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Battle Pope #1
Battle Pope, Volume 1: Genesis
If you missed out on Battle Pope the first time around, now is your chance to find out what everyone was talking about! It's the end of the world and few are worthy of passage to heaven, not even the Pope. God leaves behind Saint Michael, the leader of his army, to act as a guardian for the humans. He fails, and is held captive by Luicfer. God then enlists the aide of the Pope to rescue Michael, and leaves his son Jesus H. Christ to assist him in his quest. Now presented in full-color!
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
12 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kirkman
2,744 books6,947 followersRobert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.
Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.
In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.
Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.
In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 5, 2019
It's hard to believe this was the same creative team who made The Walking Dead, even if it was years earlier. Maybe Kirkman and Moore created this while they were still in high school? That's how juvenile it feels. Like they were rebelling against their parents and the Catholic Church, trying to create the most offensive comic they could. It's too childish to be satire or even funny.
February 29, 2016
This book reads like the attempt of a ten-year-old, raised on a steady diet of superhero comics, to impress his friends with what he considers outrageous jokes about the Catholic Church. Unaware of the in many ways problematic history of the Catholic Church, he instead fills page after page with over-the-top violence (the Pope battles Lucifer, etc.) because, well, over-the-top violence is always hilarious, right? Hard to believe this was done by the same creative team that gave us the patiently developed and rather restrained The Walking Dead.
August 16, 2020
If you are very religious, you should avoid this.
If you aren't or don't mind people poking at religion, check out. The humor was a little crass and the disposable woman was a bit annoying, but it wasn't bad.
If you aren't or don't mind people poking at religion, check out. The humor was a little crass and the disposable woman was a bit annoying, but it wasn't bad.
May 25, 2024
3.5/5
Honestly being religious made this way funnier, but I know not everyone shares that sentiment. It’s a bit too sex and swears = funny at times but is overall pretty funny and the ridiculousness sos more often a positive rather than a negative.
Honestly being religious made this way funnier, but I know not everyone shares that sentiment. It’s a bit too sex and swears = funny at times but is overall pretty funny and the ridiculousness sos more often a positive rather than a negative.
April 15, 2021
Why did I ever start this???
September 22, 2021
Kirkman je to pa mora bit nešto zabavno. Ništa. Superheroj koji mlati demone i ponasa se nepristojno.
September 17, 2014
For GOD, GLORY and a good CIGAR
Battle pope demands to not be taken seriously. The name alone raised a smile in me and upon reading it I was not disjointed. This volume really contains some laugh out loud comedy. The story is well told and while a little predicable does a good job of taking you on this journey.
The real start of the show is the art work. It is gorgeous in it's simplicity and clarity. With so many little details hidden that it's a joy to come back to.
In conclusion if the title made you laugh then check it out. I promise you'll get a laugh out of it
Battle pope demands to not be taken seriously. The name alone raised a smile in me and upon reading it I was not disjointed. This volume really contains some laugh out loud comedy. The story is well told and while a little predicable does a good job of taking you on this journey.
The real start of the show is the art work. It is gorgeous in it's simplicity and clarity. With so many little details hidden that it's a joy to come back to.
In conclusion if the title made you laugh then check it out. I promise you'll get a laugh out of it
March 22, 2020
This one's so dumb.. I LOVE IT! AHAHAH 😂
December 19, 2020
This book is over 20 years old. Something y'all gotta understand about comics, when they're "edgy," they won't be in 20 years. And what's edgy 20 years ago will go one of two ways:
1. It's now offensive.
2. It's now tame.
The edge that edgy comics live on, think about it like a beachfront viewed from overhead. Over a couple decades, some parts erode and are covered over and over (become tame), and in some places, the water moves out and away and are exposed (these things are offensive).
A thing is fixed in a medium, and the world changes around it.
We can argue semantics about things "becoming" offensive or always being inherently offensive, or maybe that some things are always offensive but it's only now that some of us realize it. I think when something is intentionally offensive, like Battle Pope, it's a fairly silly argument. If a reader "discovers" that Battle Pope is offensive, they haven't discovered anything. It's like discovering that a ghost pepper is spicy in a way we didn't fully catalog before. Does it matter? The things are hot as hell all the time. They're called "Ghost" peppers because they're so damn hot they revive the dead (I just made this up).
If you're offended by stuff that was edgy and maybe a little juvenile in 2000, skip this book. You won't enjoy it.
If you like stuff like that? Give it a whirl.
1. It's now offensive.
2. It's now tame.
The edge that edgy comics live on, think about it like a beachfront viewed from overhead. Over a couple decades, some parts erode and are covered over and over (become tame), and in some places, the water moves out and away and are exposed (these things are offensive).
