Many superheroes were created by jews, according to haaretz. The heros creators, jerry siegel and joe shuster, were the children of jewish immigrants. This is a list of fictional jewish comic book characters. In brooklyn, reconnecting to the jewish origins of comic books. 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. This article examines the appropriation of the holocaust as an origin story for the character of magneto from the xmen comics. Supermans secret identity the jewish origins of our comic. 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. Browse the independents complete collection of articles and commentary on comic books. For other jewish americans, see lists of jewish americans.
Rabbi simcha weinstein has written a great deal about the jewish origins of superheroes in. See more ideas about novels, comic books and books. Jewish american comic books and graphic novels chapter 28. Batman first seen in a comic book 80 years ago today is arguably one of the most iconic comic characters in the world. We trace back the history and origins of your favorite superheroes. But the comic book companies were mostly run by jewish publishers like timely comicss martin goodman or dc comicss harry donenfeld. 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 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.
The cambridge history of jewish american literature edited by hana wirthnesher december 2015. Join as we explore the comic book origins of mark spector, otherw. 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. Characters on this list range from half jewish to fully practicing. Comic book superheroes and the jewish artists who created them. 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. Barricade books reintroduces up, up, and oy vey to the book publishing world. Batman returned to the movies last summer with huge box office, and superman is slated to return next summer. 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.
Created in new york by jewish immigrants, the first comic book superheroes were mythic saviours who could combat the nazi threat. Lehigh universitys jodi eichlerlevine, berman professor of jewish civilization in the religion studies department, teaches a judaism and comic books course. Batwoman is a fictional superhero appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. The comic book industry, where they spent a significant portion of their young careers, was created in. Jun 07, 2017 wonder woman follows a long line of jewish ties to comic book characters. 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. Oct 30, 2015 lehigh universitys jodi eichlerlevine, berman professor of jewish civilization in the religion studies department, teaches a judaism and comic books course. Comic books childrens books childrens javascript seems to be disabled in your browser. Did american comic book figures traumatic backgrounds and secret identities reflect the jewishness of their creators. 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. Oct 31, 2017 finalist for the national jewish book award a rich account of jewish humor. Its a love letter to the creators of the comic book medium and their heroes. There was little information about magnetos origins prior to chris claremonts groundbreaking run on the xmen. Danny fingeroth san diego superman, batman, captain american and a slew of other superheroes have something in common besides.
Jews and the comic book industry showcases the jewish story tellers, comic book artists and publishers who influenced the comic book industry over the last 80 years. Hawkman, the flash, thor, superman and batman were all created by overactive jewish imaginations. Mar 16, 2018 yes he is, though this wasnt always the case. 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.
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. I endured one death campin auschwitz, magneto declares. Oversized and in full color, from krakow to krypton is filled with sidebars, cartoon bubbles, comic book graphics, original design sketches, and photographs. 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. The comic book creators were obviously secular, but the story of the golem was imprinted in jewish genes searching for salvation. 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. Interesting background about the creators of these american pop culture icons. Stan lee, jewish literary hero religion news service. All of us, jew or nonjew, need someone with supernatural powers to deliver us from evil.
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. 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. The jewish connection to comic books is the subject of a new show at the beth tzedec museum. 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 book is a history of comic books from a jewish perspective. This week marks the 80th anniversary of supermans first appearance in a comic book. Comic book experts have long noted supermans connections to judaism. 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. How the jewish identity of wonder womans star is causing a. Finalist for the national jewish book award a rich account of jewish humor.
At you will find an extensive collection of jewish books and jewish holiday items at the best judaica store. 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. Its the second book at least on the subject thats been released in the past few years. In brooklyn, reconnecting to the jewish origins of comic. No, its a minyan of comic book superheroes and their geeky jewish creators. 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. 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. The origin of the superhero is jewish, but the appeal of the superhero is universal. Rabbi simcha weinstein has written a great deal about the jewish origins of superheroes in his book, up up and oy vey. Supermans secret identity the jewish origins of our.
Leibovitz, a writer for tablet magazine, grew up captivated by comic books. As comic book culture continues to seep into mainstream popular culture, conventions and shows are on the rise, showcasing all sorts of themes and. The jewish origins of our comicbook superheroes oakland. Supermans jewish origins and the curse that haunts the character. 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. 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. These are characters specific to comicbook universes. He comes from another planet and lands in america to pursue a better life. I was absolutely obsessed with comic books as a child, leibovitz told jewish insider in a recent interview. Avengers stays true to antitotalitarian theme of comics.
When liel leibovitz was approached about writing a book on stan lee, it felt like a dream come true. The comic book was the port of entr e e to employment for hundreds of young jewish artists and illustrators during americas depression years. Neal adams, comic book artist 1 ralph bakshi, animator fritz the cat, lord of the rings 2 3. Short, fun read about the history of comic book superheroes and how they relate to jewish folk legends and jewish principles. The jewish comic con explores how jewish identity has influenced comics, both on the page and behind the scenes. 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 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. Wonder woman follows a long line of jewish ties to comic book characters.
Mar 09, 2016 the role that jewish immigrants played in the origins of the comic book market cannot be understated. There have been other comicbook characters with jewish backgrounds. Jewish comic con celebrates 2nd event alongside art exhibition. Jews, comics, kaddish and crosses my jewish learning. My jewish learning is a notforprofit and relies on your help.
From its inception, the modern comic book has been a friendly domain for jews, from marvels stan lee to maus art spiegelman. The history of comic books is from a jewish perspective. Comic books latest news, breaking stories and comment. Kaplan is a prolific writer whose work has spanned comics for dc and bongo, video games, mad magazine, and books like from krakow to. Initially, the avengers was created in response to the everincreasing popularity of superhero teams. 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. 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. 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. These are characters specific to comic book universes. Talking jewish comic con with arie kaplan the beat. The role that jewish immigrants played in the origins of the comic book market cannot be understated. Sep 02, 2008 its the second book at least on the subject thats been released in the past few years. The cambridge history of jewish american literature edited by hana wirth nesher december 2015.
Claremont created the backstory that magneto was a holocaust survivor. Jul 26, 2017 the heros creators, jerry siegel and joe shuster, were the children of jewish immigrants. The fact that jews have experienced a lot of peril throughout history probably accounts for the jewish origins of most fictional superheroes. How american history created the american superhero. 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. Jews and comic books, by arie kaplan, published by jewish publication society, makes it very clear. Characters on this list range from halfjewish to fully practicing. The man of steel adorned the cover of the june issue of. To a degree, comic book character origin stories are compelling for the same reason anyone elses story is. Dec 02, 20 comic book experts have long noted supermans connections to judaism. 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. Nov, 2016 in brooklyn, reconnecting to the jewish origins of comic books. 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. 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.