Chosen
Dark Horse.
Chosen (3-issue mini; w Mark Millar; a Peter
Gross). [From Dark Horse Comics:Imagine you're twelve years old and suddenly discover that you are the
returned Jesus Christ. You can turn water into wine, make the crippled
walk, and perhaps even raise the dead. What do you and 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? Chosen has been described in the British press as Spider-Man meets The Book of Revelation. SFX magazine describes it as Harry Potter for Christian fundamentalists. Chosen is the latest graphic novel in the Millarworld line of books from writer Mark Millar (The Ultimates, Superman: Red Son). Art for Chosen is by acclaimed Vertigo artist Peter Gross.] Book of the Week 11/2/05: Mark Millar's usual modus operandi is to stand in front of you with a wicked grin on his face and clobber you over the head with a sledge hammer—which is fun; The Ultimates is one of the finest sledge-hammer blows I've ever taken. But in Chosen, he opts for something more quiet and subversive, slipping in a stiletto quietly from the back. The story of an American kid whom increasing evidence suggests is the second coming of Christ, Chosen takes religion and its role in modern life seriously, in between a rough, impious humor that is perfectly appropriate for a 12-year-old boy. The ending is abrupt but perfect, and certainly left me wanting more (which apparently will come some day). But this short (and affordable) mini stands alone on its own terms, and certainly invites thought about its view of Christian eschatology played out in the modern world.