All Calvin and No Hobbes: A Graphic Encounter with the Institutes
John Calvin’s Illustrated Institutes: Knowing God and Knowing Ourselves, Paul Cox, Martin Williams, and Joy Williams. Phillipsburg: P & R, 2025. Softcover, 81 pages.
I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a comic book before — but then again, I’ve never read one that deals with as serious a subject matter as this one. I called it a “comic,” but it’s probably better described as a graphic edition of one of the greatest works of theology ever penned, John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion.
Have you ever tried reading the Institutes from cover to cover? I’ve done it and I can confirm that it’s an arduous, yet worthwhile, journey (read my essay about it here). There are portions that even a seminary-educated pastor is going to struggle through. That’s why it’s great that we have this graphic edition, simplifying everything, making it accessible to a broader audience, including early teens. It’s not going to replace the Institutes, but it can serve as an introduction to the most important ideas it contains. It may even stir some readers on to the original.
The illustrator, Paul Cox, is well-known as the pen behind RefToons. He has long been illustrating theological quotes from famous figures. Martin Williams is a professor at the Reformed Theological College in Melbourne, Australia and his wife Joy is trained in theology and mentors women at the RTC. They’re a well-qualified team for bringing Calvin to a new audience.
The original content in every chapter isn’t captured exhaustively, but its essence is expressed faithfully. Some of the examples go beyond Calvin’s original context but make the point better for it. For example, on page 64, he’s pictured sitting in a sports car with his shades on, asking whether true happiness might be found in the latest tech. In the next frame, he explodes back into his Genevan garb and exclaims, “No! True happiness is found in knowing God and enjoying him forever.”
Each of the five chapters concludes with a summary and ten discussion questions. Here’s one from chapter 3: “What evidence does Calvin provide to support his claim that every person has a natural awareness of God? How do you see this play out in today’s world?”
This instalment is only chapters 1-5 of Book 1, dealing with the knowledge of God and ourselves. It appears that the plan is eventually to publish the other 75 chapters in instalments. If this first taste is any indication, it’ll be worth the wait. Recommended for teenagers and teenagers at heart who want to get better acquainted with Calvin.
