American Jesus (comics)
| American Jesus | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Dark Horse Comics Image Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Genre | |
| No. of issues | 3 + 3 + 3 |
| Main character(s) | Jodie Christianson Catalina |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Mark Millar |
| Artists |
|
| Collected editions | |
| American Jesus: Chosen | ISBN 1-60706-006-X |
| The New Messiah | ISBN 1-5343-1512-8 |
| Big Game | ISBN 1-5343-9911-9 |
| Revelation | ISBN 1-5343-2499-2 |
American Jesus is a comic book series written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Peter Gross, Tomm Coker, and Jodie Muir. The series was published by Dark Horse Comics and later by Image Comics, with the sequels American Jesus II: The New Messiah and American Jesus III: Revelation, as well as crossover references in Big Game. Set in the Millarworld, the series chronicles the rise of the Antichrist Jodie Christianson, as the reincarnated Christ Catalina rises to oppose him.
A six-episode television adaptation of the first volume, The Chosen One, was released on Netflix on August 16, 2023.
Background
The series debuted in 2004 and was the second series in the Millarworld, however, the series wasn't completed until 2023.[1][2] The series was origianally titled Chosen and was retitled American Jesus for the trade paperback.[3] The Chosen series was also published by Dark Horse Comics while American Jesus was published by Image Comics.[4]
Millar is a practising Catholic and intended for Christians to be part of the audience for the series.[5] Two priests wrote afterwords for the series.[6]
Plot
The protagonist is a young boy named Jodie Christianson who discovers he has christ-like powers after surviving an accident.[7] The story is set in the suburbs of Peoria, Illinois.[8] Jodie later turns out to be the antichrist and a woman named Catalina is the actual seconding coming of Jesus.[9] Catalina is introduced in the sequel miniseries American Jesus: The New Messiah.[10]
Reception
Writing in Under the Radar Magazine, Kyle Lemmon gave the book a 7/10 rating, noting the use of "clever artistic elements".[11] Hilary Goldstein praised the series in IGN noting that it isn't heavy-handed and "does not take any cheap shots at religion".[12]
Collected editions
| Title | Material collected | Format | No. of pages | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book 1: American Jesus: Chosen | Chosen #1–3 | Trade paperback | 72 | 2009 | ISBN 1-60706-006-X |
| CLiNT | CLiNT #1–15 (featuring serializations Kick-Ass 2 (#1–15), Nemesis (#1–5), American Jesus (#2–7) and Superior (#6–15) | Trade paperback | N/a | 2010–2012 | N/a |
| Book 2: The New Messiah | American Jesus: The New Messiah #1–3 | Trade paperback | 96 | 2019–2020 | ISBN 1-5343-1512-8 |
| Crossover: Big Game | Big Game #1–5 | Trade paperback | N/a | 2023 | ISBN 1-5343-9911-9 |
| Book 3: Revelation | American Jesus: Revelation #1–3 | Trade paperback | 96 | 2022–2023 | ISBN 1-5343-2499-2 |
In other media
In 2009, Matthew Vaughn's Marv Films optioned American Jesus for a film adaptation,[13] with Waypoint Entertainment taking over the optioning in 2016.[14] Ultimately, a six-episode television adaptation of the first volume, The Chosen One, was released on Netflix on August 16, 2023.
References
- ^ Couch, Aaron (October 26, 2022). "Mark Millar's 'American Jesus' Unveils Its End of Times". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Plowright, Frank (2023). "American Jesus Book Three: Revelation". The Slings and Arrows. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
- ^ Kit, Borys (May 2, 2016). "'Supercrooks,' 'American Jesus' Sequels in the Works From Mark Millar (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ Brady, Matt (March 25, 2009). "Mark Millar's Book of Revelation: American Jesus". Newsarama. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Magsanoc, Kai (June 16, 2012). "The gospel according to Mark Millar". Rappler. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Hogan, John (July 3, 2012). "American Jesus". Book Reporter. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Chant, Ian (May 7, 2009). "American Jesus: Chosen". Pop Matters. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Taveras, Hueso (May 21, 2007). "Faith No More: A Review of "Chosen"". The Indypendent. Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Connolly, Spencer (October 1, 2023). "American Jesus' Ending Is Perfect Because It Rejects Cynicism for Sincerity". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Blum, Jeremy (September 29, 2022). "Satan Runs the White House in Millar and Gross' American Jesus: Revelation". CBR. Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Lemmon, Kyle (April 25, 2009). "American Jesus: Book One: Chosen". Under the Radar Magazine. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
- ^ Goldstein, Hilary (November 3, 2005). "Chosen Review". IGN. Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Kit, Borys (March 25, 2009). "Comic 'American Jesus' eyed for film". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009.
- ^ McNary, Dave (April 26, 2016). "Waypoint Developing Two Movies From Captain America: Civil War Author". Variety. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
External links
- Chosen at the Internet Archive
- American Jesus at the Internet Archive
