Yesterday afternoon, the Editor-in-Chief of Source Point Press, Josh Werner, shared the below statement with us:
We've been developing something new: an entire imprint for highlighting Jewish writers and telling high quality exciting Jewish stories or stories told from a Jewish perspective. When I look back at the history of American comic books, and the people who created some of the most exciting publishing companies, or ground breaking publications, or beloved superheroes that have withstood the test of time, there is a common thread between them all. Jewish creators built the foundation of American comics. From Harvey Kurtzman with Mad Magazine, to Martin Goodman and Timely Comics, or Harry Donenfeld at D.C. Comics, to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby creating Captain America. Jewish creators are a huge part of the comic book history, but somehow there's been a huge lack of Jewish characters, or representations of Jewish culture, traditions, faith, etc. It feels like a disservice to the numerous Jewish creators working in comics today to not get to tell stories from a Jewish perspective, and a disservice to the history of the industry. That is how Maggid Comics was born.
I, myself, am not Jewish. So I felt it very important that the first thing we do is name a secondary Editor-in-Chief, who is Jewish, to run the Maggid division. I needed someone who was incredibly passionate about storytelling, hard working, and understood and was fueled by what it is we're trying to do here. And then I was introduced to Israeli-American filmmaker Arnon Z. Shorr, and he was the perfect fit.
So what better way to kick off the imprint with our first series being one he wrote himself, specifically for Maggid. This is a story that anyone and everyone will love, but will also introduce readers to some fascinating Jewish history and lore...
Source Point Press supplied us with the below preview pages for you to check out. Scroll down to see 'em and learn a little more about the creative team!
Ben Mortara and the Thieves of the Golden Table
Meet the Creative Team
Arnon Z. Shorr – Writer Arnon Z. Shorr is a writer/director of character-driven adventures and thrillers, where heroes grapple with the extraordinary, and in doing so, learn important truths about themselves. He is also interim Editor-in-Chief of Maggid Comics, a new Jewish comics imprint at Source Point Press, where he shepherds multiple book series (including his own) and manages the development of a new Jewish Comics Universe.
Arnon spent most of his childhood between worlds: a Hebrew speaker in America, a private school kid with no money, a suburbanite in a rented apartment. So he tells stories that embrace the peculiar, where encounters with the strange reveal who we are. Arnon’s screenplays include a Page finalist and a Launch Pad top-50. And his swashbuckling graphic novel, Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano, is an expansion of his award-winning short film about Jewish pirates in the 16th-century Caribbean. Social and web links: Instagram: @arnonshorr Facebook: @arnonshorr Twitter: @shorr www.arnonshorr.com imdb.me/shorr
Kat Baumann – Artist
Kat Baumann is an illustrator and comic artist from Minnesota. She graduated from the Perpich Center for Arts Education’s Visual Art department and interned through the Helioscope mentorship program in Portland, OR. Recent published works include 20 Fists written by Frankee White, Magical Kitties: The Big Adventure written by Justin Alexander, and Golden Voice written by Gregory Cahill.
She works with other comics creators across the United States but is equally passionate about the music and arts community in her home city of Mankato. She regularly does design work for local organizations and the public radio station KMSU, and created a monthly comic feature for Mankato Magazine called ‘Community Draws’ from 2019 – 2022.
Social and web links:
Instagram: @katbaumanncomics
Twitter: @kat_baumann
Tumblr: @katbaumann
www.katbaumann.com
Dave Lentz – Letterer and Designer
Dave is a letterer, graphic designer and occasional writer. When not reading comics he does his best to create them by any of the above means. He’s very keen on his wife and son, TMNT, Hellboy and comics in general. He’s done work for Source Point Press, Sumerian, Scout and others. He won’t bore you with further self-adulation, but you can find more of his work at www.be.net/dlentz. Social and web links: Instagram: @dave.does.comics Facebook: @thedavidlentz Twitter: @dlentzletters www.be.net/dlentz