See more ideas about novels, comic books and books. Supermans secret identity the jewish origins of our comicbook superheroes march 8, 2016 oakland university religious studies and center for religious understanding superman, batman, captain america, spiderman, the hulk, the fantastic four, the avengers and the original. Oct 30, 2015 lehigh universitys jodi eichlerlevine, berman professor of jewish civilization in the religion studies department, teaches a judaism and comic books course. To a degree, comic book character origin stories are compelling for the same reason anyone elses story is. Apr 30, 2018 as comic book culture continues to seep into mainstream popular culture, conventions and shows are on the rise, showcasing all sorts of themes and genres. In the case of comic books, though, origin stories hold a special place in fans hearts because they are often the greatest chapter in a characters arc. Stan lee, jewish literary hero religion news service. The cambridge history of jewish american literature edited by hana wirthnesher december 2015. There have been other comicbook characters with jewish backgrounds. Jul 26, 2017 the heros creators, jerry siegel and joe shuster, were the children of jewish immigrants.
Join as we explore the comic book origins of mark spector, otherw. From its inception, the modern comic book has been a friendly domain for jews, from marvels stan lee to maus art spiegelman. Danny fingeroth san diego superman, batman, captain american and a slew of other superheroes have something in common besides. Supermans secret identity the jewish origins of our comic. I was absolutely obsessed with comic books as a child, leibovitz told jewish insider in a recent interview. Jews created the first comic book, the first graphic novel, the first comic book convention, the first comic book specialty store, and they helped create the underground comics or comix movement of the late 60s and early 70s. Comic books childrens books childrens javascript seems to be disabled in your browser. This is a chronicle of the ways in which the writer, stan lee along with seminal illustrators like jack kirby, steve ditko, and others reinvented comicbook characters as complex, multifaceted human beings and ushered in the golden age of comics. My jewish learning is a notforprofit and relies on your help.
This is a list of fictional jewish comic book characters. This article examines the appropriation of the holocaust as an origin story for the character of magneto from the xmen comics. The fact that jews have experienced a lot of peril throughout history probably accounts for the jewish origins of most fictional superheroes. Acclaimed jewish comic book writer brian michael bendis has taken over the task of writing superman, and he told forbes that his take on the character would be deeply connected to his origins, which are steeped in jewish mythology and culture. These are characters specific to comic book universes. Jews and comic books, by arie kaplan, published by jewish publication society, makes it very clear. The origin of the superhero is jewish, but the appeal of the superhero is universal. Many superheroes were created by jews, according to haaretz, including superman, captain america, batman, spiderman. The comic book was the port of entr e e to employment for hundreds of young jewish artists and illustrators during americas depression years. Batman first seen in a comic book 80 years ago today is arguably one of the most iconic comic characters in the world.
These are characters specific to comicbook universes. The comic book industry, where they spent a significant portion of their young careers, was created in new york by jews like max ginsburg, bob kahn, and jacob kurtzberg, who hid their ethnicity. Comic books latest news, breaking stories and comment. Congregation kol israel in crown heights is the site of a conference dubbed by its organizers as a love letter to the creators of the comic book medium and their heroes, many of whom were jewish. In fact, the very first story in its first issue, written by kurtzman and illustrated by will elder both of whom are jewish was about two jewish thieves. Katherine kate kane is a wealthy heiress who becomes inspired by the superhero batman and chooses, like him, to put her wealth and resources towards a campaign to fight crime as a masked vigilante in her home of gotham city. Will eisner one of americas greatest comic book cartoonists, who was also jewish wrote that the golem was perceived in the 1930s as a mythological character, an early superhero, says blich. From the birth of krypton in cleveland to the caped crusader, the incredible hulk, spider man, the xmen and more, up, up, and oy vey chronicles the story about the origins of the most famous superheroes. As comic book culture continues to seep into mainstream popular culture, conventions and shows are on the rise, showcasing all sorts of themes and. In brooklyn, reconnecting to the jewish origins of comic books. Its a love letter to the creators of the comic book medium and their heroes. Rabbi simcha weinstein has written a great deal about the jewish origins of superheroes in.
