The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament
M. Jacob Alvarez is a longtime cartoonist who always has something new and interesting up his sleeve. For this year’s Small Press Expo, he has two new minicomics to debut: The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament and Mae the Master. Find Alvarez at Table W37B. As a fellow cartoonist with a similar penchant for exploring and dissecting, it’s great to follow Alvarez’s various pursuits. These two books could not be more different from each other and yet they share certain qualities. So, if you haven’t already made plans, and happen to be in the DC metro area, consider Small Press Expo, Sept 14-15, and seek out the work of M. Jacob Alvarez.
The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament. M. Jacob Alvarez. Hypnospiral Comics. 36pp. $6.
I have read more of The Bible than I might give myself credit for. I have certainly not read it from cover to cover nor do I have plans to do so anytime soon. Thanks to M. Jacob Alvarez, I need not worry if I’m missing out, at least not as far as the Old Testament is concerned. In his handy dandy minicomic, Alvarez covers all the highlights and then some. And, as is his way, he can’t help but dive into related matters. There’s a bonus section on the I Ching and a brief history of magic.
Mae the Master. M. Jacob Alvarez. Hypnospiral Comics. 28pp. Free.
If you treated your passion in life like a religion, then it might involve this next work by M. Jacob Alvarez. As he told me himself, this comic is more than just a love letter to manga and anime: “Mae the Master is about devoting yourself to an art you love, having your whole social life be that art, but never ‘making it.’ Dragon Ball Z is full of interesting characters who have obtained near God-like power through training and self-discipline. Without fail, after their initial appearance and threat, they fall behind the main character (Goku) and are treated as a joke.” Alvarez relates this dynamic back to the rough and tumble of stand-up comedy where he endured the harsh competition between comedians. Well, every industry has its rough and tumble dynamic with competitors and gatekeepers. Alvarez’s comics demonstrate a happy warrior, confident in his worth, and in it for the love of the game.
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