Tag Archives: max berkowitz

The Berkowitz Brothers join The Hall of Fame of the Great Monsters panel for The Books That Changed My Life Festival

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The Hall of Fame of The Great Monsters

On Monday, February 10, 2025 from 7 pm to 8:15 pm EST, the Berkowitz Brothers (The Writer) will be joining “The Hall of Fame of The Great Monsters” panel featuring in the Marlene Meyerson JCC Books That Changed My Life Festival to discuss topics including their comic series with Josh Gad, The Writer, and more.  

The panel will be moderated by Emmy-nominated actress Jackie Hoffman (Feud: Betty and Joan, Only Murders in the Building) and also features Roy Schwartz (Is Superman Circumcised?: The Complete Jewish History of the World’s Greatest Hero) and Broadway actor Lair Mackintosh (The Phantom of the Opera) alongside the Berkowitz Brothers. Together, they’ll explore the world of monsters in literature, TV, movies, books, and pop culture and examine how these creatures reflect fears, flaws, and humanity. 

The Marlene Meyerson JCC is generously offering fans of Dark Horse Comics and The Writer comic series a special ticket discount for this event. See details and purchase these tickets for $10 here. For more details about the festival, see here. 

JewCE 2024: Jewish Mythology and Fantasy in Adventure Comics

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If you missed it, JewCE has posted their panels from its 2024 convention. Join an exhilarating and broad ranging conversation about Jewish mythology and fantasy in adventure comics with the Berkowitz Brothers (Ben and Max), who are the writers and creators with Josh Gad of The Writer, and Amit Tishler, creator and writer of Edenfrost and The Last Wardens. Moderated by cartoonist Neil Kleid.

Preview: The Writer #4

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The Writer #4

(W) Ben Berkowitz, Max Berkowitz, Josh Gad (A) Ariel Olivetti (CA) Francesco Francavilla
In Shops: Oct 23, 2024
SRP: $3.99

Josh Gad and the Berkowitz Brothers escalate the stakes in this final issue. After a GIANT clash, Stan faces a world-threatening egg, and a race against time unfolds. Amidst the emotional wreckage of their journey, Stan and his family grapple with lost loved ones and demonic possessions. As they seek meaning in chaos, a relentless battle against annihilation surges in this reflective yet action-packed saga.

The Writer #4

Preview: The Writer #3

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The Writer #3

(W) Ben Berkowitz, Max Berkowitz, Josh Gad (A) Ariel Olivetti (CA) Tonci Zonjic
In Shops: Sep 18, 2024
SRP: $3.99

Josh Gad and the Berkowitz Brothers unveil a mystic voyage as Stan, Liz, and Izzy venture through the Unknown World. The penultimate issue escorts them through enchanted forests, encounters with ancient evils, and a profound confrontation with King Solomon. Amid unforeseen betrayals and celestial adversaries, the trio’s journey unveils a realm where courage and illusions clash with legendary mysteries.

The Writer #3

The Writer #1 is an interesting concept with a choppy start

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The Writer #1

In a dark turn, comic book writer Stan Siegel’s life dives into a neo-Nazi occult nightmare. Amid demonic chaos and high-speed chases, Stan’s hunger for answers unveils hidden identities, setting off a desperate race against time in this thrilling saga. To combat the rising tide of terror, Stan must become the hero from his pages. The Writer #1 has a lot of interesting ideas but lacks a cohesive story.

With a story by and written by Josh Grad, Ben Berkowitz, and, Max Berkowitz, The Writer #1 is a frustrating start of a comic that leaves you feeling like you missed something. The story starts innocently enough, talking about King Solomon and a magical ring lost through time. Flash to today, and we’re introduced to Stan who is teaching a class and dealing with antisemitism. What he doesn’t know is, he has a magical ring and also has powers like the Jewish folklore the Golem. Very little of that is explained as readers go with the flow for a start that feels like it’s missing big chunks of details. The main character is a Golem? The mother is this badass warrior? He eats a piece of paper to gain power and the villain just lets him? It all just sort of happens with little flow and little explanation.

The art is interesting. Ariel Olivetti kicks the comic off with some beautiful art and some Jack Kirby inspired comic art in the background creates an interesting mix of styles. But, overall, it features Olivetti’s usual good and bad. Singular panels and pages look great but there’s also moments here and there where the art feels off and doesn’t quite fit with what’s happening. A choppiness in art that matches a similar narrative.

The Writer #1 has some interesting ideas and with what’s going on in the world, has a lot of potential. But, it’s overall narrative flow feels like a series of ideas and scenes welded together instead of flowing into each other. There’s not enough explained and not enough shock for reactions. As a reader, you’re forced to just go with the flow and hope the second issue clears some things up.

Story: Josh Grad, Ben Berkowitz, Max Berkowitz, Art: Ariel Olivetti
Color: Ariel Olivetti Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic
Story: 6.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 6.75 Recommendation: Read

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Story: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: The Writer #1

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The Writer #1

(W) Ben Berkowitz, Max Berkowitz, Josh Gad (A) Ariel Olivetti (CA) Jeremy Haun
In Shops: Jun 19, 2024
SRP: $3.99

In a dark turn, comic book writer Stan Siegel’s life dives into a neo-Nazi occult nightmare. Orchestrated by legendary Josh Gad and the Berkowitz Brothers, The Writer plunges Stan into a whirl of folklore and magic. Amid demonic chaos and high-speed chases, Stan’s hunger for answers unveils hidden identities, setting off a desperate race against time in this thrilling saga. To combat the rising tide of terror, Stan must become the hero from his pages.

The Writer #1

Josh Gad, Ben and Max Berkowitz, and Dark Horse team for The Writer

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In June, Dark Horse Comics will release the first in an all-new four-issue comic miniseries the all-star team of actor/singer Josh Gad, creative storytellers Ben and Max Berkowitz, artist Ariel Olivetti, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic. The Writer combines the fantastical elements of cultural folklore with the real-life challenges of the creative process, in a story that is unique, familiar, and wholly original.

The Writer introduces readers to Stan Siegel, an established storyteller known for comic book stories of the heroic and fantastical. However, his life takes an unexpected and dark turn when he is plunged into a Nazi occult-fueled nightmare. In a whirlwind of folklore and magic, Stan’s hunger for answers unveils hidden identities amid demonic chaos and high-speed chases. This thrilling saga is a race against time, with Stan compelled to stop the rising tide of terror by becoming the hero from his pages.

The Writer assembles this all-star creative team from the stage, the screen and comics alike to bring readers into the magical world of cultural folklore through the lens of the pitfalls of the real-life creative process, The first issue lands on shelves of your favorite comic shop on June 19.

The Writer