Buddy Christ Statue, Kevin Smith Shrines

Red Bank, New Jersey

Let's state the obvious: Kevin Smith has an irreverent sense of humor. The NJ born writer-director-actor's sensibilties about pop culture, politics, sex and religion permeate his movies. The real world epicenter for Kevin Smith fans is Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash -- a comic book store he owns in Red Bank. And in the back of the store, behind glass, you'll find the Buddy Christ statue.

This friendly Messiah was created as a prop for Smith's fourth film, 1999's Dogma, and became an attraction in the store soon after. Buddy Christ is a spoof of a traditional Roman Catholic sculpture of Jesus, with his flowing hair and beard, robes, and radiant heart on his chest. Smith's version also grins, winks, and points at you with one hand while giving a big thumbs up with the other. If you were brought up Catholic, that first instant spotting Buddy Christ may trigger a bit of shock at the flagrant mockery of sacred statues... but then you can't help but smile just like Buddy C.

Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash continues to function as a successful store, walls displaying racks of comics, graphic novels, and collectibles. Smith has used it for a shooting location in his films, including Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (look for Bluntman and Chronic props). It is a location for his 2012 AMC reality show Comic Book Men.

Over the cash register counter hangs the big yellow sign for the Quick Stop convenience store in Leonardo, where Smith shot his first movie, Clerks, released in 1994.