Comics / Spotlight / Religion and Comics

The 14 Stations of the Cross as Comic Strips


By Hervé St-Louis
July 20, 2011 - 00:00

2363973530_fe7f32a9d0_m.jpg


Years ago, when I was an undergrad, I did some basic research work on the 14 Stations of the Cross used in Christian texts, detailing the last few hours of Jesus Christ on Earth. My interest was in determining whether or not the portrayal of the 14 stations in the many churches of the world, specifically Catholic ones could be considered as sequential art, or if you would like an artefact of a comic strip. The answer is yes, of course.

2363973528_52c9592c68_m.jpg


It’s no wonder that comic art – through sequential art has found itself all over the world. But art historians that have pondered the meaning of the twelve stations, each depicting a crucial moment in Jesus Christ’s last few hours before his execution on the cross have not really bothered to look at the sequential nature of the popular artefact. In some depiction, the artwork relies on sculptures, etchings and engravings. In others, paintings , My point in arguing this simple premise about the 14 stations and comic art is of course to show how omnipresent and an important part of world culture the comic book is. It’s so important, that every year on Good Friday, Christians observe and walk to each station, praying and commemorating the last hours of Jesus Christ. Millions of people pray to a comic book, yet comic books are still frown upon and ridiculed.

2363140553_4c170398ab_m.jpg


What’s a man to do. There is much more that could be said about comic books, sequential art and the 14 stations of the cross, but just in case there are any doubters left, I’ll end this article with a few illustrations from Filipino comic book artist Palabok. He’s taken the stations and redrew them as comic strips. There’s no mistake about the 14 stations and their comic strip origins. Find out more about Palabok’s project on his blog.


800px-Normandie_Manche_Avranches3_tango7174.jpg



CDAStations.jpg


Image Gallery:
station01.jpg
First Station - Jesus is condemned to death

station02.jpg
Second Station - Jesus carries His cross

station03.jpg
Third Station - Jesus falls the first time

station04.jpg
Fourth Station - Jesus meets his mother

station05.jpg
Fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

station06.jpg
Sixth Station - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

station07.jpg
Seventh Station - Jesus falls the second time

station08.jpg
Eight Station - Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

station09.jpg
Ninth Station - Jesus falls a third time

station10.jpg
Tenth Station - Jesus' clothes are taken away

station11.jpg
Eleventh Station - Jesus is nailed to the cross

station12.jpg
Twelfth Station - Jesus dies on the cross

station13.jpg
Thirteenth Station - The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

station14.jpg
Fourteenth Station - Jesus is laid in the tomb


Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12

    RSS       Mobile       Contact        Advertising       Terms of Service    ComicBookBin


© Copyright 2002-2023, Toon Doctor Inc. - All rights Reserved. All other texts, images, characters and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Use of material in this document (including reproduction, modification, distribution, electronic transmission or republication) without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Toon Doctor ® is registered trademarks of Toon Doctor Inc. Privacy Policy