A thing is fixed in a medium, and the world changes around it.
We can argue semantics about things "becoming" offensive or always being inherently offensive, or maybe that some things are always offensive but it's only now that some of us realize it. I think when something is intentionally offensive, like Battle Pope, it's a fairly silly argument. If a reader "discovers" that Battle Pope is offensive, they haven't discovered anything. It's like discovering that a ghost pepper is spicy in a way we didn't fully catalog before. Does it matter? The things are hot as hell all the time. They're called "Ghost" peppers because they're so damn hot they revive the dead (I just made this up).
If you're offended by stuff that was edgy and maybe a little juvenile in 2000, skip this book. You won't enjoy it.
If you like stuff like that? Give it a whirl.
May 6, 2020
I was probably expecting too much out of this book. Typically I love over the top, zany characters in comics (like Shirtless Bear Fighter and Murder Falcon) and I also like religious themed comics (Judas, Second Coming, Infidel) so this seemed like a perfect book for my tastes. I was disappointed though because the religious comics I tend to enjoy have a greater point and/or are a critique of something. This book was a bit too surface level and I don't think they did a great job establishing any of the characters.
January 11, 2021
When I first read this nearly a decade ago, I thought this was the funniest thing ever. Now after rereading I wondered what the hell I was thinking. This is beyond juvenile and offensive. It's way too immature to be funny and comes off more like it's trying to be edgy. It writes like someone lashing out at their catholic parents. Then I remember Robert Kirkman wrote this and it fuels my thoughts as to why I'm not a fan of this man's work. I'm going to try the next volume and see it gets better but I don't have high hopes.
May 29, 2021
Sure, this is is sacrilegious but it's really clever as well. God is finally fed up with humanity, taking the good into Heaven and leaving the rest to eternal perdition under Lucifer. BTW did I happen to mention that the Pope was left behind as well? The Pope who rivals the De Medici and Borgia era of popes loves sex -- and a good cigar. He must save St. Michael who is being held by Lucifer in Hell. His partner turns out to be the Son of God who is a burned-out hippy surfer kind of dude. A fun adventure which ends open-ended for a Volume 2.
December 24, 2017
Another of those books that got me into the funnies. I'm currently doing a reread of seminal and formative comics for me. This is one that's really lost and dated with time.
It's funny because I was Catholic and in high school. Now, it comes off really juvenile and a sophomore effort of Kirkman and Moore (Walking Dead).
The humor is occasionally funny--but often just Jesus being Naive and the Battle Pope being horny.
It's funny because I was Catholic and in high school. Now, it comes off really juvenile and a sophomore effort of Kirkman and Moore (Walking Dead).
The humor is occasionally funny--but often just Jesus being Naive and the Battle Pope being horny.
July 28, 2024
Yeah this was definitely 10 year old boy level pervy garbage BUT I am kind of hooked to the Hell side. The minions are genuinely funny (kind of like Hades’ minions in Disney’s Hercules style) and Lucifer is drawn super well and his character is interesting. So for that (and because Goodreads keeps reminding me I am 21 books behind - thanks for that) I will keep on keeping on. But this ain’t no TWD.
December 31, 2017
This was amusing-ish. But all the jokes amounted to 'the Pope likes sex', 'the Pope likes to fight', 'the Pope likes vulgar language'. Also, when you're making jokes about religious topics, it helps if you don't spell certain key words incorrectly...it's descent (not decent), altar (not alter), etc...
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July 5, 2020What... I just read? 😳 The artwork is stunning, but the story makes no sense at all. Honestly, it’s just a nicely illustrated attempt to mock Christianity that sometimes makes you cringe and sometimes makes you laugh. It’s full of vulgar, cruel and misogynistic jokes, but it’s obviously a parody and definitely intended to be offensive. So, if you can get past that, you may enjoy it as a guilty pleasure. 🤷🏾♂️ Still, not sure how to rate it... 🤔
June 23, 2021
I read this originally 15 years ago and I remembered liking it but reading it now it’s just not good.
The two guys behind this go on to make The Walking Dead which was a good comic and a mediocre tv show, but both extremely popular and lucrative. Battle Pope is them figuring out how to make comics and I guess everyone needs to start somewhere.
The two guys behind this go on to make The Walking Dead which was a good comic and a mediocre tv show, but both extremely popular and lucrative. Battle Pope is them figuring out how to make comics and I guess everyone needs to start somewhere.
January 2, 2018
The premise of the comic seemed like it would be funny, but somehow this action-packed, off-the-wall, campy, blasphemous comic was incredibly boring. This is the first Image comic that I did not enjoy reading, and I definitely will not continue with the series.
