CHOSEN #1 REVIEW

[Mitch Brown]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dh/1203/chosen1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dh/1203/chosen1t.jpg" align=left alt="Chosen #1"></a>Reviewer: Mitch Brown, eschaton@igreen.net
Quick Rating: Excellent!

You're twelve years old and you've just found out you're the Second Coming of Christ. What do you do?

Story: Mark Millar
Art: Peter Gross
Colors: Jeanne McGee
Letters: Virtual Calligraphy's Cory Petit
Designer: Amy Arendts
Editor: Dave Land
Assitant Editor: Katie Moody
Publisher: Mark Richardson


Mark Millar's assault on comicdom continues this week with the release of the third MillarWorld title, Chosen. Published by Dark Horse, this three-part mini-series follows the story of a seemingly unremarkable boy named Jodie Christianson who, as it turns out, just happens to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ himself.

Now, knowing Mark Millar's track record with black humor - particularly for those who read The Unfunnies #1 - I'm sure there's a number of people assuming that with a Millarworld book about Jesus Christ we should be expecting grossly irreverent and tasteless comedy at the Son of God's expense. Nothing could be further from the truth in Chosen #1. Instead Millar and artist Peter "Lucifer” Gross have put together a highly accessible and engaging character study of a modern Jesus As A Boy.

Jodie Christianson is an average kid growing up in the early 80s. Like a lot of twelve year olds of the day, Jodie is far more interested in his Commodore 64, "stroke-mags" and bootlegged Video Nasties than school. Soon after what should have been a fatal accident, Jodie finds himself possessed of miraculous powers (sound familiar?), most notably his sudden rise from "D" student to seemingly omniscience font of knowledge. Soon, the truth of Jodie's true origin and destiny come crashing down upon him and his "parents" - no, he isn't a mutant and neither are the initials J.C. a coincidence.

As a character, Jodie really struck a chord with me. He reminded me so much of myself at his age, that I couldn't help but be drawn into his story. Like Peter Parker, Jodie fulfills the role of the mythical Everyman - blessed/cursed with a tremendous power and responsibility. Millar's script reads very naturally, drawing the reader to empathize with Jodie from the outset, and when the weight of divine responsibility crashes down about him in the final pages its not hard to feel the youth’s conflicting sense of horror and elation.

Millar has referred to Chosen as "Ultimate Jesus...stripped back to basics after 2000 years of conflicting continuity and put back in touch again with a younger audience." and I think that sums up this issue nicely. With 2000 years worth of Inquisitions, Crusades and Wars caused in his name, its easy to forget the basic essence and teachings of Jesus Christ - a fact that Millar, in his role as a Catholic lay minister, must be acutely aware of.

Following very closely with the story of Jesus' beginnings from the Bible, what Millar has done in Chosen is to successfully and respectfully re-contextualize the story of Jesus through a modern lens of accessibility and cultural relevancy while retaining the bare essence of what has preceded. In one scene, Millar re-tells the Biblical incident of young Jesus in the Temple (where a young Christ holds court with the Pharisees and Priests, debating theology far beyond his years), substituting the young Jesus for Jodie, the Temple with high school and the Priests and Pharisees with his schoolteachers. A number of Biblical characters are represented in this issue, including Mary Magdalene (Maggie, the girl-next-door), Mary and Joseph and a Catholic minister who I suspect may later come to parallel John the Baptist.

In Chosen, Millar reminds us of one of the more powerful aspects of the Christ story - that Jesus was just as flawed, fallible and human as any of us. Through Jesus, God experienced the human condition firsthand, its frailties, its inadequacies and its triumphs, giving an all-important human face to Judeo-Christian theology. In today’s increasingly image-saturated youth culture, Millar's version of "Ultimate Jesus" may just be what the much maligned Christian Faith's doctor ordered, giving a modern face to Jesus Christ.

Peter Gross has a highly expressive, yet subtle style that suits this book to the ground. Not the most recognizable or visceral of artists, Gross utilizes an effective and understated style, adding to the depth and seriousness of the content of this book. His pencils are very natural and consistent, enhanced nicely through Jeanne McGee's colors. Peter must also hold some kind of record as one of the only artists to be able to say that he has drawn both Lucifer and Jesus Christ as main characters in two separately published monthly comic books in the one month!

This issue truly shows off Mark Millar’s talent and versatility as a writer. Chosen stands out considerably from its Millarworld brethren. The disturbing and Brechtian Unfunnies is pretty close to as far away from Chosen #1 as you can legally get, while Wanted reads like an inversion of Chosen's premise. Millar's critics have labeled him as something of a one-trick pony, accusing him of using shock tactics and violence in his American work on titles like The Ultimates in place of strong storytelling. So far Chosen stands as the best defense available for Millar fans everywhere. From first impressions, Chosen has the makings of a classic that may go a long way towards securing Mark Millar's name amongst the Moores, Morrisons and Ellises of the world.


ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy Chosen online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=60&cat=CHOSEN)

[jernenputsch]

What a book. All of Millar's Millarworld titles have been good, but this is great, and sure to be highly controversial. I doubt that the religious factions of this country are going to be pleased with Jesus walking around saying "****" and dropping F-bombs. I agree that this shows all of Millar's strengths as a writer, and is another reason that he is one of my favorite writers.

[Wolverine]

Man I love millar. This looks really great

[Eric Travis]

So far, so good. I'm on board for the next two issues, since I'm really curious to see where this goes. Speaking as a comic book fan, this was one of the stronger books I picked up this week. Great art, compelling story, realistic characters... What more could you ask for? Speaking as a Christian, I just have to say that there is nothing overtly objectionable here at all. Some language and situations keep it in the Mature Audiences range, and I can see (yet disagree with) how the premise as a whole might upset some. Great book, and far less 'controversial' than anticipated. ;)

The only quibble I've got is actually in a slice of the review....

Originally posted by Mitch Brown

In Chosen, Millar reminds us of one of the more powerful aspects of the Christ story - that Jesus was just as flawed, fallible and human as any of us. Through Jesus, God experienced the human condition firsthand, its frailties, its inadequacies and its triumphs, giving an all-important human face to Judeo-Christian theology. In today’s increasingly image-saturated youth culture, Millar's version of &quot;Ultimate Jesus&quot; may just be what the much maligned Christian Faith's doctor ordered, giving a modern face to Jesus Christ.


Really, it's one that's likely more suited to the Religion/Spirituality thread. But Jesus, while human and finite in form, was divine and pure in spirit. If he was as flawed and fallible as the rest of us, he wouldn't have met the necessary standards for being the Christ (Y'know, the unblemished sacrificial lamb given to redeem the sinful children of God...).

At least, according to my belief system. YMMV. ;)

[Paul Shinn]

I'm definitely picking this up. I've been intrigued by the premise for this series since it was first revealed, and your review makes it sound worth reading.

These Millerworld titles have been my first foray outside of the "big two", and its certainly been an intersting exploration!

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

just what the Christian Faith's doctor ordered? would that be Luke? ;)

(sorry, couldn't resist.)

[Mitch Brown]

Originally posted by Therion
Really, it's one that's likely more suited to the Religion/Spirituality thread. But Jesus, while human and finite in form, was divine and pure in spirit. If he was as flawed and fallible as the rest of us, he wouldn't have met the necessary standards for being the Christ (Y'know, the unblemished sacrificial lamb given to redeem the sinful children of God...).

Perhaps I wasn't too clear on this one Therion. I actually agree with you - what I perhaps should have said was that he had the potential to be as lawed and fallible as us. He was bolstered spiritually by the divine Will, but if he was truly perfect in all ways while bound to that physical body - there would have never been any Temptations. :) Jesus CHOOSES to be that unblemished lamb you speak of and show his followers the way to redemption. But the "trick" of the situation is, being of the Holy Spirit, he couldn't be anything BUT.

At least that's my understanding...

Having said that, I am not a Christian myself and cannot claim to be an expert on Christianity (though I have had 12 or so years of both Catholic and Presbyterian schooling), so my understanding of Jesus may be somewhat flawed. :) I myself place Jesus in more Gnostic context.

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell
just what the Christian Faith's doctor ordered? would that be Luke? ;)

(sorry, couldn't resist.)

:rofl:

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

okay. damn. brilliant. that's all i have to add. i knew i was going to be hyped about this when i interviewed Peter Gross about it, but this has blown every expectation out of the water. can't wait to see what happens when we catch up with "present" time.

[Mitch Brown]

impeccable taste Jordan m'man :)

between this, My Faith In Frankie and Secret War...its going to be hard for the rest of 2004 to live up to these kind of
standards...

I feel a good comic year coming on :D

did anyone else feel kinda old with the Commodore 64 and Driller Killer references? I was only about 4-5 but I still remember my C64, being one of the first in the street with a VCR (semi-rural Australia so yeah...) and seeing my first of Video Nasty a few years later....the Rubik's Cube and the Darth Vader figures..*sigh*

I've read this issue a couple of times now and Peter Gross's art just keeps growing on me...though I just picked up a very minor flaw on the last page...isn't Jodie supposed to be reading Revelations? It looks like he's closer to Psalms..but hey, it looks good :)

I'll be interested in seeing what part Father Higgins and Lilly B. will have later on.