Impressive is a vast understatement for J.T. Waldman’s
undertaking in Megillat Esther, the Hebrew narrative of Queen
Esther in ancient times. While other biblical comics will simply
retell the tale through text boxes and panels, Waldman makes
readers work extensively through this graphic novel so that by
the end, one has witnessed a story and a culture. Though all
text in the graphic novel is English, artistically placed
throughout the panels is the accompanying Hebrew biblical text.
Along the sides of each page are the corresponding verses to the
Book of Esther. The Hebrew text also provides interesting flow
from one panel to the next, serving as borders and outlines. The
panels themselves seem to merge or blend together in a way that
creates movement and energy often unseen in graphic novels. But
the bold black ink of the Hebrew just creates such a presence in
the story that it turns from words into art. Waldman’s depiction
of people contains both elements of caricatures and realism. The
attention to detail