Jewish Side of TCAF 2012 - May 5th and 6th

This weekend, readers, writers, artists, publishers and fans of comix will converge at the Toronto Reference Library to take part in the the FREE Toronto Comic Arts Festival (which will, again, coincide with Free Comic Book Day on Saturday).

Among the talented people who will be at TCAF this year are a small number of comix professionals who have done comic art using Jewish characters or themes.

* Alison Bechdel (author-illustrator of the syndicated GBLT comic styrip Dykes to Watch Out For. Among the characters introduced in the strip were : Naomi, who came out as a bisexual Jew ; Thea, a Jewish lesbian with multiple sclerosis; and Stuart Goodman, a straight Jewish male who became involved with bisexual Sparrow Pidgeon and who had a child with her.)

* Willow Dawson (a talented Canadian artist, who has illustrated the anthology No Girls Allowed : Tales of Daring Women Dressed as Men for Love, Freedom and Adventure, written by Susan Hughes and published by Kids Can Press. The anthology includes the story of Esther Brandeau, the first Jewish person to immigrate to Canada.)

* Guy Delisle (French-Canadian cartoonist, well known for his graphic travelogues. Delisle's most recent work is Chronicles : A Year In Jerusalem. On May 3rd, the Carlton Cinema will host an evening with Guy Delisle, featuring the official launch of his book, a rare live interview by Prof. Nick Mount, a screening of the short documentary The Guy Delisle Chronicles a Q-and-A, and author signing. For details about that event [including ticket info], please go to http://torontocomics.com/events/an-evening-with-guy-delisle/.)

* Tom Gauld (author-illustrator of the Biblical graphic book Goliath, described as "a traditional narrative reworked, remade, and revolutionized")

* Farley Katz - (author illustrator of the webcomic "Kids are Dumb", which has included a set of 3 mock Passover cards

* Diana Nock (cartoonist whose work includes "Bleeding Tree", a minicomic adaptation of a Jewish folk tale)

* Jim Ottaviani (author of Wire Mothers: Harry Harlow and the Science of Love and Fallout : J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb)

* Jon Rosenberg (author-illustrator of the webcomic Goats, which includes the Jewish character "Jon", as seen in the strip from Nov. 24, 2005)

* Editions Tchai (publisher of fictional and semi-autobiographical fiction featuring Israeli characters, such as Hungry Heart, Ah, Gilgamesh! or Swim on Your Own Risk and Rock Testament

* Li-or Zaltzman (cartoonist currently working on a 100+ page coming of age story that takes place in Tel Aviv ; Li-Or will be at Matt Madden's table)

Super Jew Comics - Hadas Gallery Exhibition

The Hadas Gallery is hosting the exhibition "Super Jew Comics" until June 17th.

The exhibition shows reproductions from Shaloman comics and a new comic titled Israel Defense Comics. 

Details below from the Hadas website :

Opening Reception: April 15, 4- 7:30 pm
Comics 101 Workshop: May 17, 7:30 pm
Closing Reception/ Jews ‘n’ Comics visual lecture: June 17, 4-7:30 pm

Hadas Gallery is proud to present the comic artwork of Al Wiesner and Joshua H. Stulman.

“Super Jew Comics” is an exhibition of original production artwork for the Jewish comic book series, Shaloman and Israeli Defense Comics. The exhibition celebrates Jewish identity in the graphic medium. Several events are planned to coincide with the exhibition, including a presentation by “Up, Up and Oy Vey” author, Rabbi Simcha Weinstein.

Shaloman, created by Al Wiesner, first appeared in Mark 1 Comics #1 in 1987. It was an instant success and the epinimously titled series began shortly thereafter. Wiesner has self-published the adventures of Shaloman ever since. His artwork fuses action, Yiddish humor, and Jewish education to create a unique hero. Wiesner’s work reveals a love of Judaism and golden age comics. Shaloman’s popularity has carried through in nearly 40 issues and four volumes. Wiesner’s artwork has been recognized in numerous articles, academic books, as well as complete collections held at the libraries of Ohio State, Michigan State Univ. and Hebrew Union College. In 2010, Al Wiesner was honored with the Inkpot Award at the San Diego Comic Con for his achievements in the graphic arts.


Israeli Defense Comics is a brand new series featuring the superhero Magen, the Shield of Israel, by Joshua H. Stulman. Israeli Defense Comics is an ongoing project to discuss social/political issues and Israel pride. Stulman is a working artist and painter, whose artwork develops from issues found within the large diversity of the Jewish community.   

info@hadasgallery.com
 Hadas Gallery
541 Myrtle Ave.
Brooklyn NY 11205