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The Mythology Of Gods – With A Hip Hop Twist

Arthur Bellfield writes

Brian Hawkins, isa  Virgina based writer and teacher who is responsible for the alternative look at America within the pages of American Kingdom. He has teamed up with Alterna Comics and is set to release The Re-Creation Project, which essentially recreates the world mythology of gods with a hip hop twist.

Arthur Bellfield: The Re-Creation Project starts with the end of the world! You touch upon some of the religious aspects of Armageddon, however it's an alien invasion that causes humanity to not pray, but beg for God to save them. Do you truly believe that when the end of days finally approaches that humanity will put their new faith in anyone who steps up and exhibits god-like powers like Messiah who just happens to be a famous rapper? Or, do you think popularity will again choose our saviour(s) for us?

Brian Hawkins: On a personal level, I do not believe that there is an end of days, as in literally the world coming to an end. I think that "End of Days" is symbolic of change or paradigm shifts in thinking or mentality, maybe even ages such as the Age of Pisces or Age Aquarius, Zodiak musings. Having said that, in the literal or figurative sense, I absolutely believe that humanity will look for a savior and that individual or individuals may not necessarily need to exhibit super powers but possess a quality or nature that intuitively feels higher than them – something for them (humanity) to aspire to. Ultimately, that's what humanity always wants, something to aspire to. Popularity is more folkish and can indeed play a role in idolization and maybe even putting one's faith into that particular individual or individuals. I believe we kind of see that today with fandom and stardom. But on a larger scale when that "end" comes, it's about who inspires a person to be better or at least think they can be better. Humanity has the unique skill and talent of projecting outside of themselves for that which is too hard to find within.

Arthur Bellfield: Messiah, the main protagonist of the book seems to have had it all money, fame, and a celebrity status that allowed him to live out his dreams. Now, he's thrust into the role of playing God to a humanity that's near extinct. Yet, he's still rocking the bling and sleeping with questionable women. What is his mindset at the beginning of the story and how does he change as the story progresses?

Brian Hawkins: When we meet Messiah he's a little older and grayer than when he was actually in the rap game, he's in his mid-forties and it becomes evident to us early that "something" about him is different… Messiah has had a paradigm shift in thinking and he has come into knowledge of self. For Messiah, he understands a truth that has alluded most of humanity, the simple Ancient Egyptian/Greek maxim, "Know Thyself" and that has led him to an understanding of divinity within humanity, a kind of oneness that has manifested itself as God. However, this understanding hasn't changed him into some holy guy, although others might expect that of him with their preconceived ideas about what it means to be God. Rather, Messiah is very much human and owns his humanity and divinity all at the same time, believing ultimately that they are one in the same and one doesn't change the other. His relationship with Kiera, one of the characters in the series, is an example of him just being human – sex – real people have sex. Messiah is a real person that is existing within the human experience despite the claim of godhood. For issue one in particular, we are hit with the question of whether or not him being God is true… This happens because human nature in general is to be skeptic despite the desire to believe. As the characters perceive Messiah and who he is really, we, the readers are forced to do the same. Only Messiah himself actually knows his truth and in this issue we get to see how that truth manifests.

Arthur Bellfield: We also meet Keira who sleeps with Messiah the night before the story starts and seems to want his approval. We then find out that she had a sexual relationship of sorts with another character named Dave, and is judged by her actions by another member of the resistance named Teela.

What do you think makes some women judge other women by their sexual or nonsexual acts? And, how does Kiera and Teela this dynamic between the two women help or hurt Messiah going forward in the story?

Brian Hawkins: What's inescapable about humanity is its need to judge others. It's a part of our fabric. Because we are cognitive, sentient beings, we have perspectives about the world we are in and subsequently, the people that are in it. We are relational beings and so part of our relations is forming opinions which can be termed judgments based on our biases and presuppositions. Women in particular might judge based on this natural human fabric but also within that fabric is the complexity of social convention – what's expected of women as a gender and what's right or wrong. So there's this interplay between human nature and social conventions. Sex comes into play because it is the most intimate of acts within the human relational experience. In some sense, it is coveted by both genders and thus judged by the complexities of social conventions. In Kiera's and Teela's case, it's really based off of these same complexities only with Messiah thrown in as a catalyst. Messiah is a polarizing figure because of who he has been (a famous rapper) and now this "God." Both Kiera and Teela are affected by him in different ways that clash, both because of personality and because of social conventions. We will see going forward how Messiah handles both women, one that he has an intimate relationship with and the other that he feels a connection to but not necessarily in a romantic way.

Arthur Bellfield: Speaking of Teela. She also seems to have an important role in the story. What can you tell readers about her that makes her fascinating to write?

Brian Hawkins: Teela is skeptical of Messiah. She remembers him as a rapper and has some formidable opinions about him as a person. It's hard to ignore anybody's past but when it's a past that includes fame and money as Messiah's did as a rapper, it has to be something considered when making a decision about the person in front of you claiming to be God; this latter part is something that Teela struggles with because of Messiah's past but also because of what it means to the world to have this particular man be God in the most pivotal time of human existence. Ultimately, it calls into question everything that [we] as humans know about our existence. This is what Teela is facing each time she faces Messiah, a questioning of self and the Universe, but also on a personal level, she's a little bit torn about her belief and what it would mean if she did believe. Additionally, Teela is part of a kind of militia group that has banded together to lead a group of survivors. She's somewhat a leader within this group and that factors in greatly when it comes to believing or not believing that this person is God… I mean, there are literally people who want to put their faith in Messiah and that can be problematic in many ways, including social order. Teela is a keeper of that order but she is also human and is susceptible to those same thoughts and emotions.

Arthur Bellfield: Messiah mentions that he's not a God in the traditional sense, yet he has powers. How does his powers work and will we see other members of the resistance develop god-like abilities?

Brian Hawkins: This kind of speaks to the crux of the story… And simply stated, it's about the divinity that is within humanity and/or vice versa. Messiah understands something extremely crucial about existence, something that has changed him and it's not magic or mystical, yet the ways that it might manifest outwardly could appear that way, depending on the situation and/or environment. Messiah's "powers" are really unknown, maybe even to him… There's not a set of powers that as a God he is going to display. Rather, as the story evolves, so will Messiah and maybe the manifestation of his "power(s)". As far as other members developing god-like abilities… All things are possible.

Arthur Bellfield: I don't want to give too much of the story away, but a character named Moses was mentioned. It was stated that he took another group with him. Who is Moses and how does his story affect both Messiah and his fight against the Grey aliens?

Brian Hawkins: Moses and his group are the catalyst for the journey that Messiah and Teela are going to take in the remaining issues of this story arc. Ultimately, Messiah, Teela, and Dave are going to attempt to find Moses and his group (this particular group never returned after going out for supplies). This journey is going to be similar to the Moses in the Bible and the trek through the Wilderness. Messiah will be affected greatly on this journey.

Arthur Bellfield: And, lastly….Why should readers pre-order the Re-Creation Project right now?

Brian Hawkins: The RE-Creation Project will be available from Alterna Comics primarily through Comixology and other digital outlets. Alterna has a great digital set up and chooses to focus on digital sales, especially for single issues, over print, saving the print sales for trades and graphic novels. However, one of the many great things about Alterna Comics is their indie badge and how active they are in the indie comic book community and overall industry. Alterna Comics is 100% creator owned and its president, Peter Simeti, allows the creators to explore all kinds of independent print options for their books – from Kickstarters to direct sales. So, one of the ways that people who would like to read Issue 1 of The RE-Creation Project can do so is through pre-orders. Presently, I have Issue 1 print copies on Gumroad.com as first edition copies. Another way that people will be able to pre-order Issue 1 is through the Kickstarter that I have taking place for my other indie title, America's Kingdom, a graphic novel series, at the end of September, specifically the 25^th. The official release date for The RE-Creation Project Issue 1 on Comixology is September 18^th.

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