Singh to the Lord
 Alec Stevens has been creating comics since before many of you readers were born. Although he started his career creating books the conventional way, his current passion is for producing accurate and entertaining biographies rather than creating fiction. With his recently published Sadhu Sundar Singh (about an influential missionary from India from 100 years ago) he continues his mission of showing how the Gospel can and should be humanity’s greatest common denominator. Alec fielded some questions recently lobbed his way by yours truly…
Why, specifically, create a graphic novel about Singh? Why him more than any other great man or woman of the faith?
The Gospel message cuts across all cultures, races, gender, age, etc. Several years ago I published two issues of Glory to God, a Christian comics anthology featuring stories from the Bible, historical (Reformation era) accounts, stories behind famous hymns, and modern-day testimonies. With the latter category Glory to God featured the (authorized) testimonies of Steven Sebyala of Uganda and Samuel Yun of China. So, in telling the story of Sadhu Sundar Singh of India (and with others in the years ahead, God-willing), I'm just reaffirming the global effectiveness of the Gospel. It knows no barriers.
India seems like a very inclusive culture, except for Christians for some reason. Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam; these all seem to flourish and find places in Indian society, but Christianity, even to this day, seems like the exception to the rule of tolerance. What do you feel is the reason for that?
The Bible plainly states that people who follow other religions have been "carried away by dumb (mute) idols." Carried away, because, according to the Genesis account, we all have Noah, the tenth lineal descendant of Adam, as a common ancestor. Noah knew his Creator and his three sons certainly had knowledge of Him. But when we look at their succeeding generations, we see Mizraim (Egypt), a son of Ham whose descendants turned from the living God to serving false gods modeled after animals. Nimrod likewise was an important figure in instituting the 'Mystery Babylon' religion. The Bible also tells us that a third of the angels fell along with Satan when he was cast out of heaven. They do not reign in hell, as is mistakenly held by some, but are active forces, deceiving spirits here on the earth. So the imagination of man is not alone in the formation of these false religions, but demonic influence is also evident. Sikhism is a religion that guru Nanak and other men created in an attempt to harmonize Islam and Hinduism. While many truths are to be found in the various religions of the world, only the Truth personified Who is Jesus Christ can literally rescue a man from eternal damnation and present him faultless to the Father. An abiding faith in Christ cannot be syncretized with other world religions. "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man can come to the Father but by Me" are Christ's exclusive claims to Deity. This Gospel (good news) is an offense to the fallen, fleshly nature of man, but those who are sin-sick---and sick of sin---will turn to Him and be saved.
Some readers might not be very interested in a biographical book about a native of India who died almost a hundred years ago. What can you you say to them to give them the impetus to give the book a try?
It's a very colorful, adventurous story in a setting that westerners find exotic, and which is pleasing and familiar to easterners. I believe that quality artwork and presentation will turn any reader's head for a moment, and that an intriguing story will keep him for the duration of the narrative. Moreso if it is truly "heavensent", as Jack Chick recently said to me, and genuinely anointed of God, as others have enthusiastically attested. I know that Singh's testimony is, and I pray that the graphic novel is, too.
 You've personally done artwork for big name comics companies but not for a while…
My last job for secular comics was the closing story to The Big Book of Grimm (Fairy Tales) published by DC Comics' Paradox Press imprint in 1999.
What is the reason for that?
Over the years I've been made many lucrative offers by the top secular comics companies that I've had to turn down, tempting as they were. God will honor any man who honors Him. He closes doors, and also opens others. I wouldn't trade this life I have in Christ for anything in the world. My 'day job' is as an instructor at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. I also teach children at a local church one day a week. This work - a missions field in itself, and a fruitful one - permits me the freedom to produce (albeit slowly) Christian material that is not compromised, spiritually or commercially.
Do you feel that there is a place within mainstream comics for Christians to have a voice?
Only in fleeting instances. Perhaps that will change if we see some major Christian publishers producing comics, but then the 'leaven' of commercialism (greed is a more apt word) could possibly ruin it. Many so-called Christian publishers don't want to produce material that convicts people of sin, that challenges them to abandon fleshy practices and to altogether yield themselves to God. The so-called 'prosperity gospel' is a prime example. Shame on those major publishers who have joined that bandwagon. They will be held accountable in the day of judgment for causing many weak in the faith to stumble.
What do you think about the current comics scenes specifically in the areas of American comics, international comics, and Christian comics?
Not much. I admire quality craftsmanship, but my appetite is for the things of God. That in itself is a miracle, as I was something of a 'culture glutton' for decades, particularly in the realm of art, music, literature, and film. The old, carnal nature dies hard. Most artistic types have a burning desire to express themselves. The Scriptures tell Christians to die to self, that it may be Christ living in you. Many (so-called) Christian comics are so rife with self-expression that it is hard for me to see God's hand in it at all. I know that doesn't sound charitable, but the flesh stinketh (mine included).
Some of Jack Chick's comics tracts are genuinely anointed. "This Was Your Life" is a classic, as is "Holy Joe", "Why No Revival", "One Way", and many others. "Room 310" is perhaps one of his most tender and compassionate. His evangelistic material is generally very sound. Some of his other claims, such as that the Vatican created Islam---I can't substantiate such an outlandish assertion.
