I've been waiting for this documentary for a long time. Jack Chick, artist, activist, conspiracy theorist, evangelist, and underground sensation, has been in my background every since I can remember. I found a copy of his The Beast tract at a Christian bookstore when I was 12 and it seriously creeped me out. Over the years, I would find his illustrated literature everywhere. His comic books could be seen in high school lockers, airport terminals, on college campuses. The man seemed to be everywhere at once. Even comic book stores began carrying his literature for their artistic value. And now we have a documentary which tries to look at him in an objective manner as possible.
A detailed analysis of Jack Chick's religious beliefs is outside the scope of this article. Probably to do it would condemn me to hell.
But little is known about Jack Chick the man. There are only two known photographs of him, both dating from the 1940's. He may have hit the one billion mark when it comes to publications, but mainstream culture has ignored him. There don't seem to have been many Hollywood directors trying to adapt A Demon's Nightmare or The Gay Blade for the big screen.
God's Cartoonist features several lengthy interviews with people who either work for JTC publications or collect their publications. Most of the collectors have the "we take him seriously, but not his views seriously" point of view. There's even a minister who says: "Jack Chick said it, I believe it, and that settles it." The best is a lengthy talk with the "Rev." Ivan Stang, founder of The Church of the Subgenius, who speaks movingly of how much Chick's work has affected his own creations.
The documentary even animates several of Chick's tracts with the use of computer imaging. This is my one big gripe about the film. Jack Chick's illustrations are so detailed that they cry out for animation with traditional pen and ink methods.
It seems that Jack Chick had incorporated several conspiracy theorist in his organization as "experts". One, is currently serving jail time, another was a MD who believed demons are actively and visually influencing our lives. A third. Alberto Rivera, was supposedly a former Jesuit priest who believed the Roman Catholic Church was controlled by Satan. You can actually trace the time line of Chick's artwork from the years he spent with these people.
There's also a very nice interview with a Black American artist who has spent years working with Chick on the publications. Several of the Chick aficionados point out the differences in their drawing styles.
This is an excellent documentary, even if shot on video. But somehow, I don't think it'll be on the short list at the Oscars. Go here to order it.
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