The Harrowing of Hell

by Evan Dahm

Over the thousands of years since Christ’s crucifixion, the original gospels detailing his life and death have been edited, sanded down, and molded into the tale millions of people know by heart today. But what if that first fevered, dreamlike writing about this moment of profound historical upheaval were to be resurrected itself, brought back to life in a haunting and exhilarating bedtime fable for our modern age?

In The Harrowing of Hell, Evan Dahm draws upon a wide array of texts both ancient and modern, religious and historical, to create a brand new window into the life and death of Christ, a vision of a dying man’s revolutionary drive and fervent belief in humanity’s salvation from all manner of jailers. Discarding the heroic, demon-smiting Christ that has taken hold in the popular imagination, this story gives us a peaceable and contemplative Christ, defiantly at odds with the ancient and modern desires of His flock.

A richly symbolic, densely illustrated allegorical tale that echoes back to us from ancient times, The Harrowing of Hell is a fascinating reinterpretation of one of the most important religious figures in history, before He was the god of the wealthy and powerful, before He was recast as the warrior worshipers preferred.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Religion, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Mythology, Fantasy

128 pages, Hardcover

Published March 10, 2020

About the author

Evan Dahm is an artist who is currently living in New York City.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique look at the decent into hell by Jesus after his crucifixion. Of particular interest is the attempt by Satan to 'crown' Jesus as he raises questions about how future generations will interpret the message of salvation. Thought provoking and very original - would really like to see more GN like this in the future.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jesus's descent into Hell after his crucifixion. I would have preferred the text adopted more modern language than the King James bible. It's an artificial translation since they spoke Aramaic in those days and not Olde English. The art is great. It's slightly cartoonish which actually works in this context. I liked the stark contrast of only using red along with the black and white art.

Received a review copy from Iron Circus Comics and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly straightforward rendition of Jesus' time in Hell following the Crucifixion with an eye to his pacifism and anti-authoritarian nature, adapted from scripture and apocrypha.

I read a more interesting graphic novel of the Harrowing of Hell a couple years back: Judas by Jeff Loveness.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Harrowing of Hell' with story and art by Evan Dahm is a graphic novel about Jesus Christ and his journey between crucifixion and resurrection.

After Jesus was crucified, he went to hell to defeat death. This is about that journey, along with reflections of his life on Earth. In his trek, he is mocked by demons, but breaks chains and prisons. The Earth scenes are about the people he encountered and those scenes are done in black and white. The scenes in hell add the color red to create more striking contrasts.

I was really impressed with this graphic novel. I loved Evan Dahm's 'Riceboy' and I find his artistic style really distinctive.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Jolien ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright this was stunning!!

Thank you so much to the publisher for giving an arc in order for an honest review.

This was amazing. I'm so in love with the art style of this. The impact this book has because of the art style is amazing!! I enjoyed the story, I mean most people know the story since it's about Jesus, however I think it's so well written.

I would 100% recommend this one to someone else interested since it was such a quick read but also a very fun read!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I was granted an audiobook ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm is a graphic novel that covers Jesus' journey to the underworld during his three days in the grave before his resurrection. In this story, Jesus is confronted by what he claims to be and what that is going to mean going forward for those who would call themselves his followers in the future. Those familiar with the Bible will recognize references to Bible verses not just in what Jesus' says in his various encounters in Hell but also in his actions. I liked the way the author began each level of Hell with a scene from Jesus' life on earth which corresponded to the verbal challenges being given to him by the various denizens he meets in the underworld. I also like the color used in this graphic novel with most of it in black and white but red used for emphasis. I really liked this graphic novel and I think that others will like the story too.

Rating: 4/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Harrowing of Hell begins with Pilate sentencing Jesus to death by crucifixion. Jesus dies and awakens in Hell itself at which point we being to jump back and forth between Jesus's ministry and his journey through Hell.

