u/The-Fat-Matt

Read it here!

https://boolean-union.com/preview/preview.html?tract=023.XXXX.EN

Chickscription: None Available, the following is from the Chick Tract Club's page on Promo Tracts: "A tract urging the use of Wordless Gospels in Africa and New Guinea. Black title. No copyright date, but probably early 1970s. Return address is a Chino P.O. box, but called the International Gospel Literature Foundation."

Read more on Promo Tracts here:

https://www.monsterwax.com/promos.html

Quite a unique tract this week, folks. "Breakthrough!" wasn't even known to exist until 2001 when it was rediscovered in the Chick Publications vault.

"BT!" is a promo tract, so if you're a regular TOTW review reader, you'll know that means a lot of reading. Good thing you're used to it! Promo tracts typically talk about the effectiveness of Chick's tracts before becoming what I like to call a "tractvertisement".

This one in particular goes over the perceived success of a recent TOTW, Chick's "Wordless Gospel - New Guinea". Read that review here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChickTractCollecting/s/stixmMNh70

Everything about this tract is indicative of its individuality. It is two pages short of a garden-variety tract, the return address isn't the usual Chick Publications address, and so on.

Art is minimal, but I do really like the full-pager on page 4, very Jonny Quest/Cannibal Holocaust. The cover is striking as well. Most other art is secondary to the text, but that's to be expected of a promo. Copies were practically non-existent until 2022 when His Chickiness, Pope Kvrt I & the Chick Tract Club had it reprinted and made it available for all the Chick-o-holics! See the JTCMFA site for more information on how to get your copy. It's linked all over the sub.

As usual, JTC's efforts to be inclusive still come off as insensitive, with drawings of almost deformed natives. However, I'll give him points for what I still consider a unique and logical idea with the Wordless Gospels.

Due to its collectability and extraordinary existential eccentricities, I'll give "Breakthrough!" some bonus points in my arbitrary and totally made up rating system.

u/The-Fat-Matt: 7.5/10

Pope Kvrt I: B for Breakthrough!

Check back every week for a new tract review. Next week is 1972's "Don't Read That Book!"

Read it here:

https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=1117

I heard once that he had a long and successful reign

If you ever catch Mick's stage show, DO IT. Fuckin' hilarious & heartwarming. He was an absolute gentleman and taller than I expected. I guess seeing him next to Taker and Kane all those years made this tall man seem not as tall.

Had him sign my "Greatest Stars of the 90s" DVD cos you all know he definitely is one.

Read it here!

https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=0022

Chickscription: Will Charles respond to the gospel in time?

It's Monday again folks, that means I've got a review for you!

This week, we take a look at "The Assignment" from 1972, the same year that gave us Blue Öyster Cult's debut record, the first entry in The Godfather series, and the birth year of rappers Eminem, Biggie Smalls, & wrestler/actor(depending on how old you are) Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

"TA" opens with an angelic assembly ascertaining what is needed to convert a one Charles Bishop. Mr. Bishop's heart will be fully paid-off on November 22nd, so of course that means it's gonna give out on that date at 3:10am. The angels are going over how to get Chuck on the right side before it's too late.

This tract also features an appearance from some of my favorite reoccurring characters, and that's the Diabolical Directorate. Satan's fright-faced cohorts who look like mummies with Jack-o'-lantern expressions. They are also interested in Charlie but for the opposite reason.

Bishop has two potential hotlines to heaven, His business assistant, and his daughter's friend. His assistant doesn't seem like strong enough ammunition but his daughter's friend is much better candidate.

The angels and demons whisper in the ears of those near Charles to manipulate their actions to suit their respective means, similar to one of Chick's previous tracts, "A Demon's Nightmare". "ADN" is the only tract so far I've given a perfect 10/10 in its tract of the week review. You can read that here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChickTractCollecting/s/Xnl73pzn0g

Both sides try everything they can and it looks like Charles is gonna see the light. Will he before it's too late? Did Cathy's witnessing get through to him? He'll have to think on it.

