Manga, the Japanese word for print cartoons, is not just kids’ stuff. Its popularity has spread worldwide. So what better medium to spread the Bible’s Good News?
Manga artist Siku blends his years of top-flight experience with comics like 2000 AD, Marvel UK and Com X with his committed Christian faith.
He began with the whole Bible! The response was huge especially among young people. The Manga Bible has been published in 18 countries including South Korea, Europe and China.
But this approach meant he only had 30 pages to tell the story of Jesus. So he’s now retelling the life of Christ in a trilogy of books – The Manga Jesus. Books 1 & 2 are available now.
Siku has used the Gospel of John as ‘the spine’ for his account. Harmonizing the four gospel accounts into one single narrative was just the beginning. He then had to fill in some of the historical gaps left by the gospels’ writers.
Siku, who studied at the London School of Theology, did serious research to ensure that both text and the settings were authentic for the 1st century. He’s added his own contemporary twists like the graffiti to show that the land was occupied by Rome. ‘I had to pick my way carefully through the accounts of historians both ancient and contemporary. Much of what I discovered and developed is present in the three volumes.’ You won’t find any ‘Thees’ or ‘Thous’ in the text. ‘The language is street wise,’ says Siku. ‘London slang is in there but not too much!’ Siku chose to refer to Jesus by his Hebrew name Yeshua. ‘This gives an extra dose of authenticity,’ he says. ‘I wanted readers to get out of their comfort zone. People often think they ‘know’ Jesus. Going back to the original name, they might read the story with more attention.’ Siku was born in Leicester and educated in Nigeria. It was at boarding school, aged 11 that he first became aware of a loving God. ‘I was the first in my family to become a Christian. I was in my first week at boarding school when I walked off the football pitch straight to the chapel. The service was just finishing but I remember the guy at the end said clearly “Jesus loves you”. And I said, “I’m having a piece of that!” That was the only bit of the Gospel that I had heard in my life.’ Siku can’t image any other project giving him more satisfaction. ‘For the first time my work was worship. As a Christian, all work is worship but this was consciously worship, every line I drew, every second was worship. ‘I don’t see myself doing anything that brings so much fulfilment. Trying to tell the story in a form that captures the imagination of people, that has to be the highest calling.’ Siku is putting the finishing touches to Book 3 (due out this autumn). He has a supportive wife, and the encouragement of his church pastors at All Souls, London and the Bethel Church, Dagenham. Who knows where his talents will take him next? The Manga Jesus Books 1 & 2 – published by Hodder and Stoughton available now. To view more of Siku’s work see www.theartofsiku.com
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