it is only 8 pages, I admit. Still, that is the impression I got from this promo.

That was my first impression. Has anyone tracked down the indy work he did with this? I have read about it, but never heard how good it was.

[gredenko]

Originally posted by Dave Accampo
I can't even begin to imagine the divergent reality that would have started 2000 years ago...interesting, you got my brain rolling and I haven't even had coffee yet...

Yes, that's what I mean. I thought it would be more interesting to see the modern world, shaped in the west not by Christianity but by Judaism, or something else? Then you would see how Christ shows up in the 1980's and you're off with a story. This still might be an interesting read, but it seems like too obvious of a take on it: Jesus returns in the tradition of teenagers discovering that they are superheros.

[Dave Accampo]

Originally posted by gredenko
Yes, that's what I mean. I thought it would be more interesting to see the modern world, shaped in the west not by Christianity but by Judaism, or something else? Then you would see how Christ shows up in the 1980's and you're off with a story. This still might be an interesting read, but it seems like too obvious of a take on it: Jesus returns in the tradition of teenagers discovering that they are superheros.

Oh, I agree...it would just be an entirely different type of story. The alternate history thing seems interesting but a bit dry, like a mathematical equation...it's too alien for me to relate to. It all depends on your tastes in stories, of course. I'm more intersted in adding this religious mythology into a world and a main character that *I* can relate to, which is what this story is. It could go fairly super-hero, but I'm thinking that Millar is going to take it into darker territory with the religion angle. The possible ramifications intrigue me. We'll see.

[Noam Choseed]

Originally posted by gredenko
This still might be an interesting read, but it seems like too obvious of a take on it: Jesus returns in the tradition of teenagers discovering that they are superheros.

I have a feeling that may be Millar's point To reimagine the Jesus image in the context of the comic book tradition to reflect the power fantasy of the stereotypical comics fanboy maybe even himself as a young man (if I'm right in guessing his age), but this story is a bit different. What if a teen boy learns he is more than human, Divine in fact, it's not just his responsibility to just save a few ladies from robbers, but to redeem all of humanity and suffer horribly in the process.

I personally am not a Christian and can unobjectively enjoy this story, others may be offended, but this does sound interesting

On another topic I don't think Judaism would have shaped this world in the same way Christianity or Islam has. My people were more into surviving than recruiting Without Jesus and Mohammed the majority of the world would still be worshipping their native pantheons or maybe Roman Paganism or the Druids may have gone on to encompass the Earth.
Millar Rocks

[gredenko]

Originally posted by Noam Choseed
I have a feeling that may be Millar's point To reimagine the Jesus image in the context of the comic book tradition to reflect the power fantasy of the stereotypical comics fanboy maybe even himself as a young man

Yes, I suppose that is in fact the point. This basic idea has been done several different ways, which is why I thought the idea of Christ appearing for the first time in 1984 was kind of more unique. I have this discussion a lot, about what people would do if someone claimed to be Christ today? There's an obvious parallel to Jesus' historical life and persecution I suppose in the way someone claiming to be Christ returning would be treated these days... followers would be dismissed as cultish and the man himself would likely be locked away or left out on the street.

The story of Christ certainly doesn't need comic books to reflect its power and influence on the course of the world. Maybe conversely, the story brought into the world of comics can open some eyes. As it is, unfortunately, comics and super hero comics especially tend to be so overblown as to diminish the notion of supreme power or a supreme being. It's still something I'd like to read, but I'm wondering how it will avoid an obvious path?

[mpartyka]

As a Christian, what irritates me is how Millar is injecting the idea of reincarnation into the story of Christ. There's no such thing in the Bible. Jesus ascends to heaven as Jesus of Nazareth, and he'll return to earth as Jesus of Nazareth -- same person, no reincarnation. All stories like Chosen do, unfortunately, is give kids who don't know Christ a false idea of Christ that they'll have to discard before they can get a true idea of who Christ is and what he'll be doing in the future. That's why stories like this irritate me, in general.

--Mike

[dr.no]

Posted by mpartyka
All stories like Chosen do, unfortunately, is give kids who don't know Christ a false idea of Christ that they'll have to discard before they can get a true idea of who Christ is and what he'll be doing in the future. That's why stories like this irritate me, in general.