The theological concept The Harrowing of Hell refers to Jesus's descent into Hell in which he forgave and freed those believers who had died and were still imprisoned there. To say it's controversial these days is to put it lightly. The Biblical evidence for it is mostly relegated to two verses; 1 Peter 4:6, which states that he "preached to even those who are dead", and Ephesians 4:9 which states that he "descended into the lower parts of the Earth." That may seem like tenuous evidence to you, but it's still more than we have to suggest other often accepted theology such as the idea that Satan was a fallen angel called Lucifer.

The book The Harrowing of Hell is based off primarily two texts, The KJV version of The Gospel According to Mark and the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus which portrays The Harrowing of Hell in detail. As I mentioned in my review of Marked, Mark is a favourite of these revisionist Gospel retellings because it's weirder than the others. Mark is much shorter for one, far easier to read political messages into, and portrays a very action packed narrative featuring a secretive Jesus.

The Harrowing of Hell is light on dialogue and what is there is often, but not always, lifted directly from the King James Version of The Bible. The art is clear and simple and light on colour. It's entirely in black and white except for the occasional splash of red such as the clothing of the Romans and Jesus's blood. That is at first it is, but when Jesus awakens in Hell we see an inversion in which Hell is red and black and Jesus is a tiny white figure walking through it. The Jesus we see in Hell is one who is frightened and tired, but still continues to journey to the center of Hell, and because of this journey the moment in the tomb feels like a triumphant release.

It's not perfect though. As is often true of these sorts of books, such as the aforementioned Marked, The Last Temptation of Christ, or Noah, I occasionally get the impression that the author thinks he's being far more radical than he is. The idea of a vulnerable human Christ isn't exactly new, and neither is the idea of framing Jesus's ministry with his death, but originality is vastly overrated and the author's gorgeous art and enthusiastic approach help to make up for any actual lack of freshness.

Finally I should clarify that I really enjoy this kind of stuff, but if these sorts of approaches to biblical retellings annoy you then I do not think this one is going to change your mind.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I was a pagan, back when I was fascinated with the mythology of the Christian religion, I poured over things like Dante's Inferno, and Pilgram's Progress to understand the way people thought about the stories of the Bible.

And I would say, that this is an interesting take on the life and teachings of Jesus, as well as his decent into hell after his crucifixion. This is a very gentle man, trying to be a teacher, which I've always thought he probably was.

The decent into hell was, shall we say, not what I expected, and I found that part hard to read, because there was so much symbolism.

But all and all, a different take on the mythology that Christianity is built its rock on.

Your milage may vary.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Taylor Overos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The striking chiaroscuro in these images matches the drama of this story, the death and resurrection of Christ, the axis of Christian truth.
This adaptation gave more definition to my mythic understanding of the narrative of Christ defeating evil and death following his crucifixion.

All of human history and experience revolves around the interaction of good and evil — and though many differ on the nature of that interaction, I’m can rest in the conviction that good does indeed defeat evil. Thankful for and inspired by this imaginative retelling of such an important arc that lays important groundwork for myth and reality as we know it.

[Brianna Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randomly picked this up from the library because I love underworld-y stuff. Was hoping for some cool, Dante-esque feels and I guess I got that — the artwork is cool — but was left feeling underwhelmed.

Might not be the book's fault; could be related to how little I really connect with Christianity in general. I liked this book's depiction of Jesus at first, for example, because he's more mild and common-looking than we're used to seeing him. But soon I just started seeing him as pathetic, lol.

What's the point of being an all-powerful god if you have to use such barbaric means as blood sacrifice to free people from the punishments you arranged for them? Ah, and see, my problem there isn't with the book per se, it's with the Christianity it reflects.

