As much as I want to like Robert Crumb’s illustration of “Genesis,” I can’t

Like Pedro the Lion records, drinking actual wine in communion, smoking cigars and Emergent theology, sometimes Christians want to be bad -- or at least unconventional.

I think that's why I wanted to like Robert Crumb's illustrated version of "Genesis." And despite moments of greatness within, I just can't look at this book any further, and can't recommend this book to anyone.

Maybe I should have taken the appearance of the serpent, embossed in gold on the back, as a hint that this book needs to be avoided.

First of all, if you don't know who Robert Crumb is, let me explain: he's one of America's "popular" comic artists, known for subversive and "alternative" works (ie pornographic or at least soft-core) like Fritz the Cat and Mr. Natural. Fans of the story/film "American Splendor" might recognize him from his role in Harvey Pekar's story. His work is at times bold and vibrant, and at others, crude. (Yes, I do feel a bit like a stick in the mud writing about him in this way, but I have to call it like I see it).

In October, Crumb, an atheist, released his illustrated version of "Genesis" after four years of illustration. As his introduction notes, he took on extensive research to get proper period based clothing and environmental settings right, and did not alter -- or exclude -- any text, which seems largely drawn from the King James version, and other modern interpretations. In the introduction, Crumb also notes that he has treated the text with respect and as a straight illustration job without editorializing, though he does suggest that the stories themselves are codes and symbols of a "true" Hebrew history... which is where he kind of loses me.

Ultimately, my quarrel isn't with the content itself: "Genesis" is admittedly a raw, primal story full of violence, deceit and sex, which Crumb zooms in on in his illustrations. I imagine Crumb took on the challenge of doing this work if only to illustrate the story of Lot and his daughters (Uncomfortable does go far enough in describing it).

What I did like was the way Crumb extended and drew out lines that upon merely reading, wouldn't necessarily get a deeper look: For example, when various descendants are mentioned, each son is given a portrait... a reminder of each family's existence, not just a precursor to someone else's existence.

For example, one of my favourite passages illustrated is of Lot's conversation with God about sparing the city of Sodom from destruction. Here's the original NIV text:

²⁴ What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare ^[f] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? ²⁵ Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

²⁶ The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

²⁷ Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, ²⁸ what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?"

"If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."

²⁹ Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?"

He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."

³⁰ Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?"

He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

³¹ Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?"

He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."

³² Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?"

He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

³³ When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

When reading this exchange in text alone, it seems a little tedious: why does this conversation even happen? But in the illustrated "Genesis," you can see Lot's fear and desire to save the people of Sodom, and you can see him trying to bargain with God. It's not deep theological exegesis, but it does help to connect with the story itself in a new, personal way.

And I'm also not even bothered by the "God is a old white guy with long white robes and white beard and white hair" depiction, as tired and cliche as that is.

No, my fundamental problem is that Crumb has decided to draw every female character in the entire book, despite whatever clothing she wears, with the nipples protruding though her comedic form-fitting desert attitire.

There is nudity elsewhere in the book -- but it's the overt sexual image of all the female characters that I feel depersonalize and fetishize them in a grotesque way (Which wouldn't be out of place if you were to criticize his other work). For me, it's too distracting and contributes to a nagging feeling that despite all the high minded principals Crumb laid forth in his introduction, he's trying to pull a fast one on anyone that may take the book seriously in any way and secretly revels in his twisted depictions.

I simply feel disappointed by the potential that this book had to be a gritty and realistic illustration of "Genesis" -- so much so that I couldn't even finish it. While I did enjoy the dimension that illustration added to the text, I think I'll instead try to hunt down more visual texts that may have a little more sincere intentions.

With that said, if someone who knows nothing about the God of Abraham and Jacob begins to learn about him through this book, I hope that they continue to learn more about him and yearn to find deeper meaning to their life. For those readers, I would suggest they take on Eugene Peterson's version of the Bible, "The Message," which is a contemporary interpretation meant more for "reading" and less for "study." (Curious? Check out the entire book, available here on biblegateway.com).