This Gospel of Matthew, illustrated word for word from the NIV and presented in comic form, has lived up to all my hopes. The best thing about it, is the way it includes every word of the book of Matthew. I always want to skip over the genealogy part in Matthew Chapter 1, but this comic version makes even that interesting!
This comic Gospel is intended for adults and kids over age 12. I think each family will need to make that decision based on their tolerance for violence. There is kind of a silhouette-type image of Judas hanging from the tree, and of course, the crown of thorns, severe whipping, and crucifixion are all shown, though they are done as tastefully as possible, given the horrible reality.
I have no problem with my 7 year old reading it, but she also enjoys Narnia and Jurassic Park, so she probably doesn't scare as easily as some! I'm also a proponent of not 'whitewashing' the Gospel. I want my children to understand the bad and the good, because you don't get the full Gospel story unless you see the entire sequence. However, I do caution parents of little ones to reread this comic Gospel before you share it with your kiddos. I inserted the crucifixion image below, so you can judge for yourself.
I am not sure how I feel about the depiction of the angels, they are very 'ghostlike', and I prefer angels to be depicted more like people. But this is the only thing I wasn't crazy about, and I would definitely recommend the book anyways. You can see an angel image below. I think it is probably more accurate, according to Scriptural descriptions of angels.
Here are a couple more images from the book. I think the artwork is exceptional and the use of color, fantastic. My kids really enjoy comic books (the few good ones we can find), so I was excited to find this comic version of the Gospel of Matthew!
Overall, I would give it five stars. I think it is so important to get God's Word into hands - and this is perfect for teens and older kids. It includes ALL the words of the NIV Gospel of Matthew, it's not abridged. Yes, it is a big book, at 242 pages!! Of course, I am not an artist, theologian, or history teacher, I am simply a homeschooling mom of 5 kids. I shared some of this book with my 7 year old, and she loved it! I anticipate her (and the older ones) to wear it our, poring over it.
You can order your copy at Word For Word Bible Comic. You won't be disappointed!
Note: I was given a copy of this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
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