But even still, book wasn't all that interesting either. I think a journey into Hell/the underworld could be so much darker, scarier, and more exciting... but that's just me. I'm probably not the right audience for this one.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horror comic about Jesus?? Yes! I saw this on a list of recommended horror comics last year and took note of it. I considered dismissing it because I didn't think I'd connect with it as a godless heathen, but I'm glad I didn't, because it's really good! "Drawing on sources in Christian and Jewish scripture and apocrypha," Evan Dahm sees Jesus' descent into hell following his crucifixion—the Harrowing—as a literal story, which has been disavowed in most traditions. When I picked it up, I questioned whether it'd really be a horror book, but the images speak for themselves.
https://i.imgur.com/rJ4M3WP.jpg

The use of red in this comic is greatly impactful. Whether it's the cloth of Pontius Pilate's men, the blood on Jesus' hands, or just fucking everything in hell, it doesn't lose its edge. I loved the art from its use of coloring as allegory to just the clean linework throughout. The shading is also impeccable as cities or structures within hell have such a foreboding presence. It looks deceptively simple at first, but the environments are drawn with such detail and care upon closer inspection. The demons in hell look truly disturbing (especially one who looks like a soldier that was probably a reference that went over my head), and I love how some of them look when hiding in the shadows. I also loved the facial expressions which worked so well tonally and told you everything about a character within a single panel.

Enthralling even for this atheiest and a pretty short read, so it's easy to recommend if you're open to it. I didn't feel like it proselytized at all thanks to its tone, which I did worry about before I started. I think I may reread this one, too!

[Derek DeMars · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I stumbled across a description/recommendation of this graphic novel by Evan Dahm, I knew I had to check it out. A comic book depicting an under-explored part of Christian tradition as an allegorical examination of Christianity's relationship to authority? Sign me up! I'm always looking for well-crafted artwork based on the Bible and the Christian faith, which has no shortage of symbolic potency.

Dahm's artwork did not disappoint. It was incredibly striking and evocative from the very first page -- where stark, red crosses stand imposingly in the foreground against a black-and-white, fortress-like Jerusalem, establishing the book's central thematic contrast. Dahm's bold line work seems whimsical and cartoonish, but actually serves to draw the reader in that much more to the emotional intensity of the characters and subject matter. The faces are super-expressive, and the choice to use red for images of Rome and Hell while leaving everything else in black-and-white was brilliant. His doe-eyed Jesus captures the humility and vulnerability of a man truly offering himself completely to the mercy of his enemies, who are absolutely ruthless in this book. Dahm's cartoon Satan is instantly more memorable and sinister than the vast host of overly-detailed, CG-rendered demons we've seen so often these days in video games and fantasy films.

The message of The Harrowing of Hell is as gripping and intense as its infernal setting, challenging the reader to reexamine how they've viewed Jesus, his mission, and his message. Much like in the traditional Gospel accounts, the question of Jesus' identity -- who exactly one thinks he is -- is an important thematic element throughout the story. Where The Harrowing of Hell departs from more orthodox interpretations, however, is in its willingness to cast Jesus as a tragic hero, a frustrated revolutionary no one wants even when he literally goes through hell to save them. This isn't the divine Christ of the New Testament (Dahm admits in an afterword his preference for "radical secular readings of Christianity"), but the story serves as an allegory rather than a religious interpretation. It's a modern-day parable inviting readers to reflect and discuss the book's themes -- foremost of which is power.

In The Harrowing, Rome and Hell alike deal in the power of empire, authority, and law, whereas Dahm's Jesus trades in the power of stories and vulnerable self-offering. The effectiveness of both approaches to power is left open to question, with no easy answers offered. Hell's law is so powerful that no one is willing to leave, but Jesus' humble faith is the one that lives on -- literally, in resurrection, but also figuratively, in his story's retelling. The uncomfortable ambiguity of Jesus' journey in this depiction invites engagement.

At its core, the book's message seems to be a political one. Its climactic moment involves Jesus witnessing his own personal hell: the coming of a time when his own followers embrace the very ideology of empire and violent conquest that he himself rejected. Dahm wants us to reconsider the radicalness of Jesus' refusal to embrace violence and physical force as the means of advancing his kingdom, while also throwing in our faces the frustration of seeing his own people reject that message. It's gut-wrenching, and although the way Dahm portrays it is less-than-orthodox, it's well worth pondering even (or especially) for conservative believers.

