Around 1978, my aunt gave me a copy of the first issue of Sabraman as a gift - the first Jewish-content comic I became aware of. Over the next 18 years, I would notice other instances of Jewish-content comics and graphic novels (usually acquiring a copy for my collection) and was amazed at each new find. My general assumption was that these were rarities since most of my collection had stories with non-religious &/or Christian content and characters. On April 22, 1996, I posted a message to this listserv - hasafran - listing 31 comics / graphic novels with Jewish content in an attempt to encourage those going to the AJL Conference in Toronto to tale a look at the works on display at The Beguiling table in the vendors room and consider buying an item or 2 &/or visiting the shop (which was located quite close to the conference hotel). The Beguiling came to realize that libraries could be a significant untapped market for their graphic novels and has had a "Library Services Division" since about 2001. After I learned basic html coding and acquired a free website from Geocities, I uploaded my miniscule list of 31 items and offered ways for people to send me comments and suggestions. Over the years, I tried to update my bibliography with new books, articles, theses, as well as comic books, comic strips, and graphic novels. I also learned about older items and received news about works that were in progress. The modest 31-item list grew into the hundreds and then into over 1,000. In 2005, I launched the Jewish Comics Blog - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://jewishcomics.blogspot.com/__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbL_HJtZs$ . Part of the function of the blog was to remind me of items to add to the bibliography, but I often neglected to copy the information from the blog to the online bibliography. At the AJL website, there were 3 "Jewish Comics" bibliographies submitted in 2007, which are still there - Jewish Graphic Novels by Wendy Wasman https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://jewishlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/jewish_graphic_novels.pdfJewish__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbrS48U74$ Graphic Novels by Andrea Kempf https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://jewishlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/JewishGraphicNovels.pdfJewish__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGb04OjiA8$ Graphic Books for Adults and Young Adults https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://jewishlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/jewish_graphic_books.pdf__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbkzVc5C8$ In 2009, Yahoo deleted all of its Geocities websites, including the Jewish Comics bibliography. The latest version of it was "saved" by Oocities - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.oocities.org/athens/acropolis/5756/JWISHC.HTM__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbMC4oePY$ and that version apparently had not been updated since 2005.Older versions of the bibliography have been archived at https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://web.archive.org/web/20260000000000*/geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5756/JWISHC.HTM__;Kg!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbNQKwVek$ In 2012, Fantagraphics published Jewish Images in the Comics : A Visual History. Though not comprehensive, it is an excellent look at over 150 Jewish comic works and can serve as a bibliography-type reference, though the reader would need to research the bibliographic details of each work he describes. Around 2021, retired school librarian Jeff Treistman founded the Jewish Comics Library of Seattle - a pop up library that's open every 2nd Friday. There's a catalogue which is searchable, but not yet browsable. However, it has a scrolling bookshelf with hyperlinked covers. Clicking on the cover takes you to the catalogue entry for that item. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.librarycat.org/lib/JCLS2023__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbvFr0nZg$ There have been library research guides to Jewish Comics (and related topics) at a number of academic libraries which guide users to relevant items in their respective collections. These include : San Diego State University (Jewish Comics) - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://libguides.sdsu.edu/c.php?g=449954&p=8658352Center__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbmLfNLDY$ for Jewish History (Comics and Graphic Novels) - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://libguides.cjh.org/comicsandgraphicnovels/introUniversity__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbWJK9tx0$ of Michigan (Judaic Studies - Comics and Cartoonists) - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=282911&p=6831359Marist__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbbYE40gA$ University (Comics Manga and Graphic Novels : Religion / Philosophy) - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://libguides.marist.edu/c.php?g=1138392&p=8306892Diablo__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbU1_PGIk$ Valley College (Comics about Religion and Philosophy) - https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://library.dvc.edu/c.php?g=630769&p=4407237__;!!KGKeukY!zLF5VNc9AX7GmCv3N4y96FHX_poPPM5PnPI9WdePBoZ1DUxsZ-rbZCRou5xYmckBP9TksNvI_aGbbMpVJvs$ =========== In the future, I hope to resurrect the Jewish Comics Bibliography that had been hosted at Geocities. If I do so, I Hope to make several improvements : * I would like to categorize it into different pages (linked to each other) devoted to : Comic Strips ; Comic Books ; Graphic Novels ; Single Panels ; Books ; Articles ; Theses ; Reviews* I would like assistance (perhaps using a Committee of volunteers) to enter the bibliographic entries, as I now humbly realize that it's too much work for a lone librarian* I would like to keep getting recommendations for items to include in the bibliography, especially from those in the library field* I would like to find a reliable website (preferably free) to host it (& hope that it won't be closed in 13 years) **************** As always, comments, questions, suggestions and criticisms are most welcome by e-mailing me at [email protected] B'shalom, Steven M. Bergson, EditorJewish Comics Anthology (2 volumes)Toronto, Canada
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