Megillat Esther is commonly referred to as the Book of Esther: but there is nothing common about JT Waldman's interpretation of this Biblical story. In what may be the world's first religious, scholarly comic book, Waldman tells the epic tale of exile and redemption in graphic form.
When Esther, a Jewish woman, is made Queen of Persia she must keep her identity hidden, all the while maneuvering to save her people from annihilation. This is a story familiar to many Jews who have heard it recounted every year on the holiday of Purim. But readers of all backgrounds will be entranced by what artist Waldman depicts in his interpretation of the text. At once traditional and groundbreaking Megillat Esther will challenge secular assumptions about the Bible.
Each page of Megillat Esther is a visual tour de force and features the Hebrew text with original English translation, as well as opulent drawings depicting the story of the Persian Queen. Traditional interpretations of the story are woven throughout the panels.
Megillat Esther presents the reader with a topsy-turvey world in which fortunes reverse and nothing is what it seems. This vibrant, edgy retelling of a classic Biblical tale is sure to amaze and intrigue scholars and laypeople of all religions and comic book lovers alike.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
A daring and imaginative interpretation of scripture:
A daring and imaginative interpretation of scripture in a graphic novel is JT Waldman's version of the Scroll of Esther, the story behind the Purim festival. The artist incorporates the Hebrew text into the art along with the English narration and text balloons. The drawing and composition run the gamut from horrific to voluptuous as befits a tale of Oriental court intrigue and near genocide. As the story nears its climax the reader must physically turn the story around and switch from reading left to right... more info
Amazing - Use This Instead of Your Regular Megillah!:
This book is not only exquisite, but it also adds a whole new dimension to your Megillat Esther reading experience. How often have you sat through Megillat Esther and lost track of where the reader was? Instead, use this book to follow along and you will be fully engaged to the story and its many allusions. The full Hebrew text runs continuously through its pages, though you'll need to review at least once, to get keep up with the narrative/graphical flow. Once you do this, you'll never want... more info
Wonderful:
Really just wonderful - the art, the story, the concept, the imagination -- for an old comics fan this is an amazing modern interpretation of a book of the Hebrew Bible. I think it maintains the spirit of the original book - after all, the original Hebrew text is included and fully translated into English - and makes it come alive!