As a Protestant Christian myself, I've personally lamented the ways in which the church has so often wedded itself to political parties and the pursuit of cultural hegemony, rather than embracing the historical "third way" of the earliest communities of Jesus-followers. So while Dahm and I undoubtedly differ in our theology and interpretation of Scripture, I still appreciated his book as a worthwhile conversation starter and a beautiful piece of art. It would be difficult for me to recommend it in my particular circles without numerous caveats, but for the discerning reader and fans of graphic novels, it's worth a look.

[Delirious Disquisitions · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review..

The Harrowing of Hell is an alternative look into the life and death of Jesus Christ removed from his larger than life mythos. Evan Dahm draws from a wide array of ancient and modern, religious and historical texts to retell the story of a very human Christ and his fervent belief in humanity even at death’s door.

As someone not very familiar with biblical stories this is a version of Christ that I wasn't really expecting. Rather than the savior of the people, larger than life figure that we are used to seeing in biblical narratives, this Christ felt very much human: filled with doubt in the midst of his sufferings calling vainly on God, asking why He has forsaken him. Masterfully conceived and illustrated by Dahm, Christ’s story begins from the day he is condemned to death by an envious Caesar. Dahm layers Jesus’s journey through hell with his own internal struggle against temptation and doubt.

The art style is simplified, creating characters and backgrounds in black and white with bright splashes of red coating blood and the hellish landscape. The minimalist art draws more attention to the character’s facial expressions, highlighting Jesus’s pain and suffering and also his relentless fight for his love of humanity. It makes the meaning of His sacrifice all the more noble.

The biblical texts interspersed within the minimalist art really added to the gravitas of the story giving it an appropriately somber atmosphere.

All in all, this felt like the seeds of a story that would later be passed down the generations to then depict Jesus as the hero and savior that the audience is more used to seeing today. 3 stars.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and nuanced graphic novel that tells the story of Jesus’ three days in Hell intertwined with scenes from the Gospel of Mark. It’s somewhat radical and does remind me a bit of the Christian humanist leanings of Tolstoy in what the author is trying to say. But the art, the nature of the images and dialogue and the conflicting images of who people say Christ is all make for a thought-provoking and quick read.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It uses English in the manner of the King James Bible, and clunkily at that. The story is quick and easy to follow — it’s about Jesus’ descent into Hell after the crucifixion — but didn’t really leave me with anything.

I guess I liked the art here. It’s pretty spare in style and color (only red, black, and white), and Dahm does some interesting things with the Romans.

[Kendell Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jesus of Nazareth.... art thou come to destroy us?"

The apocryphal story of Jesus's descent into hell, THE HARROWING OF HELL is drawn in all black, white, and red-- which perfectly complimented themes throughout about kingship, lineage, blood/sin, and legacy.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful art, but definitely not for me.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jesus goes to hell. Super Bible-y of course and that's gross but I enjoyed the anti authoritarian bent. Very now, except the Jesus-y-ness.

[conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the art. Intrigued by the story. Gotta buy a copy to revisit again!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically don't like heavy dark panels but this graphic novel was a.m.a.z.i.n.g! The subject matter of Christ going to hell and seeing souls tortured really was terrifying. Highly recommend.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling artwork. Just the right level of ambiguity that leaves one thinking.

[patty]

Didn't know what this was about when I saw it at the library. Liked the illustrations! Sorry, I'm still an atheist.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea why this book exists. I've been a fan of Dahm's for nearly a decade, and have purchased his work in the past. So why someone so interested in surrealism and fantasy would turn to this little-known bit of theological apocrypha is beyond me. I'd been waiting on tenterhooks for its publication for nearly a year.

The Harrowing of Hell is the best Christian story, which I say for completely personal reasons and so there's no point arguing. It fills me with joy to have this book on hand.

I love the limited color palette he uses throughout. That's just another personal preference, but for me, it screams clarity. Few distractions - fewer answers - but no confusion.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are not Catholic, Lutheran, LDS, Reformed or Orthodox, you may not have been taught what happened after Jesus was crucified and before he was resurrected. The Harrowing of Hell tells of Jesus descent into the underworld.

Whether you are a believer in the story or not, the art alone is worth buying the book. It is pen and ink. The images have the broad strokes of a woodcut. The dramatic and deep blood red coloring makes the scenes of the underworld pop. 4 stars!

