Bill Council reviews the Wildlight webcomic series.

Recently Cyberlight Comics re-launched itself with its 5.0 edition. It’s the home of Christianity’s longest running web comic: Wildlight. The comic, written and drawn by JCServant, chronicles a young girl‘s struggle with faith, family and felons. Wildlight takes the flashback narrative device to new heights. We are first introduced to the current Wildlight and then Tammy’s crippled daughter on her 18th birthday. She’s received a mysterious tape which includes the last known message from her mother: Tammy Saiko Tanaka, the original Wildlight. Tammy’s story unfolds as a big flashback.

Readers meet a teenaged Tammy before she becomes Wildlight. Unlike most comics, Christian or secular, JCServant does not rush us through the pre-super heroine period. We see both apathy and selective bravery. She leaves a Christian to a group of bullies tender mercies but rescues an elderly woman because she appears to be her friend’s grandmother. Stereotypical comic book heroes save everyone even when they’re first starting their career. It’s refreshing to see a heroine grow with her readers. One of Wildlight’s core themes is: typical teen, atypical heroism. Tammy smokes, rebels against her father and teachers and spends too much time with friends of questionable influence.

Tammy transformation into Wildlight is neither rushed or sudden: each element carefully unfolds. This gives us time to bond with her and care for what’s going on in her life. Just as Tammy is resistant to heroism she is also resistant to becoming a Christian. We witness her internal struggle before coming to the faith. Using conflict with her father and Max Domain’s cronies, JCServant depicts Tammy’s heart softening toward God. Each crisis points continues Tammy’s running prayer dialogue with God. With the use of dreams or visions, God responds and continues to woo Tammy to Him. JCServant adds Christi, the AI for Tammy’s Cyberlight armor in Webisode 18. With Christi, he is able to explain what the armor can and can not do but Christi is also someone Tammy can talk and share with.

With over 70 webisodes, Wildlight provides new fans and old with wholesome entertainment, gritty action and surprising plot twists for many days. Tammy’s battle cry: “Let there be love, let there be light!” is my heart cry as well. With mainstream comics becoming darker and the heroes meaner, it is refreshing to have heroes like Tammy who continue to bring light to a dying world.