Dr. Barron Bell and Daniel Hancock are the creative team behind three new graphic novels releasing July 7, 2026 through David C Cook’s Crux Comix imprint: DOMINION: Fall of the House of Saul Volumes 1 & 2 and Radio Free Amerika: Welcome to the Third World.
These releases bring biblical inspiration, bold visual storytelling, and redemptive themes to the graphic novel world, offering families and readers a cinematic, faith-adjacent alternative to mainstream entertainment.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
Why is it important for kids to have high-quality graphic novels available?
BB: I believe high-quality graphic novels are a vital tool for promoting literacy and molding character. While striking visuals act as the initial hook to capture a child's attention, a well-crafted story sparks their imagination. When dynamic artwork is paired with a strong Judeo-Christian worldview, graphic novels become a uniquely powerful medium for shaping both a child's mind and heart.
What makes graphic novels such a great option for screen-free entertainment?
DH: Graphic novels combine the visual excitement kids enjoy with the active engagement that reading requires. Unlike many forms of digital entertainment, readers control the pace and participate in the storytelling process, filling in the spaces between panels with their own imagination. That makes the experience both entertaining and mentally active. Graphic novels encourage focus, creativity, and reflection while still delivering adventure, humor, and excitement. They also inspire many young readers to become creators themselves. For aspiring artists, writers, and storytellers, comics are often the first place they discover that they can tell stories of their own.
What are the challenges of creating entertaining graphic novels that are culturally relevant and also incorporate faith and moral complexity?
BB: Today's young readers are constantly drawn to high-production, celebrity-promoted books that unfortunately compromise on family-friendly values. That is the challenge we are tackling head-on. With titles like DOMINION: Fall of the House of Saul, we offer an alternative: graphic novels that deliver a solid Judeo-Christian worldview without sacrificing an ounce of quality. Crux Comix is doing for comics what Angel Studios is doing for film and television. Our books are built to compete directly with Marvel and DC, proving that faith-based media can be just as dynamic and visually spectacular.
Your work blends large-scale action with deeper themes like faith, identity, and leadership. Why do you think those themes resonate so strongly when explored through sci-fi and fantasy?
DH: Science fiction and fantasy allow us to see familiar truths with fresh eyes. They have a unique ability to make invisible struggles visible. Imaginative stories encourage readers to ask deep questions—questions of identity, leadership, purpose, and faith that they have often been wrestling with already, even if they struggle to articulate them—and carry the lessons learned back into the real world. The adventure draws readers in, but the deeper truths stay with them long after the story ends.
For homeschool families, youth leaders, or Christian educators, how can these stories be used to spark conversations around faith, leadership, and character?
DH: Stories create a natural starting point for meaningful conversations. Instead of discussing ideas in the abstract, families and educators can talk about the choices characters make, the consequences they face, and the values that guide them. One of the goals of DOMINION is to help young readers encounter biblical truths in a fresh way. Scripture is timeless, but for some young people the historical settings can feel dusty. By reimagining these stories through science fiction and fantasy, we can experience the characters, conflicts, and spiritual struggles in a new light while remaining faithful to the themes and truths found in the source material. We also hope that readers will be drawn back to Scripture itself with renewed curiosity, wonder, and appreciation for the stories that inspired it all.
There’s a strong crossover appeal here for fans of Star Wars, Marvel, and dystopian storytelling. How important was it to create something that could connect with that audience while still offering something different?
BB: DOMINION is essentially Star Wars for a Christian audience. Historically, the parallels make perfect sense: Star Wars itself drew heavily from biblical themes, utilizing a messianic trope, a stark contrast between protagonist and antagonist, and an all-powerful force permeating the universe. Our graphic novel brings those cinematic tropes full circle. Because it is directly adapted from the story of 1 Samuel, readers will easily connect its epic sci-fi scale to the truth of the Bible. Ultimately, our goal is to serve an underserved market—offering a thrilling sci-fi adventure that aligns seamlessly with faith-based values.
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