Film and theatre star Josh Gad teams up with the Berkowitz brothers and artist Ariel Olivetti for The Writer – an exciting fantasy mixed with Jewish folklore. The series follows Stan Siegel, a renowned comic book writer, whose life spirals into a terrifying adventure beyond the confines of reality. Alongside his mother Liz and daughter Izzy, Stan faces an onslaught of Nazis, demons, and mythical creatures drawn from Jewish folklore. As they navigate a landscape steeped in occult mysteries, their quest for answers reveals hidden identities and ignites a high-stakes race against an emerging terror.
Best known for providing the voice of Olaf in Frozen and for being one of the original leads in The Book of Mormon, Josh Gad has already cemented himself as a highly talented comic actor. His first crack at writing a comic has now also proven to be a success. The Berkowitz Brothers and Gad have created a winning combination from both an entertainment and informative standpoint.
The history of comics in America is deeply rooted within the Jewish community with a significant chunk of early major comic creators being Jewish (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster just to name a few). These creators would often weave their culture, stories and shared collected experiences (both good and bad) into their work. It is therefore fitting that the main character of this series is named after two of the most important creators to come out of that period.
Stan Siegel’s writing is inspired by the Jewish myths his father would tell him about when he was younger, and it is these myths and legends that are suddenly thrust into his life when he puts on a ring from his father that he was instructed not to wear. The series strikes a fine balance between fun fantasy adventure and serious themes such as antisemitism whilst Gad and the Berkowitz brothers bring an essential level of authenticity to proceedings.
The series also benefits from wonderful Ariel Olivetti art. Best known for his Marvel work on Daredevil and The Punisher, his detailed and expressive style brings the comic up another level. Not only are his characters great (with Stan bearing a strong resemblance to Gad), but he creates some truly terrifying monsters and demons as he lets his creativity run wild.
This comic is a fun tribute to creators of old whilst also acknowledging both Jewish culture and struggles. Gad, the Berkowitz brothers and Olivetti and a formidable creative team.
The Writer is out 18 March from Dark Horse (9781506744612, p/b, £17.99)
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