1990s

In the 1990s there was another adaptation of Ivanhoe – this time in beautiful watercolors. 

"Ivanhoe" Classics Illustrated #25 (May 1991), p. 37. Story by Walter Scott. Adapted by Mark Wayne Harris. Art by Ray Lago. © First Publishing & Berkeley Publishing Group


There were also 2 Chick tracts – one adapting the story of Ruth, 

The Outsider (1991). Adapted by Jack Chick. Art by Fred Carter.  © Chick Publications
the other the story of King David’s affair with Bat-Sheva. 

The Royal Affair (1990). Adapted by Jack Chick. Art by Fred Carter.  © Chick Publications


The Devil’s Workshop had a scene where Houdini’s mother tells Houdini that she’s disappointed about his changing his name. 

Batman / Houdini : The Devil's Workshop (1993), p. 35. Story by Howard Chaykin & John Francis Moore.  Art by Mark Chiarello. © DC Comics

The semi-autobiographical Brooklyn Dreams had 5 Jewish women in it : the confrontational sister, the obsessed-with-worrying mother who constantly scratched her arms, the anger-filled aunts, & Annie Stein whom he described as “cheerleader, straight A student, all-American Jewish princess & … first true love”.

"Dog Days" Brooklyn Dreams #1 (1994), p. 70-71. Story by J.M. DeMatteis. Art by Glenn Barr. 


The 2^nd Angloman book introduced the first and only Canadian-Jewish superheroine Matzoh Girl, 

"Crisis at the Cavendish Mall" Angloman 2 : Money, Ethnics, Superheroes (Dec. 1996), 2nd story, p. 4. Story by Mark Shaniblum. Art by Gabriel Morrissette. © Nuage Editions.


while an issue of Jaguar revealed that the title character was descended from Marrano Jews. 

"Confessions" The Jaguar #4 (Nov. 1991). Story by William Messner-Loebs. Art by David Williams & Jose Marzan, Jr. © DC Comics


In the DC Universe Holiday Bash, Green Lantern met a female rabbi who delivered a stirring Hanukkah sermon about faith after her synagogue was vandalized. 

"The Vessel" DC Universe Holiday Bash #1 (1997), 5th story, p. 10. 


In the Marvel Holiday Special, Kitty taught a black girl about acceptance & overcoming prejudice, using herself as an example of a dual minority – mutant and Jew. 

"Unto Others" Marvel Holiday Special (1996), 2nd story, p. 5. Story by Evan Skolnick. Art by Josh Hood & Derek Fisher. © Marvel Comics


Jewish-black relations were also looked at in 3 other works of the decade. In Dropsie Avenue, Rosie’s mother insisted that Rosie’s black friend (Rubie Brown) eat at the same table as them, something Rubie wasn’t used to. Later, when Rubie’s father (Jim) loses his job, Rosie’s mom indirectly gets him hired as the custodian for her synagogue. 

Dropsie Avenue : The Neighborhood (1995). Story & Art by Will Eisner. © Kitchen Sink


In the Static series, Virgil Hawkins had a disagreement with his friend Frieda Goren over wealth in the Jewish-American and African-American communities and whether Jews bear responsibility for problems in the black community. 

"Louder than a Bomb, Chapter One: Megablast" Static #5 (Oct. 1993). Story by Robert L. Washington III. Art by John Paul Leon & Steve LoudMitchell. © Milestone


In the White Like She miniseries, the brain of black janitor Luther Joyce was transplanted into the body of Louella Schwartz by a controversial surgeon. 

"Caucasian Hypothesis" White Like She #3 (July 1994), p. 5. Story & art by Bob Fingerman. © Dark Horse


An issue of Captain America once again showed a flashback of the Red Skull’s backstory, this time depicting all of the Jews as faceless. 

 "The Red Skull in: Turnabout" Captain America #14 (Feb. 1999), p. 13. Story by Mark Waid & Ralph Macchio. Art by Andy Kubert & Jesse Delperdang. © Marvel Comics


In one Superman story, a girl in the Warsaw Ghetto risked her life to hide an unknown Superman, despite her mother’s objections, 

"Time and Time Again Phase Three: The Warsaw Ghetto" Superman #54 (Apr. 1991 ), p. 7. Story by Jerry Ordway. Art by Jerry Ordway & Dennis Janke. © DC Comics


while in another story, Superman reunited 2 Holocaust survivor sisters who were separated at Auschwitz. 

"Metropolis Mailbag" Superman #64 (Feb. 1992), p. 5. Story by Dan Jurgens, Art by Jackson Guice. © DC Comics


An issue of X-Factor had a backup story in which Holocaust survivor Mrs. Scully shared her story of love & loss – most of her family killed, her life spared by a Nazi who lusted after her, rejection by her aunt for marrying a Gentile. 

"Tribute the First" X-Factor Annual #5 (1990), p. 7-8. Story by Peter David. Art by Dave Ross & Geof Isherwood. © Marvel Comics


In the Shadow Strikes series, a Jewish Einstein-like genius was smuggled out of the U.S. to both escape Nazi persecution & to assist the Allies. He was shocked when he noticed that an American waitress was proudly wearing a magen David necklace, unafraid to let others see that she was Jewish. 

"The Star and the Twisted Cross" The Shadow Strikes #20 (June 1991), p. 20. Story by Elliot S! Maggin. Art by RodWhigham & Gerry Fernandez. © DC Comics


It was during this decade that Corinne Pearlman published her first autobiographical short piece “The Non-Jewish Jewess”, which eventually led to her “Playing the Jewish Card” pieces which have appeared in The Jewish Quarterly. 

"The Non-Jewish Jewsess" The Jewish Quarterly (Autumn 1992), reprinted in Fanny #3 (1992). Story & Art by Corinne Pearlman. © The Jewish Quarterly 


Will Eisner’s Invisible People contained the short story “Mortal Combat” – a tragic Jewish librarian romance, in which Herman is torn between fellow librarian Hilda (with whom he has fallen in love) and his guilt-inducing over-possessive mother who literally sticks her head in the oven in a desperate attempt to break them up.

"Mortal Combat" Invisible People (1993), 3rd story, p.  10. Story & Art by Will Eisner. © Kitchen Sink