God’s’Dog: Monster
Summary
God’s’Dog is an epic graphic novel by brothers Jonathan and Matthieu Pageau, along with Cord Nielson. A retelling of Saint Christopher — featuring Saint George, who slew the dragon — the “dog-headed saint”. A more literal interpretation of Christopher’s frequent symbolic depiction of a cynocephalus, the story reimagines him as an actual, dog-headed warrior, lost until he finds George, a knight-monk leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While others run in fear of Reprobus — Christopher’s original name in this graphic novel — George works to befriend him and bring him along the journey.
Assessment
God’s’Dog is a graphic novel with a distinctive, legendary feel. From the worldbuilding of a semi-fantastical land filled with giants, dragons, monsters, and ancient powerful relics to the simplistic but expressive artwork that feels like something out of an old, medieval manuscript, this story holds a weight to it few other Christian comics do. Using both overt references to the creation in Genesis and the Gospel of Jesus to the subtle symbolism of man versus temptation, of good and evil, and of judging others before you know them, this graphic novel is packed to the gills with solid theology.
While the entire book is carefully crafted, it is in the symbolism that the book really comes to life. Each element of the story, from the characters to the relics to the world at large, points towards some greater meaning (i.e. God or His statutes). That meaning may be taken directly from Scripture, or it may be an ethical or moral message that lines up with Scripture, but the story has several layers to it. Each of these layers, in turn, point in some form or fashion directly or indirectly towards the Gospel.
Light-o-Meter
Artwork: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Writing: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Age-Appropriateness: 6 out of 7 Little Lights (appropriate for most ages; some violence and a brief, suggestive comment, but nothing graphic)
Theological Message: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
This graphic novel was an absolute treat. Steeped unapologetically in symbolism, filled with references to some of Christianity’s finest heroes, — the saints of old — and woven together on an almost mythical backdrop, this story had my full attention from start to finish. You can easily tell that everything about this story is crafted meticulously, from the artwork to the characters to the world at large. It feels exactly like some kind of old legend or ancient myth, and I hope it endures (and, also, that the other volumes in the 5-part series are published without a hitch…).
I’m not sure I can pinpoint exactly what my favorite part of this graphic novel is. I think what I fell in love with first was the artwork. It’s intentionally simple, carrying a lot of the artistic hallmarks you’d find in medieval depictions of Biblical figures and Christian heroes, it carries the story effortlessly. Its use of color and light to set the stage for the story’s dialogue and characters is absolutely superb without being overwhelming or grandiose. It is one of those cases where the artwork matches the story to near perfection.
The singular thing that caught me off guard about the book was the fact I didn’t realize how fantastical some of its elements were going to be. I was expecting more historical fiction with a fantastical twist, but I think this book will shape up to be more pure fantasy, maybe with a slight fairytale vibe. And I think that is exactly what it needs to be. Overall, I’ve absolutely loved the first volume and am incredibly excited for future volumes!
Where to Enjoy
Amazon (Kindle Edition): Amazon.com: God's'Dog: Monster eBook : Pageau, Jonathan, Pageau, Matthieu, Nielson, Cord, Cartin, Felipe: Kindle Store
Symbolic Word Press: GodsDog: Monster (Vol 1) – The Symbolic World Store
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