BATTLE POPE #1

[MattBrady]

Before he was Robert (The Walking Dead, Marvel Team Up) Kirkman, he was Robert (BattlePope) Kirkman, a struggling indy guy, gaining notoriety for his self-published Battle Pope. The original series ran for thirteen issues, spawned a miniseries (Battle Pope Presents: Saint Michael), and, stayed just under the radar enough to not get the mothers of America screaming for Kirkman’s head on a pike.

Starting nest month, Image is reprinting, coloring, and republishing the series, allowing untold new thousands to bear witness to the levels of Kirkman’s utter depravity.

Or wicked humor. You be the judge.

The solicitation for issue #1 reads:

When he's not leadin' mass, he's out kickin' ass! After the Rapture the sole protector of the sinning masses is BATTLE POPE, and his trusty sidekick, Jesus. They're the last line of defense in a world overrun with demons and depravity. Reprinting ROBERT KIRKMAN's first published work, now in stunning full color, with a brand new cover by original artist TONY MOORE and original cover colorist VAL STAPLES. Just in time for the book's Fifth Anniversary!

written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover by TONY MOORE

Full-color 32 pgs. $2.95
On sale July 6, 2005

[adamcasey]

Man. I can't wait for this.

About a year ago I hoped aboard the Kirkman train and haven't looked back.

[BanMan]

As a Catholic, I gotta say...I found this preview funny. Maybe I'll pick up the first issue.

[Cartoon Jay]

Originally posted by BanMan
As a Catholic, I gotta say...I found this preview funny. Maybe I'll pick up the first issue.

man, I was hoping for more controversy on this thread...

[Val]

It's an honor to be working on Battle Pope again.
This was one of the first comics that got me excited about indy books again and it also helped opened the door for me as a colorist in the industry.

What's great about this book is that it's funny as hell.
It's literally the only comic that has made me laugh out loud... repeatedly.
And I begged Robert and Tony to let me color the covers after I read the first 4 issues.

And since it's Robert and Tony's first real pro work, each issue gets better and better.
It's like having a series that carries a guarantee for quality!

[Ragnarokker]

I would give my pinky finger, yakuza style, to see Battle Pope take Spawn out of his angst riddled misery in a rockin' crossover. Oh man that would be so good.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Originally posted by Cartoon Jay
man, I was hoping for more controversy on this thread...

Me too. Maybe the Righteous have abandoned Newsarama to the heathens.

[demonpack]

I always wondered about this comic. After seeing some interiors I'll give it a shot. The art and colors really work for the story. The style is just right and the expressions are easy to read. Fun stuff.

[ninjai]

OMG!

It's about time Image got back to making some controversy...I was starting to think they were going mainstream. I won't be buying this simply because the artwork isn't my cup o' tea, but hell i'll definitely be watching the fireworks.

[twoarmman]

So how “blasphemous” is this book? I’m a Christian that isn’t overly sensitive (my favorite book is Preacher) but I wouldn’t enjoy a book that feels more insulting than humorous. I think the book looks great and I’m loving Kirkman’s stuff. I’m just wondering if this book walks the tightrope of humor well or if it falls over into the “preachy”.

Does anyone know Kirkman’s religious background? I always enjoy it better when a person pokes fun at a group they are part of. (Hispanics telling Hispanic jokes, Jews telling Jew jokes etc)

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think ANY group is safe when it comes to humor. I’d open it up to a lot more groups if I had my way. These are all just question that pertains to my personal enjoyment, not what I think is or isn’t open game.

[DarthBubba]

This schiznit is going to be sooooo cool!

BTW: You too can be a pope! Simply print the card and carry it in your wallet. . . IT'S OFFICIAL!

[TheFoo]

Originally posted by twoarmman
So how “blasphemous” is this book? I’m a Christian that isn’t overly sensitive (my favorite book is Preacher) but I wouldn’t enjoy a book that feels more insulting than humorous. I think the book looks great and I’m loving Kirkman’s stuff. I’m just wondering if this book walks the tightrope of humor well or if it falls over into the “preachy”.

