How would the world react if millions of people suddenly disappeared? Hundreds of auto accidents, plane crashes and various disasters due to loss of key personnel. Countless individuals, friends and loved ones, gone without a trace. Many theories, but no immediately clear answers. We're talkin' "panic in the streets" here. This is the premise of The Illustrated Left Behind, a comic adaptation of the best-selling book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins that deals with a particular interpretation of the Biblical account of the "last days."

But this isn't your father's Christian comic book. As a Christian and a comic fan, I can confidently state that in terms of entertainment via well-done comic fare, this work, adapted by John S. Layman, and artists Aaron Lopresti and Jeffrey Moy, is a step up from most forays into a very particular genre.

The writers have done a good job of crafting a tale that is enjoyable to people of varied points of view. It is a moving story involving conflict, action, political intrigue, suspense and, yes, even some theological debate for those who get into that sort of thing.

All of this is true, not despite the passion of the authors but, in this reviewer's opinion, because of it. In short, this story doesn't fail to entertain.

Pencilers Lopresti and Moy do a wonderful job of translating this epic into sequential art. Having read the books before ever seeing the comics, I can say the artists captured the characters deftly and believably. They convey the scenes of disaster and panic extremely well, lending the story much of it's power.

Hopefully, the unavoidable fear of some that they may feel "preached at" won't keep them from trying this well-done comic fare.

- Rambles
written by Mark Allen
published 6 April 2003