Unfortunately for Chuckie, he thinks on it a little too long. 3:10am comes and Charles goes. When he goes, he's got two of Lucifer's butt-ugly butt-kissers ready to ferry him across the river Styx to the underworld.

I like this, probably due to its similarities to "ADN", pointed out above. Art is good and plentiful. Favorite panel goes to the full-pager on page 9 of a detailed close up of Jack O. Lantern whispering in Ethel's ear.

Charles' death date of Nov. 22 might sound familiar to history buffs, as it's the anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This date is important to me, as I've studied the JFK Assassination since I was in 8th grade(22 long years ago) and no, I have no idea who did it. 11/22 has since been designated International Chick Tract Day. Read more here:

https://www.monsterwax.com/chickday.html

u/The-Fat-Matt: 9/10

Pope Kvrt I: B+ for Bishop

Check back every week for a new tract review. Next week is another formerly lost promo tract uncovered by the Chick Tract Club, 1972's "Breakthrough!"

Read it here:

https://boolean-union.com/preview/preview.html?tract=023.XXXX.EN

Clem Bertrand gets up at 4am and drives a train everyday just to make ends meet. Since the release of WoS, not only has his work schedule become chaotic, but Clem has been involved in more wrecks and derailments in two months than he did for the last 15 years driving for the North Western Railway.

Think of Clem the next time you wanna see how fast Gordon can go down Thomas' Branch Line.

Caught a rare treat at a level crossing. Gordon must have been acting out again cos it seems The Fat Controller had some branch line engines pull the express today. Followed them for a bit and got some good shots.

(This game is a little too fun)

Caught a rare treat at a level crossing. Gordon must have been acting out again cos it seems The Fat Controller had some branch line engines pull the express today. Followed them for a bit and got some good shots.

(This game is a little too fun)

I could only find shitty scans of a poster with the last one but this is ICP in my opinion. The Killer Clown Crew of Delray, popping out of manholes and dragging rich kids into abandoned buildings.

"Read" it here!:

https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=0468

Chickscription: In pictures, explains the Gospel of Christ.

Well folks, this one cannot be accused of false advertisement. "WG:NG" tells the story JTC usually tells, that of the Bible, but this time he does it without words, sans verbium, no talking, like a well-trained dog or a poorly-trained parrot.

Chick's logic here kinda checks out. How do you communicate with people who don't speak the same language as you or even have a written language of their own for that matter? Pictures and symbols make sense.

JTC considered the Wordless/Picture Gospel tracts to be a success. So much so that the concept would be redrawn twice, once for a Haitian audience and again, this time with short Maasai language captions, tailored to the people of Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania.

Due to its unusual nature, the art is of this tract is important yet simplistic. No full page panels to make room for two panels per page. The story starts with a missionary getting captured by a native tribe. He relates the story of the Bible through simple illustrations.

His message sticks with a native family who accept Jesus before seeing the missionary off. Luckily for them, they have great timing because a bow-and-arrow bearing barbarian kills the family, who's souls ascend to meet their new Lord. The wannabe William Tell is later blindsided by a wild boar and is himself relieved of a heartbeat, except he's going somewhere considerably warmer than the martyred family.

And that's really all there is. All three versions are available to read on the Chick Publications site. Physical copies are rare because they were never meant for the English speaking world but I feel like they are an essential piece of CT lore as they are uniquely Chick, proving Chickiness can be achieved words.(HAW HAW!)

I'm honestly curious if these had any sort of effect and increased conversion among the target audiences because I can honestly see JTC's logic behind these tracts.

u/The-Fat-Matt: 8/10

Check back every week for a new tract review. Next week's tract is 1972's "The Assignment"

https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=0022

D.W.D. teased a new tract a few weeks ago and now it's out!

Read it here: https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=1189

Chickscription: He said, “Jesus is good for you, but not for me. I’ve got a system all figured out.” But then he stands before God

I'm counting down to Monday the 27th at noon, which is the earliest we will be let into the parking lot. I'm stoked as fuuuuck.

ARE YOU THREATENING ME?