THE WRITER - graphic novel

A graphic novel, titled The Writer, about a comic writer who becomes his own character in a battle against a slough of demons and creatures straight out of Jewish folklore?! Heck yeah I'm wanting to read this!

Stan Siegel, a renowned comic book writer (ha! I guess we already know this is a fantasy) learns the significance of a family ring which once belonged to King Solomon. Wearing it gives him powers which he'll need to fight off the various demons - well known demons in the Jewish community. Stan will get a great deal of help from his surprisingly adventurous, sword-wielding mother. Stan's daughter Izzy will be along for the adventure.

Among the demons that family will face are the most dreaded of all creatures, straight out of hell ... Nazis.

The artwork here by Ariel Olivetti is outstanding. In fact, if it weren't for the beautiful appearance of this book, this would be a clear DNF.

The story here is all over the place. In barely 100 pages we get Solomon's history. We get Nazis, we get the background on Stan and the current situation with his wife (ex-wife? I'm not sure) and the problems their daughter, a Black Jew, is having in school. We get zombies and golems and a whole host of hell spawn.

It should be exciting be what we don't get well enough is the story behind it all. Yeah, it's there, but it's lost in the mishmash of action upon action upon action. The only breather we get is to toss in something meant to be amusing. And while the most vile creatures of hell can't do anything to Stan and his mother, a couple of humans are able to take them by gun point and crack them over the head. Yeah.

My biggest disappointment here, really, is that there's just no sense of this being about "the writer." Stan Siegel could just as easily have been an accountant for all the good being a writer does for him. Of course The Accountant probably doesn't sell as well as The Writer.

Looking for a good book? You will have to be seriously into Jewish folklore (not just casually interested) to appreciate this wild, often incoherent story. The art in this graphic novel, The Writer, will keep you going, though.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

2-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

The Writer

authors:  Ben Berkowitz, Max Berkowitz, Josh Gad

artist: Ariel Olivetti

publisher: Dark Horse Books

ISBN: 9781506744612

paperback, 104 pages

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