Dan Red Eagle, written by Clyde Cowan and illustrated by Bruce Bezaire, was written for young and/or semi-literate readers, particularly Native Americans. Yet there is a sweetness, the genuine fragrance of Christ in those first two issues in particular.
E. J. Pace (1879-1946) is probably the most anointed Christian artist I know of. Artistic excellence aside, his single panel cartoons conveyed deep Gospel truths with such palpable love and profoundness. He is a great, great example of an artist who died to self and self-will that Christ might live in him. I'm working on a biography of Dr. Pace right now which will run several hundred pages in length (featuring many photos of him and his peers, and drawings of his as well). His grandson gave me Pace's 1903 Bible which is loaded with his marginal notes.
What are some of your dream projects? Given a blank check, but limited to the sequential arts, what would be the projects that would fulfill all the desires of your heart in serving Christ with your talents?
That which I'm presently doing and, Lord-willing, shall continue to do until that trumpet sounds and His saints, dead and alive, are caught up to meet Him in the air (which I believe is quite imminent).
Your art style is reminiscent of older styles, more similar to what one would have seen in the 50's than today.
Bernie Krigstein was an EC Comics artist in the 1950s. I knew him in the 1980s (he passed away in January, 1990 shortly after I yielded my life to Christ). He was perhaps the best comics artist I've seen, and was certainly an influence upon me when I began my professional career in 1985. On the other hand, Mike Mignola once told me me was working towards a style like mine, and many have felt that Frank Miller's whole Sin City style was borrowed from my '80s work. Who can say? I'm not really concerned about that. I pray that these men come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Who are your influences, and what has been your path in maturing as an artist?
Again, in my younger days, the German and Austrian Expressionists of early 20th century fine art. But God's canvas, real life, is everyone's point of departure. So few give glory to Him, though. What He has made is real and teeming with life, whereas what we make only alludes to life. Frank Frazetta made a big impression on me in my youth (his wife Ellie is a born again Christian, incidentally). My interests are pretty wide-ranging: I enjoy Rembrandt's use of chiaroscuro and Bible scenes, Vermeer's use of color, Rodin's sculpture, Paul Klee's abstract shapes. The great illustrators, like Daniel Vierge, Joseph Clement Coll, Franklin Booth, Charles Dana Gibson. One person whose work was not an influence upon me at all, yet uncannily was probably the closest to mine in comics (my '80s and early '90s work, anyway), was Alberto Breccia. My jaw dropped at some of the similarities. He was from Argentina, and had some of the same influences, I'll wager. I could 'name drop' all day. The point I'm trying to make is that my greatest influence is the Author of Life. Others are mere imitators of life, or reporters thereof (some more stylized than others). It's best to not focus on one man's work overmuch as an example. I probably did this with Bernie Wrightson's comics work (Swamp Thing, e.g.) in my childhood. I was very honored when he said of my first graphic novel, published in 1989, "That is the best thing I've seen in comics in the past five years."
 Was that first graphic novel Sinners?
Yes, it was. I met Wrightson at the New York City comic con in 1993.
Since Sinners was produced so close to your conversion, is there any theological bent to it or was it produced earlier and so would be unaffected by your spiritual state at the time?
It's quite dark, but there are a number of references to our Lord, as well as the main character's conversion. In fact, much of what happened to him (in fiction) occurred a year later in my life!
What is the creation process like for you? Using Sadhu Sundar Singh as a model, can you take us through the creation of a graphic novel?
Prayer---before, during, and after. I don't want to rely upon the arm of the flesh. God gave us a natural mind, yes, and working hands, but I want what is of Him to supercede the natural. "There is a way that seemeth right, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
With Singh, I had read four biographies of him, published in his lifetime (he mysteriously disappeared in 1929), as well as some of his own writings, and magazines and newspapers of his day. He was world famous at that time. Then I outlined his major life events, and broke them down as 'chapters' in the book, so as to give it some sort of pacing. Next, I worked on actual dialogue and captions. As much as possible, I did not want to attribute a single word to him that he was not recorded as having said. Some biographical comics and films, even Christian ones, take astonishing liberties. I don't ever want to do that, especially if my work is going to be useful in leading someone to Christ. I did rough layouts of the entire book, page by page, then sat down to draw the story with a finished script and page layouts as my guide. Before and between pages, I'd acquire the necessary reference photos for period costuming and architecture, and landscapes (mostly post-Victorian India). Some of it was quite painstaking, but my Indian friends have been quite happily convinced with the results.
What's next for Alec Stevens?
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps." I hope to complete this E. J. Pace book by summer's end, then to begin working on another full color graphic novel. This one will take place in South Africa, from the mid-60s to the present, but I won't speak of it further until I've obtained permission from the appropriate parties to illustrate it. Down the road, I hope to reprint both issues of Glory to God, along with about fifty pages of new material (already completed; one is a short bio of D. L. Moody), as a single trade paperback. And I have another full color graphic novel which I completed back in 1996 which has never seen print. This one is a fictional allegory along the lines of Pilgrim's Progress.
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