As a new series, The Writer was a pleasant surprise in that it used Jewish mythology and the author’s Jewish heritage to craft a fantasy story centered around a fractured family, and it’s wise to continue this trend with The Writer #3, in which the Siegel family journeys into a world of mystery and mystery to save all of humanity – and their own family.
What’s really impressive about The Writer #3 is how Josh Gad, along with the Berkowitz brothers, present their ever-changing script. The narrator constantly shifts from Stan Siegel to his daughter Izzy to a mysterious character who has yet to be revealed (but who I’m betting will play a role in the final episode). Captions begin with “Meanwhile,” then drop “present” to “future,” describing only the location. It certainly feels like Gad and the Berkowitz brothers are presenting a first draft of the script, flaws and all, for us to read.
But it gets at the essence of storytelling: people tell themselves stories to remember lessons or to connect with parts of history they’ve left behind. The Writer #3 does both, with most of the monsters and places drawn from Judaism, mythology and history; from King Solomon himself to the sea of tears that brings out the bitterness in the Siegel family. This leads to some emotionally raw moments: Stan yells at his mother Liz for not supporting his writing… and then Liz yells at him for not taking the leap with it. Grounding fantasy in human emotion is something few comics do, but The Writer does it brilliantly.
Dark Horse Comics
But no matter how incredible this story is, it wouldn’t be complete without Ariel Olivetti’s artwork. Olivetti paints scenes of demons and other creatures that are both terrifying and fascinating. Nowhere is this more evident than in the demon Lilith, whose curved horns, bluish-gray skin, and bat-like wings reveal her otherworldly nature. In contrast, Solomon is depicted in gold and white armor befitting his regal status. Even the Siegel family is dressed in heroic costumes befitting their roles in the story.
Olivetti’s colors are also a joy to look at, moving from bright blue skies and lush forest greens to the icy blue of the River of Sorrow and the glowing red of hell as the Siegel family crosses a burning river. The same technique is used in Frank Cvetkovich’s letters, with their red crosses and letters evocative of the writer’s notes on his first drafts.
Overall, The Writer #3 shows how stories can change and grow depending on the person at the center of them, and it reminds us that no matter where we are in life, our story isn’t over yet, or it may go in any direction we want it to.
“The Writer” 3 forces family to face fears
Writer #3
“Writer #3” shows us how stories can change and grow depending on the person at the center of them, and it reminds us that no matter where we are in life, our story isn’t over yet, or may go in any direction we wish.
Gad and the Berkowitz brothers expertly capture the essence of the story, from the writing to the art.
Olivetti’s work brings the world of monsters and myths to life with brilliant precision.
There are some emotionally raw moments in this story that I wasn’t expecting.
I still can’t wait for this series to finish, I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface.
