Via Christian Nightmares, this church mural at least doesn’t violate too many bits of canon.
No. Wait. Sorry.
YES IT DOES.
Wolverine’s religiosity ebbs and flows, and I’m fairly certain that during the 70s, when he might have worn the old brown costume (uh, did they have a revival of that costume I’m unaware of?), it was too soon for the famous “convert Logan to Catholicism” episode of the TV series. Which was a short-lived phase anyway, and probably non-canon like the rest of the Saturday Morning Cartoon Universe. I’m looking at you, Ninja Turtles.
Also, Hulk SMASH, not PRAY. Hulk bows his head in silent reverence and he’ll revert back to Banner and practically naked and hung over.
Additionally, Jesus is a Dagg character, not Marvel.
I can think of at least one other problem. Guess what it is!
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Aliasalpha
June 6, 2012 at 6:33 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Over-representation of X-men (I assume that’s supposed to be Storm)?
Gross intellectual property violation (assuming they didn’t get permission to use the characters)?
Unforgivable lack of Batman?
Improbable Joe
June 6, 2012 at 7:37 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Storm worships the “Goddess” of some African tribal nature-based spirituality?
The Lorax
June 6, 2012 at 8:27 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Might be somewhat off-topic, but I was thinking the other day, how would Captain America recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Remember, he was frozen ten years prior to 1954. Makes me wonder, too, would he get angry at how we recite it today?
HumanisticJones
June 6, 2012 at 10:16 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Well I know Storm herself is worshiped as a rain goddess by a particular African tribe because of her miraculous seeming powers. Also she practices African spiritualism herself, definitely NOT someone that’s going to be bowing to Jesus anytime soon. When Jesus calmed a stormy sea, it was one of his most important miracles. But for Ororo, it was Tuesday.
leftwingfox
June 6, 2012 at 10:40 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Anyone who has seen the avengers knows how Hulk reacts to gods.
smhll
June 6, 2012 at 11:52 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Regarding canon, considering Storm’s claustrophobia, isn’t Cap getting in her personal space?
Gregory in Seattle
June 6, 2012 at 11:55 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I found this interesting web page, which purports to give the religious affiliation of comic book heroes.
Storm is listed under “Goddess worship;” clicking the link documents that she worships Gaia. The Hulk is a lapsed Catholic (and besides, if he is praying as The Hulk, then he’s probably mighty pissed as being depicted in religious subjugation.) Wolverine apparently has had an interesting journey that included Protestant, atheism, Buddhism and classifying himself as a “skeptical seeker.”
Tom Foss
June 6, 2012 at 12:48 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The Adherents page is pretty notoriusly specious, at least with some of their reasoning and selective apprehension of the evidence. They also have a tendency to list characters by the religion they were born into without any regard for how that may have changed.
But that’s beside-the-point geekery. Now that Marvel is owned by Disney, I suspect this church may have some lawyers breathing down their necks. Disney has been notorious about going after places like daycares and orphanages that use their characters on murals like these without permission, and that’s when they’re not being depicted to promote religion.
justsomeguy
June 6, 2012 at 2:23 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
At least they had enough sense to keep it entirely in the Marvel universe… internal consistency is a fine thing. Plus, I don’t think they’d want children contemplating the ramifications of a Jesus-vs-Superman turf war as the otherworldly savior of mankind.
Reginald Selkirk
June 6, 2012 at 6:36 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thor is a no-show?
Jason Thibeault
June 6, 2012 at 6:55 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yes, I was thinking specifically of Ororo’s “By the goddess!” exclamations. She worships Gaia. Though why she gets the pass, being worshipped as a false idol, but Thor doesn’t (maybe since he’s called himself a god — rightly, even), is completely beyond me.
CompulsoryAccount7746, Sky Captain
June 6, 2012 at 8:01 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Wolverine made the cut but not Nightcrawler!?
Jason Thibeault
June 6, 2012 at 8:09 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Nightcrawler’s Catholic… I can only imagine why some religious organization might not want a dirty Catholic on their wall.
dangerousbeans
June 7, 2012 at 12:50 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We need to change Jesus to Spider Jerusalem. If only I had photoshop on my work PC.
Esteleth, Raging Dyke of Fuck Mountain
June 7, 2012 at 11:24 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I was going to say “The artwork is TERRIBLE,” but yes, all of the other people’s points are true as well.
"We Are Ing The Matrimonial Collective"
June 8, 2012 at 3:28 pm CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I always figured Parker was more of a Seganist
Deanna Joy Lyons
June 11, 2012 at 6:03 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
That’s why he’s holding his hands over the front of his pants.
Vinicius
September 26, 2012 at 10:13 am CDT (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I think you guys that are posting about these characters religions in the comics… are completely missing the point of the mural.
I’m a huge Marvel fan, and know all that info you guys have mentioned… but I’m a bigger fan of Jesus Christ, and I think this mural is awesome!!!