The popularity of “The Chosen,” a historical drama about Jesus Christ, knows no bounds.
Thanks to Crux Studios, a new visual imprint at the nonprofit Christian publisher David C. Cook, the first season of the TV series is now available as a graphic novel.
The 200-page “The Chosen: Volume 1: Called by Name” is available through online booksellers, including Amazon, Christian Book and Barnes and Noble.
“We’re such a visual culture now,” said Stephanie Bennett, Cook’s editorial director of books and digital resources.
“That’s why ‘The Chosen’ has taken off and that’s why there’s this boom in graphic novels. That’s how this younger culture — Gen Z, Gen Alpha — are really fed, is to see things. It’s meeting younger audiences where they’re at — to see things brought to life.”
“The Chosen,” which debuted in 2017, is based on the Bible and the life of Jesus Christ and his followers. Three of a planned seven seasons have accrued more than 450 million views around the world, according to Familyandmedia, a think tank that analyzes the relationship among family, media and society. The show is available online through Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock and other platforms. The beginning of the fourth season will debut in theaters in February.
Chris Wood, a longtime graphic artist and video game developer known as Big Chris, and his wife, Q Wood, an artist who also worked in film, are the creatives behind Crux and the graphic novel. They were busy running their business, Corvus Comics, and doing merchandising for numerous organizations, when Chris watched a trailer from the first season of “The Chosen.”
“I was pausing it and every frame was so beautifully and masterfully shot and lit that I was inspired to do some drawings and paintings based on the imagery,” he said.
He reached out to the show and suggested it do a print media version as a comic book. It was interested and began a partnership with Chris and Q to make six 28-page comic books that encompassed the show’s first season.
Following the comic books, the Colorado Springs couple about 18 months ago folded their business into Cook to produce the graphic novel; Cook was in partnership with “The Chosen” on interactive Bible studies that parallel the TV show. The formation of Crux continues the organization’s history with illustrative properties, which includes The Action Bible, a graphic novel interpretation aimed at ages 8 to 12.
The first novel was released this month, and the team is in pre-production on a second novel to capture the second season. It plans to create a novel for each season.
Chris, fresh off ChosenCon, a fan convention for “Chosen” fans in Dallas, saw firsthand the desire for more visual storytelling. “I heard 1 out of 4 people say I don’t really like to read, but this Action Bible and these graphic novels have generated a love for reading,” Chris said.
“It was a transition into now reading the Bible, but it’s so nice to be able to visualize it. It’s similar to how ‘The Chosen’ is having their audience respond with I can see the Bible now in color. Some people learn by hearing, some by doing, some by seeing.”
Creators of “The Chosen” allow Crux to take creative liberties with their graphic novels. Chris, Q and their team can expand stories from the show or portray stories from different angles, but they make sure it’s all the same message in the end.
“It’s a huge responsibility to make sure we’re all sound in this area and paying tribute,” Chris said.
“The goal of this isn’t to be instead of the Bible, but to get you hungry so you come to the real buffet, which is God’s word for us.”
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