This Martin Luther King comic book was published circa 1956, and may be the most powerful, socially relevant Christian comic ever produced in history (thus far):
http://www.ep.tc/mlk/index.html
The Great Comic Book Database has the following info about this periodical:
10-1/4" tall x 6-3/4" wide; color newsprint cover & interior. Published by Fellowship of Reconciliation,
Published in United States, English language
Issues published: 1
Title Notes:
Giveaway comic teaching methods of non-violent civil disobedience; noted in many history books on Civil Rights Movement; inspired the Woolworth Lunch Counter sit-in; blacks told to memorize & destroy comic to avoid being lynched for possession of it (particularly in the southern U.S.).
The Dan Barry Studio (which had upwards of 30 people in it at a time, including Frank Frazetta at one point) handled the art chores. I wrote the following on another board a few years ago, and feel it's worth sharing here:
Though a true story, and with a burning social relevance in its day (and still a few embers glowing today, sadly), this comic was published by the Fellowship of Reconciliation which is an ecumenical concern which promotes all world religions as equally true and valid. While I believe we should be genuinely respectful to people of other faiths, the reality is that one's religion is in vain if he or she does not have the revelation that Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father, and that His atoning sacrifice on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins.
This MLK comic is reverent towards our Lord, but there is a subtle philosophy which bears scrutiny: on page twelve a caption says, "...Your enemy...is a child of God, he is your brother, even when he hurts you." Jesus said, "Ye are of your father the devil," to the Judeans who sought to kill Him. We are not brothers with the lost. However, we are to love our enemies, and to love our neighbors as ourself. So that is an outgoing brotherly love, but in truth they are not our brothers until they repent of their sins and receive Christ as their Saviour. That may seem like splitting hairs to some, but we need to rightly divide the Word of truth.
I think the comic is excellent, and a painful reminder (especially for the people of color who lived through that time) of the atrocities that have arisen in a once-segregated society. "As ye have done to the least of these My brethren, so ye have done unto Me."
Matthew 24 tells us that "nation (ethnos, meaning races) will rise against nation" in the time before our Lord's coming. Look at the absolutely venal race hatred that the Muslim Arabs have for the Jews (and some vice versa, lamentably). Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. "Little children, love one another."
Kind regards in Christ Jesus,
Alec
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