New Zionist : News and Discussion on the Future of Zionism, Israel, and the Jewish People

I just completed reading a new graphic novel, Megillat Esther, by JT Waldman. The book is a dramatic visual portrayal of the events we all know from Purim, recounting the story of Esther, Mordechai, Haman, and King Achashverosh. By presenting the tale of Esther through visual images, Waldman has transcended the emotionally detached nature of staring at a page of Hebrew text. He presents the world of ancient Babylon filled with expressive and vibrant characters, giving the story a much needed shot in the arm.

Graphic novels on the whole are a medium that I only recently discovered through friends and word of mouth (thanks Mike Schupbach). It is a medium that gets frequently overlooked, but definitely merits more attention from the general reading public. What is unique about graphic novels is that they present their stories through minimal text, usually as a narrative or a dialogue, and supplement the descriptive aspects of regular novels with remarkable illustrations from the artist’s imagination.

Waldman uses the actual Hebrew scripture (along with English transliteration) as the only written aspect of his novel. His striking black and white drawing fill in the gaps and infuse emotion into an otherwise dry piece of text. Waldman utilizes the visual aspects to explore many themes of the story that are ignored, such as Esther’s seductive nature, and Mordechai’s brutal vengeance. At the same time, Waldman layers peripheral aspects as well, such as Talmudic meaning, overlapping narratives, and medieval symbolism; which all create a previously ignored richness to the story of Esther.

JT Waldman has thoroughly succeeded in reviving an ancient story in a new and exciting medium, while at the same time giving the ancient story more layers and relevance. . This is an excellent book for someone who is familiar with the story from Sunday school, but has never taken the time to look in depth at how interesting and unique the whole Megillah actually is. In addition, Waldman’s drawings are clearly inspired by a well researched and detailed understanding of the ancient text, and even the most respected Talmudic scholar would feel rejuvenated from this novel.

(Mordechai hears about Haman’s decree and tears his clothes, courtesy of JT Waldman)

Check out the website for the book.
You can pick up the book through the Jewish Publication Society.