I’m in the process of laying out page 69 and I’ve run into a challenge. This page calls for a scene where our villain is at a night club surrounded by gold digging, scantily clad women of the world. How does “scantily clad” fit into a Christian comic?  One could argue that since these characters are only in one scene and that “scantily clad” defines these women’s character, it’s OK. I disagree. If I’m creating a Christian comic then I need to look at all of the possible pitfalls, even if my view goes against general comic book trends.

“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28, NIV)

Comics/graphic novels are generally targeted at adolescent males, hence the need, i.e., use, of women drawn with body parts that aren’t physically possible, in poses that are sexually oriented, wearing inadequate clothing. If I draw women like this then the possibility of me leading the readers into unpure sexual thoughts is very likely. While this may be great for mainstream comics/graphic novels, I believe it is counter productive for the Christian comic and irresponsible for MY Christian walk. 

In addition you have the “objectifying women” dilemma. In many folks’ eyes this may seem trivial but I’d like to share a quick story. I was designing Zoe, Silk’s love interest, so I was just sketching women from some magazines trying out different looks. When my daughter looked at my sketches she asked “Dad why are their breasts so large, and why is she standing like that?” My answer was “that’s how they draw them in comics” as if this was supposed to make it OK. I asked myself “What am I teaching my kids by drawing women this way?” I had fallen into doing the status quo and as a Christian that is dangerous. God tells us “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2, NIV). Well, there you have it I need to do it God’s way. 

So my challenge is to draw these women characters so that the reader knows exactly what type of women they are (gold digging, women of the world), only I can’t draw them with the general exaggerations of loose clothing, sexual poses, and overdone body parts.

Yep…it’s going to be a challenge but “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13, KJV). Holla!