Many superheroes were created by jews, according to haaretz. With three brief essays by paul buhle, the wellknown historian of american jewish life, jews and american comics offers readers a pictorial backstory tracing jewish involvement in comic art from several littleknown strips in yiddish newspapers of the early twentieth century through the midcentury origins of the modern comic book and finally. The jewish origins of our comicbook superheroes oakland. Barricade books reintroduces up, up, and oy vey to the book publishing world.
Jewish american comic books and graphic novels chapter 28. We trace back the history and origins of your favorite superheroes. Kaplan is a prolific writer whose work has spanned comics for dc and bongo, video games, mad magazine, and books like from krakow to. Aug 01, 2008 with three brief essays by paul buhle, the wellknown historian of american jewish life, jews and american comics offers readers a pictorial backstory tracing jewish involvement in comic art from several littleknown strips in yiddish newspapers of the early twentieth century through the midcentury origins of the modern comic book and finally. The role that jewish immigrants played in the origins of the comic book market cannot be understated. In part or in whole, jewish men created a majority of americas greatest comic book heroesfrom superman, batman, captain america, spiderman, and the hulk to the fantastic four, the avengers. Batman returned to the movies last summer with huge box office, and superman is slated to return next summer. Jewish comic con celebrates 2nd event alongside art exhibition. The jewish comic con explores how jewish identity has influenced comics, both on the page and behind the scenes.
Many, if not most, of the early artists, writers, and publishers of what we have come to know as the comic book were of jewish heritage. Comic book superheroes and the jewish artists who created them. Oversized and in full color, from krakow to krypton is filled with sidebars, cartoon bubbles, comic book graphics, original design sketches, and photographs. Nov, 2016 in brooklyn, reconnecting to the jewish origins of comic books. Rabbi simcha weinstein has written a great deal about the jewish origins of superheroes in his book, up up and oy vey.
Jews and comic books tells their stories and demonstrates how they brought a uniquely jewish perspective to their work and to the comics industry as a whole. Mar 09, 2016 the role that jewish immigrants played in the origins of the comic book market cannot be understated. Mar 16, 2018 yes he is, though this wasnt always the case. Characters on this list range from half jewish to fully practicing. Secret origins is a dc comics anthology comic series that retells the origins of superheroes the original series ran for 7 issues in the 1970s and was all reprints. The avengers a little history founded by comic book creators from years past, the avengers has been one of the goto teams in the marvel universe for decades. Wonder woman follows a long line of jewish ties to comic book characters. Its the second book at least on the subject thats been released in the past few years. Jews built the comic book industry from the ground up, and the influence of jewish writers, artists, and editors continues to be felt to this day. Initially, the avengers was created in response to the everincreasing popularity of superhero teams.
Interesting background about the creators of these american pop culture icons. Leibovitz, a writer for tablet magazine, grew up captivated by comic books. Batwoman is a fictional superhero appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. All of us, jew or nonjew, need someone with supernatural powers to deliver us from evil. Characters on this list range from halfjewish to fully practicing. This week marks the 80th anniversary of supermans first appearance in a comic book. In a major work of scholarship both erudite and very funny, columbia professor jeremy dauber traces the origins of jewish comedy and its development from biblical times to the age of twitter. Short, fun read about the history of comic book superheroes and how they relate to jewish folk legends and jewish principles.
Comic book experts have long noted supermans connections to judaism. Katherine kate kane is a wealthy heiress who becomes inspired by the superhero batman and chooses, like him, to put her wealth and resources towards a campaign to fight crime as a masked vigilante in her home of gotham city this current version of batwoman was introduced in 2006 in the seventh week. In brooklyn, reconnecting to the jewish origins of comic. Sep 02, 2008 its the second book at least on the subject thats been released in the past few years. Browse the independents complete collection of articles and commentary on comic books. The preeminent creators in comic book history are all jewish men jerry siegel and joe schuster superman. He comes from another planet and lands in america to pursue a better life. Supermans jewish origins and the curse that haunts the character. I endured one death campin auschwitz, magneto declares. Nov 16, 2011 under pressure from lee and other successful comic book writers, marvel revised the comics code in the 1970s, and jewish writer chris claremont introduced magnetos holocaust experience in the 1978 comic book uncanny xmen 1. The comic book creators were obviously secular, but the story of the golem was imprinted in jewish genes searching for salvation. Neal adams, comic book artist 1 ralph bakshi, animator fritz the cat, lord of the rings 2 3. This is a list of notable jewish american cartoonists.