December 18, 2019
Crazy insane idea and story line. Nice action, great art, cool story.
December 5, 2020
Entertaining book. Got it on recommendation from my local comic shop.
August 10, 2021
I have no idea what this is about… Jesus and Pope are going to beat up demons and other baddies sort of …
March 12, 2022
Juvenile humour with 0 depth. Skim or skip.
August 25, 2022
Crazy stupid irreverent fun with art I can't stop loving. This series was ridiculous, childish, and hilarious.
May 9, 2024
Silly but appropriately irreverent and violent.
December 30, 2020
I had to buy it. It’s called battle pope. I had to know. Now I do. Let’s just say I won’t be reading the next one. It’s wasn’t bad though. Just...something. 3 stars I guess?
October 29, 2021
From Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore before they were famous, and clearly big fans of Savage Dragon, Battle Pope is about the loser in charge at the time of the Rapture, when no one qualifies for heaven. He gets beefed up by god to fight demons and kick ass.
August 5, 2018
https://osrascunhos.com/2018/08/03/ba...
Herege, idiota e divertido – nesta banda desenhada a influência de Deus na Terra parece ter desaparecido e os demónios sentem-se livres para andar pelo Mundo, impondo as suas vontades nos humanos. Não contam com a existência de um Papa guerreiro, treinado em artes marciais e muito pouco puro no que diz respeito a práticas.
O livro começa com o enfrentar de demónios para salvar uma donzela e depressa evolui para uma missão concedida por Deus para salvar um arcanjo. Acompanhado por um Jesus ridículo e fraco (quase cómico) o Papa (agora com maiores músculos) dirige-se ao Inferno para enfrentar tudo e todos, tendo como objectivo atingir o Paraíso!
E não se pense que o Paraíso é um local aborrecido, pois nem só os puros chegam ao céu. Outrora o anjo que guarda as portas do Paraíso aceitava favores sexuais em troca da entrada, pelo que podem-se encontrar várias pessoas interessantes no céu.
Em Battle Pope corrompem-se todas as personagens principais da Igreja Católica, desde os anjos ao Papa, passando por freiras e por Jesus Cristo, como forma de construir uma paródia movimentada e pouco profunda. Battle Pope é uma leitura inconsequente mas divertida que poderá não agradar a todos os leitores, principalmente aos que sejam religiosos.
Herege, idiota e divertido – nesta banda desenhada a influência de Deus na Terra parece ter desaparecido e os demónios sentem-se livres para andar pelo Mundo, impondo as suas vontades nos humanos. Não contam com a existência de um Papa guerreiro, treinado em artes marciais e muito pouco puro no que diz respeito a práticas.
O livro começa com o enfrentar de demónios para salvar uma donzela e depressa evolui para uma missão concedida por Deus para salvar um arcanjo. Acompanhado por um Jesus ridículo e fraco (quase cómico) o Papa (agora com maiores músculos) dirige-se ao Inferno para enfrentar tudo e todos, tendo como objectivo atingir o Paraíso!
E não se pense que o Paraíso é um local aborrecido, pois nem só os puros chegam ao céu. Outrora o anjo que guarda as portas do Paraíso aceitava favores sexuais em troca da entrada, pelo que podem-se encontrar várias pessoas interessantes no céu.
Em Battle Pope corrompem-se todas as personagens principais da Igreja Católica, desde os anjos ao Papa, passando por freiras e por Jesus Cristo, como forma de construir uma paródia movimentada e pouco profunda. Battle Pope é uma leitura inconsequente mas divertida que poderá não agradar a todos os leitores, principalmente aos que sejam religiosos.
August 27, 2012
Безумная серия от Роберта Киркмана, также известного своими ходячими мертвецами, повествующая о нелегкой доли Папы Римского в довольно интересном сеттинге, где демоны, которые выбрались из ада, спокойно живут в нашем мире, а сам бог дал знать людям, что он в них разочарован. Главным героем является сам Папа, любящий матерится, убойно шутить и трахаться с кем попало, которому дал супер силы сам бог и у которого в спутниках сам Иисус, который постоянно ведет себя как дурачок и который не разлучается со своим револьвером. Вместе они спасают людей от демонов, которые не захотели жить как люди, в мире. Ну а в свободное время, Папа и Иисус любят посмотреть Санта-Барбару по ТВ.
Вся серия отличается довольно средним рисунком и парочкой не просто глупых, а идиотских вещей в сюжете, которым нет объяснения, но в целом, все приключения Папы пролетают перед глазами со скоростью локомотива, ибо оторваться от чтения просто невозможно.