Well 'most kids don't read Chosen so dont worry.

And who says that this is the false idea of Christ? Don't get me wrong, but why isn't it possible that he will be reincarnated? Just because a couple of lines in a book said so? You don't know that and neither do I.

Just read the comic or stay away from it. That's the only thing that matters in this thread.

[mpartyka]

dr.no,

Acts 1:9-11 -- Now when [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

No room for reincarnation there.

--Mike

[BillReed]

The premise sounds good, the art is really good, and the coloring is EXCELLENT. The script could use some work, though.

I wonder if this will cause a huge flaming controversy in the "real world," but somehow I think it'll float under the radar.

[Dave Accampo]

Originally posted by mpartyka
dr.no,

Acts 1:9-11 -- Now when [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

No room for reincarnation there.

--Mike

Yes, but on the other hand, many people (not you, but others) don't take everything in the bible literally. There are Christians who believe that Genesis is a mythological story -- not true by historical fact but still containing an important message.

Others will talk about the physical impossibility of Noah's ark, or the rules set down in Leviticus..., which, if taken literally, are rules that NOBODY's following...

Me...not a Christian, so it doesn't really matter. I think it's a clever story idea, but it all depends on the execution.

But, it seems to me that for many, there's room for interpretation there...so the whole reincarnation thing won't necessarily contradict...

Of course...and I'm just thinking here...what if Millar's character isn't actually a "reincarnation" of Jesus, but a second son...? Jesus' little brother...? God's decided to give humanity another shot with another savior...? Hey, just a thought...

[dr.no]

Posted by mpartyka
This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

No room for reincarnation there.

Well, as said by someone else in this topic, you can look at this text clipping in more than one way.

Lets hope that we will be around when it happens though. Just to see who's right.

[NeoXorn]

I think It's a good story. I'm a christian but I'm not offended by the concept, after all it's still fiction. I'll check this one out 'coz I know it's going to be controversial.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by mpartyka
No room for reincarnation there.

There's always been healthy debate on whether or not John the Baptist was Elijah, reincarnate. Opposing sides tend to come down on who you believe was speaking in metaphor in the narratives when it was spoken of. Did Jesus literally mean what he said when he said John is the "Elijah to come," or was he speaking of the spiritual legacy of Elijah? When he was asked if he was Elijah, and John said, "I am not," did he mean he was not Elijah, verifiable down to a fingerprint check, but Elijah in the body of John or some other shade of meaning?

But "reincarnation" brings in aspects of karma, Elijah never relaly "died" and rotted in the ground, etc, etc. But then, in this story, it may be about the returned spirit of Jesus inhabiting the boy, and making him his earthy vessel, which, after all, is something that the church, er Catholic-leaning, believes in, at least for the other team...

And no, I don't think this mystery is critical to anyone's faith, their soul's ultimate salvation, nor will it be conclusively solved on a comic book news site messageboard.

MattB

[Tag06]

Originally posted by gredenko
Yes, I suppose that is in fact the point. This basic idea has been done several different ways, which is why I thought the idea of Christ appearing for the first time in 1984 was kind of more unique. I have this discussion a lot, about what people would do if someone claimed to be Christ today? There's an obvious parallel to Jesus' historical life and persecution I suppose in the way someone claiming to be Christ returning would be treated these days... followers would be dismissed as cultish and the man himself would likely be locked away or left out on the street.

The story of Christ certainly doesn't need comic books to reflect its power and influence on the course of the world. Maybe conversely, the story brought into the world of comics can open some eyes. As it is, unfortunately, comics and super hero comics especially tend to be so overblown as to diminish the notion of supreme power or a supreme being. It's still something I'd like to read, but I'm wondering how it will avoid an obvious path?

As a faithful Christian myself I totally agree

[Tag06]

Originally posted by Dave Accampo
Yes, but on the other hand, many people (not you, but others) don't take everything in the bible literally. There are Christians who believe that Genesis is a mythological story -- not true by historical fact but still containing an important message.

What christians beleive that! I've never heard of such a thing!