‘American Jesus’: Netflix To Adapt Catholic Mark Millar’s Apocalyptic Comic

So, Netflix is doing something called “American Jesus.” Before you get the torches and pitchforks, hear me — and Catholic creator Mark Millar — out.

Based on the Book of Revelation, done in words and pictures:

Due in 2020 from the streaming service, “American Jesus” is one of two series being developed from properties which originated with comic-book publisher Millarworld and its founder, Scottish writer Mark Millar. It comes less than a year after Netflix acquired Millarworld. Working with Millar and wife Lucy Millar, Netflix has also continued to publish comics under the Millarworld banner.

Three hit movie franchises, including the “Kingsman” films, have come from Millarworld. The first of Netflix’s planned series is “Jupiter’s Legacy,” about elder superheroes and their superpowered kids, who are trying to live up to the family legacy. Steven S. DeKnight, who worked on “Marvel’s Daredevil,” is showrunner.

Of more interest to us is “American Jesus.” Here’s how Deadline.com described it:

Multilingual (Spanish/English) series American Jesus follows a twelve-year-old boy who suddenly discovers he’s returned as Jesus Christ. He can turn water into wine, make the crippled walk, and, perhaps, even raise the dead! How will he deal with the destiny to lead the world in a conflict thousands of years in the making? Everardo Gout (Marvel’s Luke Cage, Sacred Lies, Mars, Banshee, Aqui En La Tierra) and Leopoldo Gout (Molly’s Game, Instinct) will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers on the series. Everardo Gout will also direct.

Dark Horse Comics originally collected the stories in 2005 as “Chosen”; Image Comics repackaged them as “American Jesus” in 2009.

Who’s Mark Millar?

Born in Scotland in 1969, Millar has worked in both the DC and Marvel comic universes, on comics and graphic novels, and consulted with Fox Studios on its Marvel films.

He’s also a “practicing Catholic,” and a Catholic-school grad, as he told Newsarama.com in 2009.

Here are some excerpts from that …

Millar on the genesis of “American Jesus,” which came to him after reading the Book of Revelation and thinking about the final confrontation with the Beast at the end of time:

It came to a head with me when I started thinking about the first volume, Chosen, and it crystallized into a very linear story – a story about what it would be like to be Jesus in the present day, growing up with television, movies and everything that kids these days grow up with. And I also thought it would be interesting to show the Anti-Christ as well, but not in a slasher-film kind of way, but rather just showing a kid growing up who knows that he’s got to be the bad guy in this big battle and terrible stuff; and then – of course, you have to have them meet. If you look at it that way – it’s God versus Satan. It’s probably the world’s most famous story, and yet, it’s rarely, if ever dramatized.

As a kid, I remember watching a copy of The Final Conflict – the last Omen movie – and being so upset that it wasn’t the big fight with Jesus. But back then, I suppose it would be too controversial to do something like that. But now, luckily we’re in these crazy times where you can get away with anything, so God versus Satan gets a telling in American Jesus.

On being encouraged by a friend — a Scottish priest who’s an expert on the biblical Apocalypse — to take some artistic license, since the narrative of biblical Revelation doesn’t lend itself to the traditional three-act story structure:

…not to mention that there’s no real conclusion other than “God wins.” There are no beats or real flow within the story. So I wasn’t sure how much I should show in my story – should I show the Seven Heads and the Seven Seals and all of that? And my friend said to just take the basic idea of it and do my own thing. It was great advice that was very liberating as well. So I’ve taken the very broad strokes and am taking my own interpretation of it, and that works much better in terms of story structure because of that. So sometimes going back to the original source can bind you a little bit.

On showbiz types who attack the Church, the “cheapest of cheap shots”:

I always cringe slightly when I see writers going after Christianity and especially the Catholic Church. It’s like the secret handshake of the bad writer. It’s like making Hitler your villain in a story – it’s so easy. Find something new to say. It’s not brave or particularly clever anymore. I think it was brave 400 years ago when you’d still get burned at the stake for it, and even brave 40 or 50 years ago, when attitudes were different and people would get it trouble or be ostracized for it, but now, my God, it’s probably more shocking to be a Catholic than to be a Satanist.

And, on why he had to show Jesus’ return:

The New Testament without Revelation is like Han Solo still frozen in the carbonite.

There’s more in the interview. Read it all here. Newsarama also made the first full trade-paperback issue of “American Jesus” available online here. It’s also available for purchase here.

As for the series, I can say that Netflix didn’t seriously screw up the Catholic elements in “Daredevil,” so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Image: Courtesy Image Comics

Don’t miss a thing: head over to my other home, as Social Media Manager at Family Theater Productions; and check out FTP’s Faith & Family Media Blog, and our YouTube Channel.