Red Machine Comics' SPIRIT KNIGHT belongs to that subset of pop culture usually referred to as "Bible-based entertainment." This includes books like the LEFT BEHIND series, the OMEGA CODE movies, and a host of other bands, comics, television shows, and what have you that recast secular entertainment in a format accessible to Christians. Believe it or not, there are Christian death metal bands (Satanicide, anyone?). These entertainments tend to be one-dimensional affairs, and I've even known Christians to complain that they get tired of the attitude best summed up as "Do you like rock music? Well, here's Christian rock music!" Fortunately, SPIRIT KNIGHT avoids falling into this trap and manages to be accessible even to non-Christians. Like CONSTANTINE or THE EXORCIST, if you believe, it will probably energize your faith. But, if you don't (like me) you can still enjoy it. Unfortunately, while SPIRIT KNIGHT does an admirable job of not hitting the reader over the head with its message, the writing is sparse and wooden, at times.
SPIRIT KNIGHT introduces us to Samuel Ian Nicholson. Sam's life has been progressively ruined by alcoholism, culminating in a failed marriage and his decision to more or less resign himself to fate. In short, he's just given up. When we first meet him, he's ejected from a motel room in which he's overstayed. Outside, he's nearly mugged when he's snatched away to a desert somewhere by the Archangel Michael (Michael's status as Archangel is disputed; it depends on whom you speak to about where he ranks in the angelic hierarchy, but here he's gold-armored and bearing a sword, so it's a safe bet). St. Michael tells him that he's to fight in Heaven's war against the demon seed demons that take the form of human beings and "cause chaos in the physical world." Thus, our character's motivations and ground rules are set, and off we go for three more issues.
SPIRIT KNIGHT's greatest weakness is its dialogue. There isn't very much of it to begin with, and what there is comes across as very forced and unnatural ("They are demon seed, sent to cause chaos in the physical world. I need you to destroy them."). The entire issue only takes a few minutes to read, and while it does an adequate job of introducing its protagonist and his mission, it doesn't leave the reader particularly satisfied. Fortunately, the art is a lot stronger. It's a good balance between an over-the-top cartoon style and a more photorealistic one. There are a couple of panels that look a little over-exaggerated, but overall a good job. The colors are quite vivid as well and compliment the pencil work nicely.
All in all, SPIRIT KNIGHT is an okay book. Writing this review has made me realize that the idea itself is fairly cool. It's also commendable that it avoids being as preachy as other Christian entertainment (thus not alienating readers like me), but the dialogue definitely hinders the presentation of what could be a promising start.
SPIRIT KNIGHT is a self-published book sent to me by the guys at Red Machine Comics. It's available at Christian bookstores (not sure which ones) and through their web site.
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