christian comic | The Creation Effect

Bear Hands 🐾

The biblical story of David killing a lion is only two verses long, but it always captivated me, and stirred up so many questions in my head. What kind of lions lived in ancient Israel? Was it a male lion? How does one kill a lion with their hands? Does it feel good to kill a lion? Why haven’t I killed a lion? These important questions led me to do some light research… I quickly found the conventional talking points of the story… The wilderness was the young shepherd’s traini

Noel Powell

Aug 61 min read

Single-panel comic strip colored in watercolors, featuring a depiction of the feed of the 5,000 from the Bible. The little boy, whose fish and bread were taken by the disciples, sits alone and sad, with his fishing pole and empty basket, while thousands of people feast and celebrate in the background.

Zero Loaves and Zero Fish 🥖🐟

You were probably taught that the little boy was a generous and willing participant in the feeding of the five thousand. That’s what is taught in Sunday School, and I think there's a high probably that's what happened... but it’s not in the bible. If you read all four accounts of the story, and consider the historical context, another plausible narrative is that the disciples found him, commandeered his lunch, and then brought it to Jesus. Children had no social status, and i

Noel Powell

Jun 202 min read

A single-panel comic strip showing a traditional painted scene of three wise men on camels following the Star of Bethlehem at night, but with one unusual detail. The caption reads “…And so the wise men set out in search of the new king, bearing precious gifts of gold, Frankenstein, and myrrh.” Chained behind one of the camels, follows Frankenstein’s monster.

Precious Gifts 🎁

The story of the three wise men – as interpreted by eight year olds everywhere.

Noel Powell

Jun 111 min read

Hand-drawn, single-panel comic strip showing a huge number of Israelites walking through towering walls of the parted Red Sea. A small fish in the background is poking its head out of the wall of water with a surprised expression.

Surprise! 👀

👀 Two million Israelites crossing through walls of water must have been a sight to behold. When we think there is no way, God makes a way. Exodus 14:13,14 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Noel Powell

Jun 101 min read

A hand drawn, single-panel comic strip featuring two preachers by the Jordan River in Judea. One is wearing camel hair, the other in a black suit. A man in the audience is letting another man know that's he's at the John the Southern Baptist's sermon, not John the Baptist's.

The Southern Baptist 📖

Given the massive crowd sizes and his... let's say, "unique condition"... John the Baptist, armed with the Holy Spirit, must have been a mic-dropping legend. Matthew 3: 4-6 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Noel Powell

Jun 61 min read