How american history created the american superhero. Created in new york by jewish immigrants, the first comic book superheroes were mythic saviours who could combat the nazi threat. Apr 23, 2020 and the chance to write about lee the legendary marvel comic book writer integral to the creation of spiderman, the xmen, iron man, the hulk and many other iconic characters felt like a golden opportunity. The history of comic books is from a jewish perspective. Oct 31, 2017 finalist for the national jewish book award a rich account of jewish humor. But the comic book companies were mostly run by jewish publishers like timely comicss martin goodman or dc comicss harry donenfeld. The man of steel adorned the cover of the june issue of. The comic book industry, where they spent a significant portion of their young careers, was created in.
The jewish connection to comic books is the subject of a new show at the beth tzedec museum. For other jewish americans, see lists of jewish americans. Avengers stays true to antitotalitarian theme of comics. Oct 21, 2005 the hebrews may have lost their temple in jerusalem, but the jewish kids of comic book creation built a new temple within pop culture. Did american comic book figures traumatic backgrounds and secret identities reflect the jewishness of their creators. Under pressure from lee and other successful comic book writers, marvel revised the comics code in the 1970s, and jewish writer chris claremont introduced magnetos holocaust experience in the 1978 comic book uncanny xmen 1. Simcha weinstein, the comic book rabbi, recently published his panegyric to jews who wear capes, up, up, and oy vey, with chapters on the jewish origins of superman, the hulk, kitty pryde, and even the character ive been propositioning marvel. Jews, comics, kaddish and crosses my jewish learning. No, its a minyan of comic book superheroes and their geeky jewish creators. Hawkman, the flash, thor, superman and batman were all created by overactive jewish imaginations. It was a situation similar to that of the early motion picture industry, in which jewish directors, producers, and studio executives whod faced antisemitism in other industries built an industry of their. Dec 21, 2017 it was also in a period where so much, again, in the american comic book industry was trying to diversify the visibility of various ethnic national origins in american comics.
Comic book writer arie kaplan says that while researching his book on jews and comic books he discovered that mad magazine had been using yiddish phrases for years. At you will find an extensive collection of jewish books and jewish holiday items at the best judaica store. Supermans secret identity the jewish origins of our. How the jewish identity of wonder womans star is causing a. The heros creators, jerry siegel and joe shuster, were the children of jewish immigrants. It was also in a period where so much, again, in the american comicbook industry was trying to diversify the visibility of various ethnic national origins in american comics. Many of the creators of the most famous comic books, such as superman, spiderman, xmen, and batman, as well as the founders of mad magazine, were jewish. Dec 02, 20 comic book experts have long noted supermans connections to judaism. The book is a history of comic books from a jewish perspective. Lehigh universitys jodi eichlerlevine, berman professor of jewish civilization in the religion studies department, teaches a judaism and comic books course. And the chance to write about lee the legendary marvel comic book writer integral to the creation of spiderman, the xmen, iron man, the hulk and many other iconic characters felt like a golden opportunity.
In the 1980s, following the rebooting of the dc universe into the postcrisis continuity, the title was revived to tell new versions of the characters origin stories for the new universe, and ran for 50 issues. When liel leibovitz was approached about writing a book on stan lee, it felt like a dream come true. Talking jewish comic con with arie kaplan the beat. This is a chronicle of the ways in which the writer, stan lee along with seminal illustrators like jack kirby, steve ditko, and others reinvented comicbook characters as complex, multifaceted human beings and. Finalist for the national jewish book award a rich account of jewish humor.