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Evangeline (comics)
Encyclopedia
Evangeline is a 1980s comic book co-created and written initially by then-husband and wife team Chuck Dixon
& Judith Hunt
, with pencils by Hunt inks by Ricardo Villagran
. Letters were by cartoonist and letterer Ed J. King of the Star Wars
comic strip.
The art for the first few issues of Evangeline were unusual for the time period, in that they were not printed using process color, but instead each page was hand-painted by Hunt and then color separated. This method was introduced by the newly formed independent comic companies and was encouraged by the cheaper printing methods of the 1980s. Cover paintings were also illustrated by Hunt and Villagran.
The title character has been described as "a sexy killer vigilante nun
" taking her instructions directly from her mentor, Cardinal Szn, a politically powerful figure in the hierarchy of the Roman Curia/Vatican
during the 23rd-century. However, co-creator Hunt would describe her skilled but naive feminist character as created "to explore the infinite conflict between good and evil and the powerful religions which would be involved in manipulating the politics and economics of the future".
's Primer, and two issues, Guns of Mars (loosely based on the spaghetti western
film genre) and Hate Boat, were published by Comico Comics
in 1984. An ownership dispute in 1985 led to Evangeline leaving Comico, resulting in a 1986 special from Lodestone Comics, and then a 12-issue run from 1987 to 1989 published by First Comics
. Hunt co-wrote and illustrated only the first few issues of the First Comics series, leaving to pursue her design and illustration licensing work for HA! Henson Associates and MacMillan Publishing on Raggedy Ann and Andy. In an interview with the Comics Buyer's Guide
, Judith Hunt said that (after she left), "The comic [Evangeline] lost its original complexity and feminist standpoint and became just another excuse for depictions of gratuitous sex and violence."
The first three issues have been made available at EvangelineTheComic.com, with announced-but-delayed plans to continue with new material which would continue on after issue #3, not following the continuity of the later First Comics issues. The announced writer for the new material is Ben Dixon, Chuck Dixon & Hunt's son, with announced art by Hunt for one story. However, no new material has been added to the website since January 2009, and the "News" section has not been updated since July 2009.
1990 album Girlfriend
featured a song titled "Evangeline", sung from the point of view of the character Johnny Six.
Chuck Dixon
Charles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, best known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.-Biography:Dixon grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, reading comics of all genres...
& Judith Hunt
Judith Hunt
Judith A. Hunt, originally from Washington State, is an illustrator/painter/cartoonist/designer who has produced a diverse array of artwork for books, magazines, television, comics, videos, and toys. She has worked as an art director and staff illustrator/designer for magazine companies...
, with pencils by Hunt inks by Ricardo Villagran
Ricardo Villagran
Ricardo Villagran is an Argentinian illustrator known for his work in the American comic book industry.- Early life and education :Villagran was born in the small northern city of Corrientes in 1938...
. Letters were by cartoonist and letterer Ed J. King of the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
comic strip.
The art for the first few issues of Evangeline were unusual for the time period, in that they were not printed using process color, but instead each page was hand-painted by Hunt and then color separated. This method was introduced by the newly formed independent comic companies and was encouraged by the cheaper printing methods of the 1980s. Cover paintings were also illustrated by Hunt and Villagran.
The title character has been described as "a sexy killer vigilante nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
" taking her instructions directly from her mentor, Cardinal Szn, a politically powerful figure in the hierarchy of the Roman Curia/Vatican
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
during the 23rd-century. However, co-creator Hunt would describe her skilled but naive feminist character as created "to explore the infinite conflict between good and evil and the powerful religions which would be involved in manipulating the politics and economics of the future".
Publication history
A short introductory story in ComicoComicó
Comicó is a village and municipality in Río Negro Province in Argentina....
's Primer, and two issues, Guns of Mars (loosely based on the spaghetti western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
film genre) and Hate Boat, were published by Comico Comics
Comico Comics
Comico: The Comic Company was an American comic book publisher, headquartered in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Its best-known comics include the Robotech adaptations, the Jonny Quest continuation written by co-creator Doug Wildey, and Matt Wagner's Mage: The Hero Discovered and Grendel...
in 1984. An ownership dispute in 1985 led to Evangeline leaving Comico, resulting in a 1986 special from Lodestone Comics, and then a 12-issue run from 1987 to 1989 published by First Comics
First Comics
First Comics was an American comic-book publisher that was active from 1983–1991, known for titles like American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable...
. Hunt co-wrote and illustrated only the first few issues of the First Comics series, leaving to pursue her design and illustration licensing work for HA! Henson Associates and MacMillan Publishing on Raggedy Ann and Andy. In an interview with the Comics Buyer's Guide
Comics Buyer's Guide
Comics Buyer's Guide , established in 1971, is the longest-running English-language periodical reporting on the American comic book industry...
, Judith Hunt said that (after she left), "The comic [Evangeline] lost its original complexity and feminist standpoint and became just another excuse for depictions of gratuitous sex and violence."
The first three issues have been made available at EvangelineTheComic.com, with announced-but-delayed plans to continue with new material which would continue on after issue #3, not following the continuity of the later First Comics issues. The announced writer for the new material is Ben Dixon, Chuck Dixon & Hunt's son, with announced art by Hunt for one story. However, no new material has been added to the website since January 2009, and the "News" section has not been updated since July 2009.
Cultural references
Matthew Sweet'sMatthew Sweet
Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock/power pop musician. He was part of the burgeoning Athens, Georgia music scene in the early and mid-1980s before gaining commercial success during the early 1990s...
1990 album Girlfriend
Girlfriend (album)
Girlfriend is the third album by Matthew Sweet, his most commercially and critically successful album to date. AV Club has referred to it as Sweet's magnum opus and labeled it the best power pop album of the 1990s...
featured a song titled "Evangeline", sung from the point of view of the character Johnny Six.