Does anyone know Kirkman’s religious background? I always enjoy it better when a person pokes fun at a group they are part of. (Hispanics telling Hispanic jokes, Jews telling Jew jokes etc)

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think ANY group is safe when it comes to humor. I’d open it up to a lot more groups if I had my way. These are all just question that pertains to my personal enjoyment, not what I think is or isn’t open game.

I'm a practicing Roman Catholic, and find it hilarious as hell. Ever so slightly blasphemous. Just a tad. I've read BP waaaay back in the day when it came out from Funk-o-Tron in black and white.

It pokes fun not really so much at the people of the religion, or even the religion it self, really. It just takes an idea, in this case, of the Pope, and applies it to something that you would never see, a Battle Pope, and his buddy Jesus H. Christ.

I'm not sure what Kirkmans religious views are. He knows enough of the Catholic faith the know about the little details, (I cant remember any off the top of my head) but its a fun read. He does it with penache (sp?). I too enjoy the Mexican makes a Mexican joke, ect ect, but, in my opinion at least, Kirkman never really goes off the offensive end. Its sorta, "Oh my God, this is so funny and I'm going to hell for it, but I dont care because its so funny!" sort of thing.

I went to a Catholic high school and came this close to getting the youth group to unoffically adopt him as the 'mascot' for the year. So close.

So, yeah. I highly recommend this book.

[smitch]

I work for a Christian publishing company, and I'll pick this up for my colleagues, looks funny. I'm sure we'll all read it in between watching episodes of South Park. Gotta be able to laugh at ourselves. Anyone seen the movie Saved?
The old Evangelical stereotypes don't work so well anymore. Just ask Howard Dean!

[NeroMan]

Gonna chew some bubblegum and bless some ass.

[samnoir]

I always thought this would be a pretty dumb book, but after getting hooked on Walking Dead, I decided to give Battle Pope a shot and it actually was pretty damn funny.

Bruce Lee and Pope JP2! That's funny stuff!

Now if they could only get back to publishing Cloudfall.



________________________________________

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[TheFoo]

Originally posted by NeroMan
Gonna chew some bubblegum and bless some ass.

No no no, its "When hes not saying Mass, hes out kicking a$$!"

And I alone thinking that the color takes away from the black and white of older editions? I would have prefered reprints, but hey, at least its back.

[TheFoo]

Originally posted by samnoir
I always thought this would be a pretty dumb book, but after getting hooked on Walking Dead, I decided to give Battle Pope a shot and it actually was pretty damn funny.

Bruce Lee and Pope JP2! That's funny stuff!

Now if they could only get back to publishing Cloudfall.



________________________________________

Did that ever come out?

[samnoir]

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
Me too. Maybe the Righteous have abandoned Newsarama to the heathens.

I think most Catholics have a pretty good sense of humor. Probably more so if they are into comics. I mean look at Kevin Smith and Mark Millar. Those two guys are hilarious.

In fact I propose that Smith and Millar star in the Battle Pope movie as the Pope and Jesus.

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[samnoir]

Originally posted by TheFoo
Did that ever come out?

Only one volume. I was really dissappointed that the second one was cancelled.

I think it's Kirkman's best work next to The Walking Dead.

He really freshens up the tired Alien Conspiracy in much the same way he approached the Zombie genre from a new angle in The Walking Dead.

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[eric_image]

Originally posted by TheFoo
Did that ever come out?

Yes. None of you bought it.

[Jason A. Quest]

Originally posted by twoarmman
So how “blasphemous” is this book?

IMHO, just blasphemous enough. When given a choice between silly and sinly, he goes for silly. Personally, I'd prefer something more theologically pointed, but I'm admittedly biased, because that's the sort of thing I'm working on myself. But this is good stuff.

[Len Cage]

I am outraged....that I have to wait to get this one.

[TheFoo]

Originally posted by eric_image
Yes. None of you bought it.

Really? I couldnt find it anywhere. I admit though, the nearest comic shop was about thirty miles either way, so it wasnt like I was able to go at the drop of a hat like I can now. Any chance of this getting published again at some point, perhaps in a sort of anthology or collection of Kirkmans early work?

[aylw]

Man, this looks kick@$$, I remember seeing it in stores a while back, but never got around to picking it up. Now that it's out again, I'm taking it as a sign.

-Aylw

[EmeraldGuy32]

Tony Moore is drawing this?? Awesonme!!!