March 9, 2009 issue
Superhero for peace
Graphic novel uses comic-book style to explore nonviolent solutions to conflict
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewSteven “Reece” Friesen grew up feeling guilty about loving comic books.
Steven “Reece” Friesen hopes his Pax Avalon graphic novels will provoke discussions in and beyond the church about nonviolence, genetic ethics and other topics. — Photo provided by Steven “Reece” Friesen
Now the master’s student in peace ethics and theology at Canadian Mennonite University is using the medium to share his values.
Friesen sees himself as a kind of Bible translator. “One of the languages of today is comic books,” he said.
His book, Pax Avalon: Conflict Revolution is the first graphic novel published by Herald Press, or any Mennonite publisher, as far as is known.
A graphic novel has a complete story arc, and can be the equivalent of three to four comic-book issues. Graphic novels can be superhero fantasies, historical non-fiction or anything in between.
They have garnered more attention recently by being made into films such as Persepolis and The Dark Knight. Graphic novels were also the topic of a January interterm class at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan.
“What was very much a fringe art form 15, 20 years ago is now much more mainstream,” Friesen said in a phone interview from Calgary, Alta., where he lives with his wife, Rachel, and their three daughters.
Though graphic novels range widely, it was its most well-known incarnation that troubled Friesen — superhero fiction.
“This is a genre that is dominated by three major problems,” Friesen said.
Those problems are violence as a preferred solution, exploitation of body images, and simplistic representations of good and bad, Friesen said.
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