“Saw: Rebirth” is a one-shot comic book published in 2005 by IDW Publishing. It was originally released as a key promotional piece just before the theatrical release of “Saw II,” with the aim of delving into the central mystery of the franchise during its early days.
Prequel comic.
Written by R. Eric Lieb and Kris Oprisko, and illustrated by Renato Guedes, the comic essentially serves as a prequel that seeks to answer the big question from the first film: How does an ordinary man become Jigsaw?
Features.
Unlike the film series, in this version of the story, John Kramer is portrayed as a frustrated toy maker who feels he has designed great things for society, but that the people around him do not value life. His motivations stem primarily from an existential and professional crisis.
John's unborn son, Gideon, never existed, and John and Jill's separation was due to emotional exhaustion. Jill left John simply because she couldn't bear to watch him sink into deep depression, apathy, and bitterness after his projects failed and he was diagnosed with cancer.
Just like in the movies, the main catalyst for John's work is a failed suicide attempt that gives him a new lease on life.
It turns out that the first people John kidnaps for his games are individuals he happens to notice in his daily life: people who attempt suicide and fail, petty criminals, or drug addicts from his neighborhood.
John Kramer works entirely on his own. The comic shows him building the iconic inverted bear trap and planning Amanda Young’s ordeal in the complete solitude of his workshop.
Is this canon?
Although “Saw: Rebirth” was promoted as 100% official and canonical material during its release year, as the film franchise expanded significantly (more specifically with “Saw IV”), the movies ended up contradicting and rewriting much of what was established in this comic, which had become the official story.
As of today, “Saw: Rebirth” is viewed by fans as a fascinating piece of pop culture history or an “alternative draft” of Jigsaw's origin story.
