Motter and Steacy's The Sacred & The Profane is an interesting use of the graphic novel format, even if the narrative ultimately falls short of the unique promise of the concept itself. While the lush and colorful artwork is very striking at points, the complexity of the story is not well served by the overall short length of this work - the plot feels very rushed, especially considering the large cast of characters and their varying motivations for participating in the Catholic Interstellar Crusade. The very idea of such a crusade is what gives The Sacred & The Profane its unique interest, but without the room to develop their ideas, Motter and Steacy end up delivering a work that simply feels more like a preview than a fully-developed graphic novel. ( )