Esther, JT, Harvey, and Me

I don’t read graphic novels. The exception to that blanket statement is that I have read all of Harvey Pekar’s incredible work.  I’m also not Jewish ( Harvey is), but I live in Cleveland’s eastern suburbs, so I’ve picked up some Yiddish idioms and have on occasion attended temple services.  For those of you who are Jewish (or generally inquisitive about world religions), and who do read graphic novels, I’ve got a hot book for you just in time for Purim.

I’m recommending Megillat Esther by JT Waldman. The graphics are richly textured and interwoven with both the Hebrew and English text (JT also did the translation). Waldman earned praise from sources as varied as the Las Vegas Jewish Reporter and Comics Buyers Guide, and if you’re interested in his concepts and methods check out Stephen Saperstein Frug’s blog entry.

Waldman’s newest venture is a joint project with Harvey Pekar, and I had the pleasure of meeting JT a few weeks ago while the two of them were searching our library for visual references. You can track their progress in Waldman’s blog entries labeled My Harvey Year (a take-off on Pekar’s books Our Cancer Year and Our Movie Year). And, yes, that’s yours truly that’s mentioned. I found JT to be affable, charming, and incredibly talented, and you won’t be disappointed with Megillat Esther – it’s so heady with detail that you can happily spend time with the visual splendor even after the last hamantaschen is eaten.