本文藉由「神魔小說」代表作之一的《封神演義》，與受其影響而產生的當代香港漫畫《天子傳奇》進行對照，來看待「武王伐紂」在兩部作品中的展現。本文首先討論《封神演義》的創作精神及神魔在小說中的用意，以窺《封神演義》的原始面貌；其次，則是探賾《天子傳奇》如何將《封神演義》的情節結構予以轉化，並於其中加強或植入哪些元素，以符合當代讀者的胃口。 就《封神演義》而言，儘管紂王乃殘賊之人，小說中仍不段昭示效國以忠的「君臣」之倫。既然「忠君」與「叛逆」成為一組矛盾觀念，故只好上聽「天道」。有趣的是，「天道」最後成了神仙之間的戰爭，原本的「武王伐紂」，順著故事情節的往前推展，已朝向「闡截爭勝」的路徑。至於當代香港漫畫《天子傳奇》，雖然同樣以「武王伐紂」為歷史背景，但實際上早已悄悄「去歷史化」，並於其中添入「玄幻武俠」、「暴力美學」、「情色慾望」的元素於其中，此三元素是香港漫畫的拿手好戲，三者合而為一，又以「繪本式的章回」的模式進行商業行銷，使「武王伐紂」的故事充斥著媚俗性。但本文認為：《天子傳奇》實則是一種因為對於古典的接受所呈顯的現代表現，不妨視之為「接受的創新」。

This essay compares the classic Chinese novel Fengshen yanyi with the contemporary Hong Kong comicbook Tianzi chuanqi “Jifa pian” to see how “Wu-Wang conquered Shang Zhou” is treated in these two works. First a discussion of the significance of the role of creativity and the otherworldly in the novel is presented to view its original appearance. Next comes how the Tianzi chuanqi takes the plot structure of Fengshen yanyi and adapts it by strengthening or embedding those elements that appeal to the modern reader. In Fengshen yanyi Chou-Wang is a cruel prince; the novel still utilizes the concept of loyalty to one’s prince, and thus loyalty and treason become a pair of opposing concepts which are resolved only by following Heaven’s will. Interestingly, Heaven’s will becomes at last a war between the gods and immortals. The novel follows the storyline of “Wu-Wang conquered Shang Zhou” developing in the direction of the victory of one over the other. With regard to the contemporary Hong Kong comicbook Tianzi chuanqi although it utilizes the historical background of “Wu-Wang conquered Shang Zhou”, it basically casts off history and adds the fantastic knight errants, violence and eroticism. These three elements are the specialty of Hong Kong cornics and blend into one whole which is serialized and marketed; certainly the story of “Wu-Wang conquered Shang Zhou” is rife with popularisms. Nevertheless, Tianzi chuanqi is a creative adaptation well rooted in the accepted classic.