There is no shortage of books about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from Bethge’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography to Wind’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the Wheel and including the problematic work by Eric Metaxas, a lot of ink has been used to share the powerful and important story of the German pastor and theologian and his response to the rise and power of the Third Reich in the 1940s. His complete works have been translated into English, and all 17 volumes have been available since 2014. In addition to the written material, there have been a handful of movies that tell the story of Bonhoeffer, reaching a broader audience. The story of this 20th century martyr is being told in multiple ways, so we must wonder if one more telling is needed.

This is a question that John Hendrix speaks to in the very beginning of his book, The Faithful Spy. For Hendrix, part of telling Bonhoeffer’s story is to help the broader world realize that not all Germans were Nazis. Hendrix wants us to remember that many tried to resist and speak out against the horrors of Hitler and the Nazi movement. There have been psychological and sociological works that have investigated why a culture would follow the rantings and ideologies of a tyrant, but Hendrix does not address any of these. He does outline how easy it is to slip into a state of justification and compromise that would make the presence of such a radicalism possible. For Hendrix, this is, to a degree, part of the story, but not an essential part. More important is the story of those who stood up to the winds of oppression and violence; this is the story of Bonhoeffer that Hendrix believes needs to be told. I would add that the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one that needs to continue to be told as it is a story that is not well known in the broader public mind. Even if you are not a follower of Christianity, Bonhoeffer’s commitment to love, forgiveness, and resistance is inspiring and important. We need to learn about and remember heroes like Bonhoeffer, and as much as has been written about Bonhoeffer, he remains a figure from World War II who is not well known..

Thus, Hendrix’s book is a welcome addition to the growing collection of works about Bonhoeffer, one that is taking a different approach to this important story. It is a welcome addition because of the approach that Hendrix is offering.

The Faithful Spy is a graphic novel. To tell any story of weight and import through such a medium can be seen as a risky endeavor. Many may still look at the genre as something for children that is not to be taken seriously. But Hendrix is following the path set before him by such great works as Spiegelman’s Maus Moore‘s The Watchmen, Powell et al’s March along with many others. The form of the graphic novel can be a potent way of telling a good and moving story and has been demonstrated as doing so. This is the path that Hendrix is walking along, and in his book, he succeeds in telling the story of Bonhoeffer through such a medium in a captivating way. His artwork is engaging and challenging, the writing style is clear and easy to follow. It is a good work.

Of course, some things will be lost in such a medium. Hendrix is not able to give time to the brilliance and nuance of Bonhoeffer’s academic works. Bonhoeffer’s second dissertation, Sanctorum Communio continues to hold influence in theological circles, and his passage on cheap and costly grace found in The Cost of Discipleship is one that still inspires seminarians and pastors today. Bonhoeffer was a brilliant theologian who was well on his way to gaining global notoriety and respect in his day and age. Nor does Hendrix give a full consideration of Bonhoeffer’s struggle to participate in the plot to assassinate Hitler (he does speak to the struggle, but without a deeper treatment) or the questions Bonhoeffer had when he was in prison about Christianity without religion.

It is not so much a critique of Hendrix’s work, but an observed reality that he was not able to give time to the depth of Bonhoeffer’s thoughts and writings in part because of the genre of the graphic novel, and in part who Hendrix is writing to. This is a book that is clearly for the lay person who is looking for a good, inspiring story. This is a book that is meant to inspire the reader to take a stand for what is right and to speak out against what is wrong. There are other works that give a deeper investigation into the thoughts of Bonhoeffer. Hendrix is asking us to consider the life and actions of Bonhoeffer.

As an introduction that is captivating and engaging, The Faithful Spy is a good work, one that we can only hope will draw a broader audience to want to learn more about the pastor, theologian, and martyr of the 20th century. It is a welcome addition to telling an important story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.