People of the Comic Book: Round II

Stan Lee
The most lively commentary around self-hating Jews, alienation, and supporting (or not supporting) Israel came up in the comments on the Harvey Pekar vs. Stan Lee smackdown. Excellent considerations were brought up in favor of each contender, but Stan Lee pulled ahead for a narrow 55% to 45% win. Lee promoted multiculturalism in comics throughout his epic career, a prime example of Tikkun Olam (healing of the world). We connected him with the real-world community building organization United Jewish Communities.

The Thing
Barely a contest here, with The Thing swiping a cool 90% of the votes from Superman. Perhaps his rugged rocky skin is actually made out of kryptonite? Confirming hints dropped throughout the decades, The Thing was recently revealed as officially Jewish, making him a perfect candidate for Birthright Israel. To say nothing of being a formidable fighter and thus excellent defender of just causes, The Thing is also fiercely loyal to his friends and what he believes in.

Shadowcat
Proving that dressing the part can never hurt, Shadowcat and her prominently-displayed Star of David necklace handily defeated GoGirl 67% to 33%. Shadowcat was one of the first overtly Jewish comic book characters, illustrated most memorably when she used that same Star of David necklace to repel Dracula. Her pride (aha, hence her last name!) in her Jewish identity is such that, should she tire from the X-men and Excalibur, she might find a home at The Jewish Women’s Archives.

Doc Samson
The green-haired psychiatrist beat the sunglasses-wearing gorilla Judah “The Hammer” Maccabee 60% to 40%. The Hulk’s therapist sports biblical-Samson-esque shoulder length hair, green thanks to a gamma-infused blood transfusion from his patient. As a mental health professional he could easily fit in at The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Providers.

Will Eisner
A triumph of the mainstream over indie culture? For now at least: Eisner defeated Spiegelman 75% to 25%. Best known for his works The Spirit and A Contract with God, which helped cement the graphic novel as a respected form of literature. His books on the Jewish experience warned against the threat of antisemitism and prejudice. The comix industry awards (like the Oscars) are even named after him too. We connected him with real world organization The American Jewish History Society.

Magneto
When we matched up the list’s only two villains the lesser known Y The Last Man character Alter Tse’elon held her own against one of Marvel’s most popular super villains, but eventually succumbed, giving the Lord of Magnetism a 67% win over her 33% of the votes. When acting as arch-nemesis of the X-men Magneto rarely adheres to any semblance of Jewish morality, but his experiences as a Holocaust survivor left him with a deep sense of peoplehood (for Jews and for mutants). He hunted down Nazi Baron Von Strucker just like Wiesenthal caught Eichmann.

Willow Rosenberg
The Wiccan Buffy the Vampire Slayer character didn’t even need a codename to defeat the Adventures of Kavalier and Clay-inspired hero for a 67% win. Between being a practicing witch, Jewish, and a lesbian Willow had an unusually large share of discrimination to deal with, but never let it get in the way of demon slaying. We connected her with the real world organization Nehirim for Jewish GLBT culture and spirituality.

Sgt. Rock
With 57% of the vote, the no-nonsense army man beat out the soul-cloaked vigilante’s 43% to become our last winner. A career military man, Sgt. Rock is often portrayed helping those in need. Although his Jewishness is not front and center, he was created by Jews and fights for the Jewish values of justice and mercy. In his later years he might have joined the Jewish War Veterans of America.

Stan Lee
First, he bested Indy heavyweight, Harvey Pekar in a bitterly contested match. Then he clobbered his own creation, the Thing in round 2. Will Stan-The Man- Lee have enough strength to take on the most popular Jewish female in all of comix!? Even though he created the X-men that later on included Shadowcat, can Lee take on the young woman who inspired Joss Whedon to create Buffy the Vampire Slayer?! Lee promoted multiculturalism in comics throughout his epic career, a prime example of Tikkun Olam (healing of the world). We connected him with the real-world community building organization United Jewish Communities.




Shadowcat
First she trounced Go Girl and then she served up some beat down to the green-haired shrink, Doc Samson. Yes, yes she may be dead in Marvel continuity (Thanks Mr. Whedon) but she is alive and well and still phasing our hearts. Because of her indomitable will and pride in her family and culture, Kitty Pryde embodies The Jewish Women’s Archives.


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Will Eisner
In his first bout, Eisner barely got by scrappy underground comix legend Art Spiegelman Then he went toe-to-toe with the Master of Magnetism himself and told Magneto to get bent. His books on the Jewish experience warned against the threat of antisemitism and prejudice and became part of the foundation of the comic book industry. We connected him with real world organization The American Jewish History Society.

Willow Rosenberg
The Wiccan Buffy the Vampire Slayer character didn’t need a codename to defeat the Adventures of Kavalier and Clay-inspired hero the Escapist. Then she left Sgt Rock in the dust. Will the world’s most famous lesbian Jewish witch muster enough mojo to take down the grandfather of modern comix? If Willow wins, Nehirim the national Jewish GLBT organization will have major bragging rights.


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