Drawing on Religion: Reading and the Moral Imagination in Comics and Graphic Novels

261 Pages·2020·18.377 MB·English

by  Ken Koltun-Fromm

Drawing on Religion

Drawing on
Religion
Reading and the Moral Imagination
in Comics and Graphic Novels
Ken Koltun-Fromm
The Pennsylvania State University Press
University Park, Pennsylvania
Library of Congress Cataloging-in- Copyright © 2020 Ken Koltun-Fromm
Publication Data All rights reserved
Printed in the United Stated of America
Names: Koltun-Fromm, Ken, author. Published by The Pennsylvania State
Title: Drawing on religion : reading and University Press,
the moral imagination in comics and University Park, PA 16802–1003
graphic novels / Ken Koltun-Fromm. The Pennsylvania State University Press is
Description: University Park, Pennsylvania a member of the Association of University
: The Pennsylvania State University Presses.
Press, [2020] | Includes bibliographical
references and index. It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State
Summary: “Develops a critical reading of University Press to use acid-free paper.
comic religious narratives to engage Publications on uncoated stock satisfy
moral sources that both expand and the minimum requirements of American
limit our ethical worlds”—Provided by National Standard for Information
publisher. Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed
Identifiers: LCCN 2020035745 | Library Material, ansi z39.48–1992.
ISBN 9780271087757 (paperback)
Subjects: LCSH: Comic books, strips,
etc.—Religious aspects. | Comic books,
strips, etc.—Moral and ethical aspects.
| Comic books, strips, etc.—Criticism
and interpretation.
Classification: LCC PN6712 .K65 2020 |
DDC 741.5/382—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov
/2020035745
To my students at Haverford College

Contents
List of Illustrations
(ix)
Acknowledgments
(xi)
Introduction: The Ethics 3 . Imagining (Superhero)
of Representation Identity
(1) (97)
1. Stereotypes and the 4. The Nativist Imagination in
Moral Challenges of Religious Comic Stories
Aesthetic Narration (129)
(13)
5. Graphic Violence and
2. The Ethics of Scriptural the Religious Self
Play: Gender, Race, (169)
and Moral Sources
Conclusion: The Ethics
(53)
of Lingering
(219)
Notes
(229)
Bibliography
(235)
Index
(241)

Illustrations
1. Frimme negotiating with white 18. God calls to Abraham in Genesis 22,
banker, from A Contract with God from The Book of Genesis Illustrated
(19) (68)
2. Frimme concluding transaction 19. The Binding of Isaac in Genesis 22,
with white banker, from A Contract from The Book of Genesis Illustrated
with God (20) (69)
3. Frimme recoiling from shiksa 20. Lehi ministers, from The Golden
mistress, from A Contract with God Plates (74)
(23) 21. A dark, loathsome, and filthy
4. A Contract with God splash page, people, from The Golden Plates (75)
from A Contract with God (25) 22. Eve and the Devil, from The Golden
5. “Justifying Wrong Actions,” from 40 Plates (77)
Sufi Comics (29) 23. The white fruit, from The Golden
6. “The Power of Prayers,” from 40 Sufi Plates (78)
Comics (32) 24. The lost souls, from The Golden
7. “The Blind Astronomer,” from 40 Plates (79)
Sufi Comics (33) 25. The coming of Christ, from The
8. Deuteronomy 31:18, from Megillat Golden Plates (81)
Esther (36) 26. Spirit moving Nephi to kill Laban,
9. Megillat Esther, verse 9:16, from from The Golden Plates (84)
Megillat Esther (39) 27. Male, though slightly androgynous,
10. Zam watching snake turn into from Marked (87)
calligraphy, from Habibi (43) 28. Black mammy figure, from Marked
11. Zam gazing at river with (88)
calligraphy, from Habibi (44) 29. Adoring black mammy figure, from
12. Dodola’s body as calligraphy, from Marked (89)
Habibi (47) 30. Jesus, Frederick Douglass, and
13. Dodola ingesting sacred writings, Louis Armstrong, from Marked (92)
from Habibi (48) 31. The forlorn clown, from Marked
14. Front cover of The Book of Genesis (93)
Illustrated, from The Book of Genesis 32. Cover image of first volume of
Illustrated (58) Ms. Marvel: No Normal, from Ms.
15. God and Adam in Genesis, from Marvel (105)
The Book of Genesis Illustrated (61) 33. Kamala confronting infidel meat,
16. Adam and Eve, from The Book of from Ms. Marvel (106)
Genesis Illustrated (63) 34. Dinner at Kamala’s house, from Ms.
17. Lot and his daughters, from The Marvel (113)
Book of Genesis Illustrated (65) 35. Ramses seeking counsel, from The
Lone and Level Sands (119)