Graphic Novel Review: X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

Writer: Chris Claremont, Artist: Brent Anderson

Pros: brilliant story, deals with racism head on and religion from an adult standpoint, thought provoking, still relevant today, fleshed out characters

Cons: rougher artwork than X-Men usually had at this point

One thing that can, unfortunately, be said about the X-Men is that the central theme of racism never goes out of date.  God Loves, Man Kills was first published in 1982 and reissued in 2007.  And the story's perhaps even more relevant now than when it came out.

Reverend William Stryker uses his TV savvy and fear of the unknown to woo citizens into believing his message that Mutants are ungodly and pose a serious threat to humanity.  Believing Professor Xavior to be the Antichrist, he has created a squad of 'Purifiers' with the intention of killing all mutants.

While I didn't particularly like Anderson's rougher artwork (compared to what was being done in the monthly issues at the time) it does suit the darker storyline. 

Even the characters' language is much starker, with both n****r and b***h being used - to good advantage.  The language choice underscores the seriousness of the issues under discussion, creating uneasiness and forcing this reviewer to truly think about what was happening and why.  The fact that 'mutant' can be exchanged for other racial slurs, for the 'other', the undesirable, those discriminated against, makes this a story that will have relevance in every age as each generation finds a new 'enemy', a new class of immigrants, a new 'abomination' to rail against.

Chris Claremont could have taken an easy way out by making Stryker and his purifiers cardboard cutouts.  But he doesn't.  While Stryker does come off as being a little insane, he has reasons for his beliefs and can be persuasive at times.  As for the rest of the antagonists, history is full of people who, for fear and hatred of the unknown, are willing to kill.