Thanks to Iron Circus Comics, Letter Better Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I also reviewed this author’s previous graphic novel, Rice Boy, and I loved it too!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Rashid Yasin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, this book (graphic novel) is strikingly drawn - it's hard to say "beautiful" for a book with a lot of scenes set in Hell, but it is beautiful, representing a humble figure of Jesus walking in our world alongside the oppressive heat of Hell filled with damned souls and demons. The simple black & white + red color scheme is at once restrained and lushly evocative.

I re-read the book today after finishing Surah al-Ma'idah, where the Qur'an states (in the Study Qur'an translation): "And when God said, "O Jesus son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind, "Take me and my mother as gods apart from God?" He said, "Glory be to Thee! It is not for me to utter that to which I have no right...I said naught to them save that which Thou didst command me: 'Worship God, my Lord and your Lord.'" This differs from the Christian tradition represented in Dahm's telling where Jesus's question "Who do you say I am?" is supposed to be an invitation to the answer that he is the son of God. But by only putting the question and not the answer in the text, Dahm leaves much more open to interpretation, which is in fitting with a more humble representation (and, conveniently for the Muslim reader, the non-divine Jesus that we accept as a prophet).

More broadly, Dahm's portrayal does an excellent job showing the duality of prophethood in the Abrahamic tradition. The humanity of Jesus, with long, somewhat ragged, hair and beard is on full display throughout: whether before Pilate, on the cross, or in the depths of hell. But, still, as a fisherman notes in the middle of the book, "he isn't much like anybody." Jesus, like the other prophets, is human just like everyone else. But he is also completely unlike everyone else. Dahm captures this feeling throughout.

Jesus does not speak for big chunks of the book, even though he is in every scene. This is an interesting contrast to his statement, again with the fisherman, who asks "Why do you speak only in stories" and he replies "The kingdom of god is not like other kingdoms...the *word* will stand forever". While he elevates the power of speech, Dahm's representation of Jesus is often sparing with his words. It's another interesting parallel to the Islamic tradition wherein Mohammed's (PBUH) miracle was a Book, and that one of the blessings bestowed upon him was concision in speech.

There's something alluring about the whole book - I made sure to read slowly the first time so I could savor the illustrations, but I keep wanting to come back to it. The plot is straightforward: Jesus is crucified and sent to Hell wherein he breaks the chains of the damned and then returns. But the character on display is fascinating, and the artwork stunning. Dahm is a great artist and story-teller; I'm planning on sharing the book around because I enjoyed the whole process of reading it.

[Alanna McFall · Rating 5 out of 5]

29. Wild Card: The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm

List Progress: 14/30

In much of Western culture, Christian stories have become so rote as to not invite much analysis. Jesus was crucified, died, was buried, and three days later rose from the dead. But what happened in those three days? The graphic novel The Harrowing of Hell, created and illustrated by Evan Dahm, follows Jesus as a character, as both a man and a symbol, descending into Hell and enduring those three days. The text is taken from both canonical and apocryphal Christian gospels, but the art is what the reader comes to this work for. Bold, huge illustrations done entirely in black, white and red give the story a grand scope and feel like descending into the pit along with Christ.

The Harrowing of Hell meets Jesus at the moment of the crucifixion and follows him into Hell, where he is mocked, taunted, and attacked by the denizens of the pit. Flashbacks show him teaching his gospel on earth, but Hell is where he has to struggle to live that gospel, staying true to his message of love and resisting despair when it seems like all of his work has come to nothing.
The reader really feels it when this Jesus asks God “Why have you forsaken me?”. The big-eyed, expressive design of Jesus works well for this story, forcing the reader to see his fear. When compared to the horrible grandeur of his surroundings, he is one small, beaten man. But he also fears the opposite: the Devil’s most effective threat is when he predicts that the followers of Jesus will reinterpret him as a warrior and go to battle in his name. This small man will have an eternity of blood shed for him, and nothing could be further from what he wants. And when he emerges from the pit, will he ever really escape that future?

