Warrior Jesus
By T.C. Boyle, first published in Narrative Magazine
A young comic artist works at a nearby steakhouse and spends his free time dreaming up a character he calls 'Warrior Jesus,' a savior who enacts revenge on evil people.
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Plot Summary
Devon is a young comic artist working on a spread he likes to call 'Warrior Jesus.' He envisions Warrior Jesus as a savior in bike shorts and combat boots who turns murderers to dust. On Saturday night, Devon works his shift at Brennan's, a steakhouse. At the end of his shift, he makes steaks for a young man and woman. As he grills, he deliberates the nationality of the man, who is wearing a turban. He makes small talk with the couple as they wait for their steaks, and refers to the man as 'Hindu.' The man corrects him, saying he is not Hindu. After the couple walks away, Devon spits on the man's steak. The next day, Devon works on his Warrior Jesus spread and talks to his girlfriend Asia on the phone. They have a tense conversation and Devon ends the call by swearing and screaming at her. After working on his comic spread for the rest of the afternoon, Devon drives to the rival steakhouse where Asia works, Cedric's, and finds Asia at the bar. She is accompanied by the couple whom Devon served steaks to the previous night. Asia is not happy to see Devon, and Devon is unable to convince Asia to leave with him. Devon exits the restaurant alone and spots the car of the man whose steak he spat on the night before. He grabs a spray can from his own car and tags the word 'raghead' on the side of the man's vehicle. On his lunch break the next day, Devon calls Asia. She says she doesn't want to talk to him and hangs up the phone. Devon daydreams about the final spread of his Warrior Jesus comic: his Warrior Jesus turns to face a group of prostitutes, one of whom has Asia's face, and melts them like wax.
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