‘Dominion’ Is Ready to Rumble with Mainstream Comics

“DOMINION: Fall of the House of Saul” is a biblical allegory that combines elements of the timeless story from the pages of 1 Samuel with the grandeur and excitement of a graphic novel space opera.

Think “Star Wars” meets “Narnia.” And the names were not changed to protect the innocent.

“Dominion” was created out of frustration. I was bored of being betrayed by a medium that was once beloved; comics – both books and movies. After several years of one comic book travesty after another, I was tired of being lectured, virtue signaled and having my beloved characters’ race, culture, and gender swapped.

My love affair with comics had remained strong since I was eight years old! How could they continue to betray me like this?

I found myself in a difficult position; a faithful Christian who was also a comic fan. Was it too much to ask that quality comics be created to build rather than tear down my faith? This has seemingly been attempted at times, but rarely with satisfactory results.

If you want something done, you have to do it yourself. But would it even be possible to create a product that could hold to my Judeo-Christian worldview and compete in the mainstream comic industry?

That question burned in my heart, and from there, “Dominion” was born.

For many years, I had been working as a college professor at Liberty University by day, and by night, dedicating my time to creating comics with Terminus Media, a small publisher located in Atlanta, GA.

My stories were engaging but were met with minimal success. However, when the pandemic swept across the globe, I examined and rearranged my priorities. I made a decision that, from that moment on, all of my creative efforts would glorify God and engage the culture in the most effective way possible.

I wanted to find a way to get people to read the Bible again. So I decided to tell a story that would demand the attention of “Star Wars,” “Game of Thrones,” “Dune,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Transformers” and even “Thundercats” fans.

It is the story of a galactic dynasty on the brink of invasion, with a king descending into madness, set in a fantasy world that ignites the imagination.

Drawing inspiration from biblical history and the storytelling styles of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, I envisioned a universe that would merge biblical themes with science fiction and fantasy elements. I used my God-given skill as a comic artist to design this world and began assembling a team to help bring the vision to life.

Professionalism was paramount. I tracked down talented Christian creatives to join the crusade. I wanted this to be top notch and not just another “Christian comic.”

To assist with fleshing out the world, writer Daniel Hancock joined the team. Daniel’s expertise in crafting dramatic adventures and his versatile background in storytelling brought a unique depth and authenticity to this story of a King haunted by the loss of his throne and a family’s relentless struggle to protect their people.

The fight is on in DOMINION: Fall of the House of Saul. Join the fight and support the new trade paperback on Indiegogo –https://t.co/A8i5PhVdBG pic.twitter.com/MSo8WWs3P5

— DOMINIONCOMIC (@DOMINIONCOMIC) October 17, 2021

I’m often asked the question, “Why focus on Saul instead of David?” My answer…why not?

As I read 1 Samuel (for maybe the 100th time) I started to see King Saul in a different light. He was not the archetypal villain-king or megalomaniac. He was nuanced. He was flawed. He loved God but made really bad decisions.

He was me. He was us. Saul’s story is a cautionary tale of hubris that not only destroyed a kingdom… but a family. It’s all very Shakespearean.

The perfect subject for a space opera! Inspired by one of my heroes, C.S. Lewis, I employed anthropomorphic characters which transcend race and culture, making them excellent conveyers of the universal truths within this tale.

I believe the pandemic was the beginning of a new Great Awakening. I believe this awakening is a sharp response to the culture creeping more leftward. The results can be seen in box office smashes like “Top Gun: Maverick” or even shows like “The Chosen.”

Our world is thirsty to return to a moral equilibrium. The battlefield is in the culture of entertainment. Our weapon is a biblical worldview rooted in love, kindness, and above all, truth. With stellar storytelling, powerful character development, and killer, pro-level artwork, I believe our biblical allegory will have no problem stepping into the ring with mainstream entertainment.

Dr. Barron Bell is the creator of the graphic novel “Dominion: Fall of the House of Saul.” He writes on issues at the intersection of faith and fandom. He serves as a professor of Art and Design at Liberty University and George Fox University. The “Dominion” Volume 2 Kickstarter is now live at: Dominion Volume 2! Chapters 4-5 (exclusive print run) by Dominion Comic — Kickstarter. (NOTE: Link works despite strikethrough line)

More information is available at: www.terminusmedia.com.