Like The Bible, I fear the message of Second Coming will be lost on those who most need it, preferring instead to believe in what they believe it to say, as they justify their own prejudices. Those who approach this book with an open heart and open mind, however, will find an enjoyable story and, perhaps, some degree of illumination. Read Full Review

The art by Richard Pace(with finishes by Leonard Kirk) is top notch too. This may end up being one of the most talked about books of the year. It deserves to be. It's absolutely brilliant. Read Full Review

There is so much humor packed in its pages, but the true spirit of Second Coming is within the moral dilemma presented, a profound message that will ring true for anyone of any background. Read Full Review

Second Coming #1 is not only a valuable piece of insight on Christianty by someone on the inside, it's one of the best debut issues in recent memory. Read Full Review

Over 2,000 years in the making, Second Coming #1 is a nearly infallible debut and a book that is sure to be on many best of lists at the end of the year. Read Full Review

Hilarious and smart satire that uses everything from Christianity to superheroism to ask if our societal values are truly in the right place. Second Coming #1 might just be the most important comic this year. Read Full Review

The first issue of Second Coming introduces the themes and characters and raises some big questions. Itll be interesting to see how it goes about answering those questions in subsequent issues. In the meantime, its clear that DCs loss is AHOYs gain with this compelling first issue. Read Full Review

If you love biblical or religious based comics, this is for you. If you love Mark Russell's witty reflections of the many issues impacting the world today, you'll adore this issue. If you're willing to take a risk on something new that's not from one of the main two colossal companies, I highly recommend this issue and jumping into this series. Read Full Review

Second Coming #1 is a must read comic for fans of satire, critical thinking, and simply good storytelling. It is thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, courtesy of Russell's trademark wit and Pace's emotive characters. Yes, it possesses some elements that people will find uncomfortable " especially those that do not like their worldview put into question. However, if those Christian conservatives that were so up in arms about this books publication take the time to see what it says, they might have a good time. Who knows? Maybe theyll start acting like Christ. Read Full Review

All in all, this issue was great and continues my love of anything that Mark Russell writes and has made me a fan of Richard Pace’s art. Controversy be damned! Read Full Review

While I am not sure it is worth all the controversy surrounding it, I can for sure say that Second Coming #1 is hilarious for sure. Read Full Review

In reality, Second Coming #1 is much to do about nothing when it comes to the protests against it. The blasphemy isn't there. Russell continues his dissection of religion, boiled down to the basics, we've seen from him before. It's an interesting debut that entertains and makes you think and definitely will have you coming back for more. Read Full Review

At the end of the day, while I was expecting something soul-damningly blasphemous or a mean-spirited affront to Christianity, what I got instead was a fairly humorous look at the return of Jesus Christ and the way his teachings and ethos have been woefully misinterpreted by the majority of the modern world. Its a great first issue which sets out its stall impressively, and honestly, if the worst thing about a religious-themed comic is Jesus healing bad guys “because they're in pain” as an overzealous superhero punches them through windows , I think our eternal souls are gonna be just fine. Read Full Review

Second Cominghas arrived thanks to its new home at AHOY and is sure to be a contentious series. I recommend reading it for yourself and forming your own opinions. Read Full Review

Second Coming is a disappointment, a comic bound to stir up far more engaged dialogues than the one it actually presents. Read Full Review

I love it when Yahweh appears as a giant head screaming "DO NOT BE AFRAID!" I think I'll start shouting that into public bathrooms. This issue tours some of the perplexing aspects of the bible that many of us are already aware of, but some readers still won't be. This isn't just laughs at the expense of religion though, Mark Russell actually displays a deep fondness for his interpretation of Jesus.

I don't really see the controversy, It was a solid read

At last this series starts after the ridiculous "controversy" that caused a switch in publisher. Overall, it is a charming story of how Jesus' message was misinterpreted. Some of the issue is charming and it is interesting. However, some of the jokes do fall flat. The artwork is great though.

In the past two years, Mark Russell has become one of my favorite comic book writers. He wrote my favorite series of 2018, Snagglepuss. My favorite single issue of 2018, Lex Luthor & Porky Pig. He also recently concluded an excellent Lone Ranger mini-series with Dynamite.

Second Coming may become a great series now that the setup is out of the way, but this issue is off. The main problem with the issue isn't the obvious religious riffs, it's the humor. The book is working entirely too hard to get laughs. 

One of the reasons I love Marks writing is that he's a master of pulling laughs out of a painful situation that most of us can relate to in modern American culture. In Second Coming, the jokes fell obvious and tired. The irony is still there, but the observations of the contradictory nature of old and new testaments have been popping up for literally thousands of years. Nothing new is being said about the nature of religion so why mock it?

There is one particularly bad joke in which the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil has been replaced with genitals. It's an attempt at a joke but it's pointless. If I was offended by anything in the issue it would have been there. 

I think the series has potential to be really good or be really bad. The premise has always been strange. Jesus being sent back to earth to learn how to be a god from a modern Superman type hero feels totally pretentious. However, Jesus returning and attempting to deliver his message in 2019 is a brave and inspired choice. 

I didn't care for the portrayal of "God" in the issue. He's not evil but he reminds me of Peter Milligan's Nero from Britannia minus the insanity. I did like the depiction of Jesus and the stories hero, Sunstar. Sunstar is clearly a Superman riff but he has very basic human problems. Which contradict the very reason that Jesus is sent back to earth in the first place. 

Jesus is likable and all of the scenes with are pretty good when he's not speaking with modern inflections, its forced and not funny. For example, I never liked the cross as the symbol of Christianity but I understand it. It's just weird that the symbol of faith is a torture device.

Obviously, Mark feels the same way but the fact that his Jesus is "triggered" by the sight of a cross is weird. Especially when the art doesn't covey any short of emotion. 

Speaking of art, it's a mixed bag throughout the issue. Richard pace shines in the flashback scenes of Jesus during his first visit to earth. but fumbles everywhere else. 
I mentioned that I like Sunstar, the character, but I don't like the design, it's too generic. Pace doesn't really give the guy any musculature. That in tandem with the characters personal issues make him come off as weak when the outward depiction of the character should be awe-inspiring. My mind keeps going to the Fleisher version of Superman when I see Sunstar.

Wrapping things up, Second Coming isn't the worst thing ever. It has some decent and cringy moments. Hopefully, Mark and Richard work those things out because there is potential for a decent story here. The dicks and over the top portrayals of god is more lame than anything and needs to be toned down immediately. 

If the focus stays primarily on Jesus and Sunstar bonding and learning and developing together this could turn into a great story despite the initial offering.  more