Josh Gad and the Berkowitz Brothers Explore Jewish Mythology, History, and Folklore

Jack Kirby. Stan Lee. Jerry Siegel. Joe Shuster.

These Jews were pioneers in the comic book industry. They created everybody’s favorite superheroes, from Spider-Man and Superman to the Black Panther, the Avengers, and the X-Men.

Now, continuing the tradition of Jews in comic books are the Berkowitz Bros, Max and Ben Berkowitz, who recently released a four-series comic book called, “The Writer” with actor Josh Gad (Olaf from “Frozen” and “The Book of Mormon”). Ariel Olivetti, who drew for comics like “Daredevil” and “Superman,” illustrated the series.

“The Writer,” which is for ages 14+, follows Stan Siegel (a nod to Stan Lee and Jerry Siegel), a prominent comic book writer and college professor who looks like Josh Gad. He puts on a ring that his father gave him and turns into a golem-type figure, going on a terrifying and exciting adventure filled with Nazis, demons, and mythical creatures found in Jewish folklore.

Along with his daughter Izzy and his mom, Liz, Stan has to reveal hidden mysteries before time runs out and an emerging terror wins. The comic book has been compared to both “Percy Jackson” and “Indiana Jones,” the latter of whom was inspiration for the Berkowitz Bros.

Cultivating a Love of Comic Books

Max and Ben have always loved comics and would read them all the time when they were growing up. Their grandfather, whom they called Papa, introduced them to comic books.

“During sleepovers at our Papa and Nana’s, we’d eagerly watch the George Reeves ‘Superman’ series or the Fleischer-animated ‘Superman’ shorts whenever they aired,” Ben said. “Those moments weren’t just entertainment; they were formative experiences that instilled in us a deep appreciation for storytelling and heroism.”

While characters like Daredevil were allowed to fully embrace and explore their Catholic identity, Jewish heroes often had their heritage erased or watered down.

However, they noticed something troubling when it came to Jewish representation in this art form. “[There was] a pattern in the way Jewish characters in comics were being handled in film and TV adaptations,” Ben said. “While characters like Daredevil were allowed to fully embrace and explore their Catholic identity, Jewish heroes often had their heritage erased or watered down, relegated to being ‘Jewish-coded’ instead of explicitly Jewish.”

The brothers wanted to push back against that erasure. “The Writer” not only explores Jewish myths and history, it does so with characters in kippahs, Hasidic men, and Hebrew letters.

“We wanted to create a character whose Jewish identity wasn’t a background detail but a driving force—messy, beautiful, powerful,” said Ben. “The story started with a simple but wild idea: what if a comic creator’s writing could shape reality, and what does that kind of responsibility do to a person? But it quickly grew into something much deeper: a meditation on family, memory, legacy, and the often invisible contributions of Jewish creators who helped build this industry.”

According to Ben, the Jewish comic book creators who built the industry, usually from the margins, utilized fantasy to process real-world pain, such as the Holocaust (i.e. “The X-Men”).

“Our book is both a celebration and a reckoning with that history,” he said. “We pull from Jewish folklore, dybbuks, the Ring of Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, not as window dressing but as living mythology. The inclusion of Nazis isn’t just a historical antagonist. It’s about confronting the evil that has pursued our people and continues to mutate in modern forms. It’s also a way to honor the courage of our ancestors who stood up to it, with pen or sword or silence or scream.”

Getting Josh Gad Involved

Years ago, according to Ben, Josh received an unexpected email from comic book creator Frank Miller (“Sin City”). Frank invited Josh to write a comic book, but Josh decided not to move forward.

“However, this experience planted a seed, and over time, he found his voice in the medium,” Ben said. “Collaborating on ‘The Writer’ became the perfect opportunity for him to merge his brilliant storytelling talents with a newfound appreciation for comics.​”

When the Berkowitz Bros first shared the concept of “The Writer” with Josh, a grandson of Holocaust survivors, it was more than a pitch.

“It was a conversation about legacy, identity, and the kinds of stories we felt needed to exist in the world,” Ben said. “He lit up, not just because the idea was fun and inventive, but because it spoke to something deeply personal for all of us. Josh has an encyclopedic knowledge of Jewish history, mythology, and folklore—he brings both emotional depth and intellectual rigor to everything he touches.”

Spreading Jewish Pride Through Comic Books

Max, Ben, and Josh are proud and visible Jews – not just in their work, but in their personal life as well.

“Judaism isn’t just a heritage,” Ben said. “It’s a lens through which we see the world. It’s woven into our humor, our grief, our restlessness, and our creativity. It informs the questions we ask in our work: about memory, identity, responsibility, and repair. We may each practice differently, but the core values of our tradition, chesed (kindness), tikkun olam (repairing the world), and zachor (remembering), are deeply present in everything we create.”

In a time when antisemitism is on the rise and Jewish identity is being weaponized, Ben said “The Writer” is their way of fighting back, “with creativity, complexity, and pride. We want readers—especially young readers—to see themselves in these pages and feel seen, powerful, weird, and wonderful. And for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, this story is for you, too. Because sometimes the only way out is through the story.”

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