Christian entertainment is big business. From films to books to artwork, playing to the religious crowd with Bible-infused works of entertainment means you have a built-in audience that is all but guaranteed to support whatever it is you are selling. Let’s hope then that those fine folks never stumble across The Goddamned #1 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera, because those looking for family-friendly entertainment will be utterly horrified. Basically, The Goddamned is the story of the book of Genesis told through a Grindhouse lens. It’s ugly, violent, and brutal. If you like that sort of stuff, then hold on to your butts because this comic is downright amazing.

The Goddamned is the story of the Earth before the great flood that cleansed the world. Those theologians among you might know it as the time before Noah’s Ark, the fabled ship that carried two of every animal so that the Earth might be repopulated after its near destruction. Now, this seems like an odd fit for the team that brought us Scapled, but since the Bible tells us that this was when man was consumed with wickedness and evil, it turns out Aaron and Guera were born to tell this story. If nothing else, The Goddamned shows us that wickedness and evil in spades.

This first issue is an example of a creative team that is perfectly in sync. Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera are comic books peanut butter and chocolate, two great tastes that are even better together. Aaron writes the issue with a modern flair; letting that aforementioned wickedness come through in a series of foul curses and swear words. Letting the characters speak in a tone and language that we readers can relate to only helps make the story more engaging. The tale is epic and huge, but there’s a down-to-earth feeling. It’s like Deadwood, only set in the Book of Genesis.

The Goddamned #1 by RM Guera

That said, the real reason you absolutely must out The Goddamned #1 is the art. Visually, this thing is a feast. A Thanksgiving day feast that will leave you bloated, sick, sweaty, and happy. Guera fills every panel with an ugliness that you have to see to believe. It’s truly stunning and hideous (in a good way). He was already on the top of his game during Scalped, now he’s lapping everyone else. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a book on the shelves right now that looks better than this. It’s incredible.

You need this comic, trust me. Head to your local comic shop and tell them you want a copy of The Goddamned #1. Hell, tell them you want fifty copies then go downtown and hand them out to all the sinners that are walking around. Preach the word, brothers and sisters. The Goddamned is comic book perfection, so say we all.