Greetings, mutants!

It’s been just over two weeks since Episode 1 of Escape From Jesus Island hit the shelves, so here’s a little peek at what people are saying about our twisted tale, including news about our first award!

Bree Ogden at Bloody Disgusting included EFJI in her list of Top Five Comic Book Kills of 2013! Oh hell yes!

“Death abounds in the first issue of Escape From Jesus Island, but the best kill in this horrifically outlandish look at inhumane splicing/genetic experiments is that of classic self-centered twit, Russell, a schmactivist visiting the island to stop the animal cruelty.

Prior to his gruesome death, we see what appears to be a half human (literally ‘halved’ human, as in, no legs) waxing poetic about eyeballs being the perfect treat because there are ‘no sharp bones to choke [him].’ This is one of my favorite instances of foreshadowing. It’s subtle, which is hard to pull off in such an utterly unsubtle comic.

Shortly after our halved human gushes over tasty eyeballs, Russell gets his face bashed in so hard his eyeballs go flying. Perhaps the most disturbing part of his death is when the halved human offers to share Russell’s eyeballs with his terrified friends.“

Check out all the gory winners here: http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3271083/best-worst-13-bree-ogdens-top-5-comic-book-kills-of-2013

The folks over at G33kL1f3 also named EFJI as one of their Comics To Look Forward To In 2014. Boom!

Comic Bastards: “Now this issue is not for the squeamish. It is bloody, it is gory, and it is unrelenting in its pace. But if you can handle bloody disgusting intensity, brutal, yet engaging artwork,and a flare of morbid playfulness, then make the escape from the mundane and take this thoroughly enjoyable ride. You may be freaked out a little, but you definitely will be entertained.
Score: 5/5“

Check out the full review by James Anders II here: http://comicbastards.com/review-escape-from-jesus-island-1

Comic Wow: “Although I love this comic (after only one issue!) I have to say that Escape from Jesus Island may not be for everybody. It’s pretty graphic and pretty gory. One of the bad guys is the Pope; another one is an evil clone of Jesus. Some people may be offended. This is unfortunate. Given the storyline, these characterizations are integral to the plot. They are not done to offend, but to advance the story. Sometimes, literature can be offensive – but that does not diminish its value. Beyond that, this is ART, and art is not wallpaper. Some comics you can read and forget. This is not one of those. Do not expect to just read it and just leave it behind. This is a story that demands you STOP and THINK.“

Read this amazingly insightful review by AD Boorman here: http://comicwow.com/blogs/1455/1025/review-escape-from-jesus-islan

Talking Comic Books: “This series strives to be something much headier than most, unforgiving to the senses in a wonderful way. It pokes at uncomfortable places in the psyche, forcing you to imagine places that shouldn’t ever be visited.  I see nothing but intense, mind melting possibilities for Jesus Island, so I recommend you don’t miss it.”

You can read this sensational review from Melissa Megan here: http://talkingcomicbooks.com/2013/12/22/escape-jesus-island-1/

Comic Book Money: “Escape From Jesus Island (hereafter referred to as EFJI) is an exercise in passion. It literally and figuratively is splashed across the pages of the first installment. Shawn French has created something that reads like an american horror movie, but looks like something Dario Argento would be proud to call his own.

The art style leans more towards painted realism than the usual suspects. Somehow it seems to suit the story more that way. This book reads and looks like the weirdest script ever handed to a horror movie actor.“

Full review here: http://comicbookmoney.com/2013/12/11/review-escape-from-jesus-island-1

Then there’s this review, which was prefaced by the critic on A Comic Show saying he has to leave the room during scary scenes in horror movies.

“If you like sacrilegious stuff with the F word and kids being killed and making fun of animal rights activists and anything else offensive that could possibly be between two covers… if you’re a Crossed reader, you’ll probably like this book a lot.”

This really funny unintentional endorsement happens around the 15-minute mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POaf5mX2zok

Escape From Jesus Island writer Shawn French recently sat down with Scott Hallam at Dread Central to talk all things EFJI.

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/73033/shawn-french-talks-escape-jesus-island-comic-launch-and-future-plans

And ZombieZoneNews had this wonderfully bizarre chat with Shawn about all manner of strange things. How weird? Here’s how it starts:

Doctor Curdle/Zombie Zone News: What is this Kickstarter business? I’m picturing kicking someone while they’re down until they start giving you money, exploding with cash like a magical piñata… Is that about right?

Shawn French/Escape From Jesus Island: It’s exactly like that. I think one of the biggest mistakes people make with their Kickstarter campaigns is they stop kicking before the magical cash piñata explodes. It can be tempting to stop, because to an outside eye, it just looks like you’re kicking someone who was trying to help you, but you have to just keep kicking. Trust the process.

It gets stranger from there.
http://www.zombiezonenews.com/archives/escape-from-jesus-island-writer-shawn-french-gives-us-the-scoop-on-this-sacrilicious-new-comic/

I think it’s safe to say, people are enjoying our premiere issue. If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for? If you can’t get to a Phantom store to grab one in person, here are a few handy online order links.

Coast City Comics: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Escape-From-jesus-Island-1-Phantom-Variant-First-Printing/301054617671 
Graham Cracker Comics: www.grahamcrackers.com/products/escape_from_jesus_island_1.htm

Third Eye Comics: www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=181283445058