The Worst Case of Side-Kick-Itis

There used to be a cartoon called the Tick. It featured a superhero by the same name and his side-kick, Arthur who dressed as a moth. In one episode, the superheroes all have their own bar, while the side-kicks have a lounge, which looks like the trailers parked behind schools for extra temporary classrooms. Illustrating what we all know: it sucks to be a side-kick.

I was thinking of that lounge recently for the strangest reason. I happened to be wondering what it was like to be Judas. Yeah, Judas -- from the bible. How many Judas' are there, afterall? As I heard a bible scholar say recently, "You wouldn't even name your dog Judas."

Perhaps it is this consensus that Judas is the worst villain of all time that has made certain folks go after a different perspective. Antje Duvekot has a beautiful song describing Judas as a misunderstood, abused kid. She sings,
Jesus, he was a school yard martyr
was every mother's perfect son.
Not like Judas
In the back of the school bus
Invisible to everyone.

Then there is the Judas of The Last Temptation of Christ. Harvey Keitel is a frustrated Judas, one that loves but can't figure this Jesus guy out. He is left to wonder: One minute it's the love thing and then the next, you're going to die? And you want me to what?

Clysta Kinster's book The Moon Under Her Feet is a retelling of the Jesus story, in which Mary Magdalene is finally portrayed as something other than a whore -- and what's more, Judas is Jesus' twin in body and in purpose. The notion is put forward that Jesus needed Judas and indeed asked him to alert the cops, so that the prophecy of his fate could be sealed.

Now, The Gospel According to Judas hits air and word is the man had his own side of the story to tell -- suggesting perhaps, that there's more to talk about.

This has made me wonder: Can the Christian world stand a different version? What will they do with no Judas to hate? Centuries of disgust with no where else to go?

All I know is that I believe this new version of Judas. I think the poor guy was stuck in the trailer with Moth Boy/Arthur -- only Judas had the most thankless job: turning in his superhero buddy.

The worst case of side-kick-itis ever.