The Four Color Media Monitor

The Jewish Journal spoke about writers/illustrators Arnon Shorr and Joshua Edelglass, the former who previously penned a GN about Israel's 1948 war of independence, and here's what the premise of their latest publication is about:

The Jewish tradition overflows with stories — and great storytellers. This month, just before Passover, award-winning storyteller Arnon Z. Shorr and illustrator Joshua M. Edelglass published their latest comic book, “The Tomb of the Broken Amulet.” The story follows the Azaria siblings — Reuven, Sol, Benny and Dinah — whose Passover break turns extraordinary when they stumble upon an ancient tomb hidden in the Judean desert. As curiosity draws them deeper, they inadvertently awaken a mummy that seems determined to pursue them. Facing this unexpected danger, the siblings must uncover the tomb’s secrets, face their fears and find the courage to confront the mummy.

“With ‘The Tomb of the Broken Amulet,’ I wanted to put a classical mummy story in a Passover setting,” said Shorr, who enjoys blending Jewish elements with popular folklore. “The story isn’t just a fun genre mash-up. It’s about a post-Oct. 7 family contending with loss, finding courage and learning that like the Passover seder, our stories don’t truly end until we’ve found what’s missing.”

[...] When it came time to write his latest book, Shorr knew it should take place either in a museum or Egypt as it was a story about a mummy but quickly decided to set it in Israel. “I asked myself, how can I tell a Pesach story that’s both inherently about Passover and fits within the realm of popular folklore? It quickly became clear that the story needed to take place in Israel, post-Oct. 7,” he said. In the book, the family’s home in northern Israel was destroyed in a rocket attack and they have relocated to the south.

So now, he's developed a story using October 7, 2023 as a form of recent history. That's very bold, and vital as an example for storytelling going forward. Of course, that's why I hope he also acknowledges Islam's role in influencing the massacre as well, because without knowledge, there's no defense.

While the story is rooted in Jewish motifs, Shorr emphasizes that the book isn’t meant exclusively for Jewish children — it’s for anyone who enjoys a good mystery and adventure tale. “I always try to frame stories in a way that even people who aren’t Jewish can find something to connect with,” Shorr said. “This story includes elements that may not be familiar to non-Jews, but in popular culture, we often enjoy stories based in traditions that aren’t our own. When the story is good, it works.”

Oh yes, that's an excellent approach for storytelling. The ethnic/religious backgrounds of the stars can take a back seat, as what matters foremost is the adventure theme. I wish Shorr good luck in marketing this as well, and it'll be interesting to see if he'll focus on similar themes in more projects he works on in the forseeable future.

Labels: Europe and Asia, history, indie publishers, islam and jihad, misogyny and racism, terrorism, violence