January 02, 2010

The Best Graphic Novel I Read in 2009 Was The Bible

An Article by Bill Kunkel

Actually, it wasn't the entire Bible, just The Book of Genesis, but the fact that it was illustrated by Underground Comix Icon R. Crumb (W.W. Norton & Co./(US$25.95) made all the difference in the world.

Crumb's retelling of the first book of the Old Testament is no goof; Crumb researched his subject meticulously (as his many illuminating footnotes amply demonstrate) basing his work on two primary sources: the Robert Alter translation and the King James Bible.

As has frequently been commented upon, the Bible does not lack for action, chicanery or ribald situations, while also offering its readers enlightening insights into the all-too-human nature of the Christian God. Crumb seizes on all these marvelous stories and brings his pen and ink wonderment to the venerable saga with a passion he hasn't displayed in years.

The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb, however, is more than a post-millennial Classics Illustrated. Crumb never strays from his source material, but his imagination is more than evident in touches such as his rendering the serpent that tempts Eve to check out the fruit of the Forbidden Tree of Knowledge. The creature is humanoid, thus when God lays the consequences down after busting his first two humans and commands the serpent to henceforth crawl on its belly "and eat dirt", that punishment takes on real dimension.

God, it seems, is either promising his prophets and other favorites that their loins will produce kings or he's setting up (through the medium of dreams or intercession by an angel) elaborate practical jokes. And when God gets pissed – as he does at Cain after he commits the first murder – watch out! "What have you done?" he thunders at the terrified Cain. Now this all came about because both brothers made offerings to God. Abel, being a shepherd (God has a hard-on for shepherds), gives God a sheep and Cain, a farmer, brings a part of his crop. God is clearly a carnivore, because he's all gaga over the sheep (God absolutely LOVES "burnt offerings"; you cook up an animal as a sacrifice and God's there to sniff it all up before it cools. God totally disrespects Cain's grain, however, and, while no one has ever been murdered in this land outside the Garden of Eden, Cain invents it for his brother, figuring that now, by default, he pretty much becomes God's Favorite.

As you probably know, it didn't work out that way. God is really pissed, even for the Old Testament God, who's like an abusive lover to the Hebrews, making them suffer and then, promising he'll never doing it again, he gives them some gift. Also, having never actually read Genesis (Catholics aren't big on the Old Testament and I went to Catholic School), I didn't realize what dicks the Jews could be under that "chosen people" covenant thing. Once, they get a bunch of pagans to "convert" to Judaism and the adult males even agree to get circumcised, which to me is being over-cooperative. Then, while they're moaning and caressing their bandaged dicks, the Jews slaughter them!

Then there's the endless Saul-begot-Bernie-and-Bernie-begot-Sy-and-Sy-begot Arnie-Rachel-and-Ari stuff. But Crumb greatly enlivens these recitals by creating unique Semitic faces for each of the many characters in Genesis. And the amazing thing is, I appreciated what an incredible work this was and Crumb did that for me.

So whether you think the Bible is a collection of stories that were long present in the geographical areas in which they are set or you are certain it is the word of God, you will never find a better telling of Genesis than this. I hope Crumb continues this project; it could well be his masterpiece.

--Review by Bill Kunkel

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