A heist story unlike any before! Mega-churches are being robbed for millions of dollars by a crusader hacker group known as Samaritan who is giving the money to causes they deem more worthy. This modern day “Robin Hood” is being pursued by two FBI agents who actually admire their quarry but want to stop the theft before it escalates.
I’m not a fan of religion, and especially not a fan of mega-churches which I think fleece individuals to fund opulence. Why does that statement matter? The Tithe #1 hits this exact subject as writer Matt Hawkins and artist Rahsan Ekedal give us a heist story with a bit more of a modern, and blasphemous, twist. The story is like any heist story out there, that part isn’t particularly new, it’s the fact our thieves are focusing on mega-churches as their targets. The series, has me at least, cheering for the thieves as they reveal hypocrisy and what is essentially a scam.
The series wears its disdain for this type of preaching on its sleeve, as the comic opens up with facts about the very real Jim Bakker and the fact the host of the 700 Club was convicted of financial fraud in 1989, served five years of his forty-five year sentence, and was back on tv in 2003 up to his old schtick. The comic focuses on that level of godliness, and for good reason.
The story is interesting, and for me with my views, I had a sense of glee reading what Hawkins lays out and the corruption that’s hinted at. It’ll be interesting to see where this all goes, especially due to Hawkins’ habit of working in real world stats and issues into the comics he writes.
Ekedal on art is wonderful as always. I really enjoy his style ever since I was introduced to it in 2010 with the series Echoes that he did with write Joshua Hale Fialkov. The style is consistent, clean, and each character has a bit of “personality” in their looks that make them unique. That’s especially interesting since part of the story hinges that the thieves look the same in their get-up they use to rob.
While the main cops and robbers story is very familiar, the setting has changed. The fact the target is rather appropriate and in the news as to largesse makes it all the more familiar. The Tithe might be a bit blasphemous, but it’s the type of blasphemy I enjoy.
Story: Matt Hawkins Art: Rahsan Ekedal
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