The Harrowing of Hell isn’t going to hold much interest to readers who do not already have at least some investment in Christian mythology. This comic isn’t going to convert anyone to religion or atheism, and it’s not really trying to. It is just setting out to tell a very over-told story in a unique way, with some truly beautiful art to deliver the message. A simple story, a simple text, and a simple color palette all work together here to make something exquisite.

Would I Recommend It: Yes

[N. Niemeier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Dahm's work, Rice Boy and Vaatu, among others, and was surprised to see that he tackled this topic. The art and visuals are great--Dahm's style is very distinctive. But I'm not sure what Dahm is trying to say here. Dahm is or was an Episcopalian, and draws on apocryphal gospels, Crossan, Tolstoy, and "radical" Christianities, so suffice to say, I'm not sure he's even attempting to deliver an orthodox understanding of the harrowing of Hell (and there is plenty of room for interpretation as ro what that is anyway). But Dahm's story raises a lot of questions (which may be the point). Who is Jesus to Dahm? What is Jesus' mission? And at the end of the story, what exactly has Jesus done in Dahm's world? What's the point? If I read Dahm correctly, in his world, Jesus doesn't really change anything, and even fails to free the souls in prison. Yet he does come back from the dead at the end, so he does have power over death. And he is also vulnerable and kind of powerless when he goes into Hell--generally, Christians haven't read Jesus' descent into Hell this way. So is Dahm portraying Christ's triumph as the book jacket states? He triumphs over Satan's temptation, but Satan isn't really beaten (unless in his telling, Satan is so full of himself he doesn't realize that Jesus is undermining his power). But Satan isn't really the ruler of Hell anyway, so without having read the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, I can't say I know where Dahm is getting this all from.

Anyway, tl;dr, I like Dahm's art, but his story and theology are a hard nut to crack (which may be the point).

[Izzy Levy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this!! dahm's art is stunning, especially the use of the black/white/red color scheme which was used to great effect in, among other things, powerfully distinguishing time and place. i'm not super familiar with the gospels, canonical or otherwise, so i don't have much to say on that score, but i really appreciated what seemed to be one of the central themes of the graphic novel: jesus as a primarily discursive or narrative figure. dahm presents jesus' use of parables as part of his larger understanding that the world is made up of stories. that this extends to jesus himself (perhaps even moreso than other figures dahm features) is made apparent in a few pivotal scenes, like when the man whose eyesight jesus has just restored asks, "who are you?" and jesus responds, "who do you say that i am?" of course, this has its flip-side, because a completely discursive jesus is theoretically open to anyone's narrative interpretation, for any agenda. dahm highlights how far hegemonic christianity has departed from jesus' radical teachings when he has the king of hell (a deliciously terrifying and caesar-esque figure) torment jesus with the knowledge that his followers will justify empire and violence with his image. i wish i knew more of the source material so i could make sense of some of the more remote but still affecting images, like the two original sinners (adam and eve?) rejecting jesus' attempt to free them from their infernal prison. all in all, very much a fan! would definitely recommend.

[Ionia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've decided to do this review in two parts, reviewing the story and the artwork separately. First, the story. Whilst this is obviously an age-old and familiar tale, this time around it is represented with a new angle. I won't include spoilers here, but this is a thoughtful interpretation and one that leaves the reader with questions to ponder.

I thought the words were appropriate for the overall feel of the book and added to the sense of desperation and angst that this book is centered on. There is a darkness here that is psychological and existential, the battle for righteousness and truth and Evan Dahm did an excellent job representing that.

As for the artwork, the bold but limited colours the author/illustrator chose worked very well. The images are striking and memorable without being overwrought with details. I enjoyed seeing the words blend with the artwork to tell a story that would have been lacking in intensity if one or the other had not been present. The art itself represents the illustrator's talent at variation and theme.

Whilst I generally enjoy all things to do with visual representations of religions, this one stands out as being particularly creative and thought-provoking. I would definitely recommend this book to those who would like to see a slightly different version of Christ's passage through Hell.

I was impressed with this book and hope to see more works like this in the future.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.