By Nicholas Marrero
After Shacharit, a morning prayer service, members of the Congregation Kol Israel in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, moved to the sanctuary upstairs for a gathering not usually found in a synagogue–artists and comic book creators displaying drawings and comics featuring superheroes such as Batman, Spider-Man, and Shaloman.
Organizers of the event on Nov. 13 said they believed it was the first of a kind, a Jewish Comic Con, and a far cry from the glitzy mainstream comic conventions filled with hundreds of thousands of people in attendance at huge convention centers, cosplayers reveling in all things pop culture; and celebrity appearances.
The Jewish Comic Con was a more low-key event, where organizers hoped to highlight the influence Jewish identity has had on comics, both on the page and behind the scenes.
Fred Polaniecki, president of the synagogue, said the idea to hold a Jewish Comic Con grew out of a conversation with an artist, Fabrice Sapolsky. “I was impressed with Fabrice and some of his work that he was showing me and I asked if he’d be considering the idea of having an exhibit with us. And he goes, forget that, why don’t we have a Jewish Comic Convention. I said Fabrice that’s brilliant. He goes it’s never been done before and I said NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. Lets do it.”
On this day of the event, two rows of tables were set up against the walls of the sanctuary to form an “artist alley.”Besides traditional Marvel and DC comics , guests were able to browse through comics analyzing liturgy, Holocaust stories, Jewish history and Biblical Tales.
At the event, author Julian Voloj sold his graphic novel, “Ghetto Brother”, about a Bronx Gang leader turned activist with Jewish roots. Other comics and graphic novels that were being sold included but not limited to “We Won’t See Auschwitz” by Jeremie Dres, “The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey” by Steve Sheinkin, and “Israeli Defense Comics” by Joshua H. Stulman.
Custom Sketches sold by comic book creator and cartoonist Jordan B. Gorfinkel
“It’s just nice to meet other Jews interested in comics and other people who are interested in Jewish representation in comics. Individual representation can get lost so it’s nice to have to deal with a focus on representation or lack there of,” said attendee Elisheva Rosen.
“It was the founders of our industry that we wanted to honor. Like, Jews invented for the most part , this industry. Comic book industry. Honoring them, we are going full circle” said artist Fabrice Sapolsky.
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Midtown Comics Co-Owner Gerry Gladston
The convention was co-founded by the synagogue’s President, Fred Polaniecki and artist, Fabrice Sapolsky. Their goal was simple. “ Well the ultimate goal is as I said already, pay homage to the founders of our industry. Shed a light, a generation of creators that are either Jewish or Non-Jewish but with something Jewish in their body of work that they want to showcase. And overall make a cool event like any other,” said Artist Fabrice Sapolsky.
During preview night on Saturday Nov. 12 attendees had the opportunity to interact and meet with comic artists and fans. This was proceeded by a silent auction of original graphic art, which will go towards the restoration of the Congregation Kol Israel.
The convention was held at the Congregation Kol Israel, located at 603 St. Johns Place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
This marks the first time for a comic convention to be held in a synagogue. “Now you didn’t go to Yeshiva, I did, and the biggest sin, besides long hair and looking like a hippie would have been to walk into a class carrying a comic book. So the very fact that we were able to do a Jewish Comic Con in an orthodox synagogue is bizarre,” said Fred Polaniecki.
The convention served as a fundraiser for the historic ninety year old Orthodox Brooklyn synagogue which has recently been using Jewish art shows as a means for its developing restoration project.
The synagogue was packed throughout the day. With guests arriving either for the whole day or for specific panels being given.
At the same time attendees were able to converse with artists and purchase artwork in the synagogue sanctuary before moving downstairs for panels being held throughout the day.
Panels focused on mainstream topics given a Jewish twist. Topics discussed included the Jewish roots of comics. Why did comics bloom from the Jewish community? Why did Jewish creators mostly hide their heritage in early years?
Jewish Comic-Con Team Member Sasha Stern and Synagogue President Fred Polaniecki.(Left to right)
So what’s next? The possibilities are endless. Plans are currently in the works for the Second Edition Jewish Comic Con next year, November 12th, 2017.
Polaniecki and Sapolsky hope to take the convention in the near future on the road towards more Jewish communities. Polaniecki has expressed interest in hosting a similar event in the near future and bringing Jewish Comic Con to Krakow Jewish Festival.
At the same time Fred Polaniecki has expressed interest in broadening Congregation Kol Israel’s role in educating those in the Jewish Community about the arts by providing sketching classes and sketching Jewish Comic art.
“Until the day truth, justice and the American way go out of style, the Jewish influence on comics is there and a strong relationship,” said Fred Polaniecki.