Первый том знакомит читателя с миром, с персонажами и рассказывает одну историю, из которой потом плавно выльется вторая, во втором томе. Архангел Михаил в плену у Мефистофеля и именно Поп с Иисусом должны его спасти.
Рисунок средний, в сюжете есть странные вещи, однако, если закрыть на эти глупости глаза, то сюжет кажется идеальным. Это искрометный треш, в котором осмеивают огромное количество вещей и который можно воспринимать как хорошую комедию, ведь ты постоянно смеешься в голос от изощренных шуток и различных пародий, местами просто до слез. Зомби-трансформеры, Иисус хиппи, веселый бог, Люцифер, принимающий ванну с резиновой уткой и требующий бутерброд, и это лишь главные действующие лица. А ведь тут огромное количество не менее интересных второстепенных героев. Да, это тотальное издевательство над религией, но не стоит всерьез воспринимать это произведение. Это просто шутка, стеб, пародия, называй как хочешь, но хуже оно от этого не станет.
Вся серия отличается довольно средним рисунком и парочкой не просто глупых, а идиотских вещей в сюжете, которым нет объяснения, но в целом, все приключения Папы пролетают перед глазами со скоростью локомотива, ибо оторваться от чтения просто невозможно.
Первый том знакомит читателя с миром, с персонажами и рассказывает одну историю, из которой потом плавно выльется вторая, во втором томе. Архангел Михаил в плену у Мефистофеля и именно Поп с Иисусом должны его спасти.
Рисунок средний, в сюжете есть странные вещи, однако, если закрыть на эти глупости глаза, то сюжет кажется идеальным. Это искрометный треш, в котором осмеивают огромное количество вещей и который можно воспринимать как хорошую комедию, ведь ты постоянно смеешься в голос от изощренных шуток и различных пародий, местами просто до слез. Зомби-трансформеры, Иисус хиппи, веселый бог, Люцифер, принимающий ванну с резиновой уткой и требующий бутерброд, и это лишь главные действующие лица. А ведь тут огромное количество не менее интересных второстепенных героев. Да, это тотальное издевательство над религией, но не стоит всерьез воспринимать это произведение. Это просто шутка, стеб, пародия, называй как хочешь, но хуже оно от этого не станет.
May 6, 2022
Assez marrant de voir comment a commencé l'auteur de walking dead. Ça devient assez redondant au millieu du livre et rien de très nouveau sur le soleil. La tension des combats est au niveau 0 même si les bonnes blagues délivrés sont dispersés et assez sympa. Par moment c'est carrément lourd , d'autre fois assez subtil. Bref un avis mitigé mais dans l'ensemble positif.
June 15, 2016
I expected this to be like Troma-meets-Preacher, which is a problem that's maybe on me. It's neither a gross-out theater of the absurd nor a layered, hero's journey. It does, however, retain the surface qualities of the former: sophomoric, crass, and ultimately pointless.
In dealing with a God-like character--such as God--it's hard to balance the amount of power they're allowed to have. Kirkman's strength on The Walking Dead is his ability to build a big, enveloping narrative that favors its moments and resolution over the characters, so the plot-holes revolving around the God problems aren't as major as the lack of real adventure. There's nothing grand being built towards, which leaves the story with Kirkman's weak dialogue and character development.
The art is pretty cool, but nowhere near as refined as it is on the back cover/redesigned covers. It almost reminds me of the scratchy sort of art from early Hellblazer comics, only without the shitty neon background splashes. I'm no artist, but nothing drew me in or made me want to look longer. Nothing made me want to turn the page and see what came next.
I think this was supposed to come off as a fun romp--God enlists a jacked-up super Pope to help him regain control of Earth--but it lacks both focus and insanity.
In dealing with a God-like character--such as God--it's hard to balance the amount of power they're allowed to have. Kirkman's strength on The Walking Dead is his ability to build a big, enveloping narrative that favors its moments and resolution over the characters, so the plot-holes revolving around the God problems aren't as major as the lack of real adventure. There's nothing grand being built towards, which leaves the story with Kirkman's weak dialogue and character development.
The art is pretty cool, but nowhere near as refined as it is on the back cover/redesigned covers. It almost reminds me of the scratchy sort of art from early Hellblazer comics, only without the shitty neon background splashes. I'm no artist, but nothing drew me in or made me want to look longer. Nothing made me want to turn the page and see what came next.
I think this was supposed to come off as a fun romp--God enlists a jacked-up super Pope to help him regain control of Earth--but it lacks both focus and insanity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews