The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature 795
apron, or mystic language or symbols employed. Thus, in Superman Adentures
34 from August 1999 1961 , while Superman rises into the air with clenched fists,
setting off for a great undertaking, a man on the ground calls after him: "Go now,
and may the Great Architect of the Universe protect you on your journey!" Such
quotations seem to raise curiosity since they are unknown to the generally
youthful reader and employ a strange phraseology, hinting at a powerful
Supreme Being. In any case, it sounds more interesting than "and may God be
with you."
Comics exclusively about Freemasonry are very rare, especially in Europe.
On the one hand, there is a lack of demand according to the average age of the
Masonic audience, and also because Freemasonry is a serious matter. On the
other hand, there are some recent comics on the market, being either purely
historical or dealing with conspiracy theories or "Christian" fanaticism. The last
two categories have been created by a special authorship for a certain audience,
consisting of a paranoid and intolerant readership who sees mysterious worldrulers,
secret societies, or the devil behind every strange custom, ritual or
unresolved murder, and who believes that the Anti-Christ or aliens will come to
destroy the world. Examples of such anti-Masonic comics are the British Jack T.
Chick tract The Curse of Baphomet and the American Big Book of Conspiracies,
which we will talk about later.
First, we are going to deal with pro-Masonic or simply historical comics, of
which the Dutch book De Zuilen van Salomo. Hiram, printed in Brussels in
1999, is an example. Like an illustrated Bible, it innocuously relates the story of
how the Tyrian king sends Hiram Abiff to King Solomon in order to build the
temple, and states the difficulties which the builder encounters with his foreign
workmen. A second volume, De Dood van Hiram, which deals with the murder
legend of the Masonic third degree, is advertised for at the end of this book. With
beautiful pictures, the rich symbolism of
the Craft is illustrated, and this seems to be
its main purpose. It is an attractive comic
because of the skillful designs, but it is in
no means sensational (besides some
drawings of pretty nudes). It does not still
the hunger of profanes for secret or cruel
rituals. The non-Mason will not understand
the meaning of abbreviations like
A∴L∴G∴D∴G∴A∴D∴L∴U∴ (à la
gloire du Grand Architecte de l'Univers),
and of employed Hebrew words. Non-
Masons will not know to what the depicted
symbols allude, either. Thus, the comic
remains a harmless colorful history book,
and only the initiate can see a hidden sense
1961 Cf. Superman Adventures 34. Fighting Fate. August 1999. New York: DC Comics, 1999. Writer:
Mark Millar, editor: Mike McAvennie, asst. editor: Frank Berris.