NJW&C 02: The Release of Neil’s New Comic and a Few Words About Being Jewish (But Not-So-Nice)
Hey, Kids! It’s Nice Jewish Words & Comics!, the latest installment from Neil Kleid's bi-monthly newsletter with updates and info about his latest projects!
Let’s get the business out of the way: the first issue of Nice Jewish Boys, a suburban crime comic I’ve co-authored with John Broglia, Ellie Wright and Sarah Litt via Comixology Originals, is available! You can now buy it on Amazon, then download the Comixology app on a mobile device, read the issue there—love it, of course—and then tell others about it. If you do love it, one of the best ways to help us is to share it with others and write a nice review on Amazon.
I’ve been working on this comic book for a while now, and it’s probably one of the most personal things I’ve ever written—not only is it about modern Orthodox religious Jews…but it’s set in my own community, and as such clearly conveys a lot of intimate thoughts I’ve had about my community—and about my relationship with Judaism as a whole, or at least at this stage in my life as a father, a husband, as an adult with responsibilities to G-d, family and community—while still telling a very compelling crime story about fictional people that do not exist, in a charged climate where anti-semitism and animosity toward Jews as a whole are very much at the top of my mind…as well as the minds of most Jews on the planet.
To that end, I thought maybe I should explain myself.
For the last few months, I’ve randomly mentioned this comic to people I know, admire, and love. I’ve also dropped the quick pitch in conversations with acquaintances and folks both comics and Judaism-adjacent. I’ve heard three things in response:
“That sounds awesome. Can I read it now?”
“It’s about you, right?”
“Okay, but does it present Jews in a positive light? Is it good for the Jews?”
So, to answer:
Yes, now you can read it right here. Well, at least the first issue. The rest will be along shortly, scheduled once a month for five issues.
Yes…and no. More about that later in this newsletter.
Yes…and no. And really, this is what I want to talk about right now. Some of what follows appears in the back of Nice Jewish Boys #1. Some of it will appear at the end of issue #5. But overall…this is what I’ve been grappling for a while now, and even more so since the tragic, terrible, horrific events of October 7th, 2023.
Let’s just say this: I'm proud as hell to be Jewish.
If you know me even a little; if you’ve read my work, my books and comics…if you follow me on the social medias or just have heard me speak at a panel or in passing…it’s pretty clear how important being Jewish is to me, my family, my friends.
“Let’s just say this: I'm proud as hell to be Jewish.”
I've been proudly what the Orthodox Jewish religious kids call "frum from birth," which means I was born religiously observant and have remained that way my whole life (of course, the level of observance has fluctuated through personal religious crises and as I found myself after leaving a closed-knit religious community in Oak Park, Michigan, and moving to New York…where everyone comes to find themselves, even yids.) I keep Shabbos and only eat kosher (or vegan, in a pinch), I attend synagogue on Friday night and Saturday morning, and keep every single Jewish fast and holiday (so say "good yom tov" if you see me buying matzah or carrying a lulav). Judaism has helped shape the man I've become, the family I've built with my beautiful, patient wife, the values and morals we’ve instilled into our children, and the decisions I've made in both my personal and professional life. I'm supportive of the global Jewish community, believe in Jewish representation in all forms of media, and actively speak out against stereotyping or profiling Jews whenever possible.
So, that said ... why write a book that puts the Jewish community—more specifically, my Jewish community—under a spotlight? Why tell a story that could make Orthodox Jews look bad—especially as antisemites attack Jews in the streets and on social media…or as those of us who love and believe in a Jewish state have come together as one amazing community in unity to support our brothers, sisters, children, and friends both here in America and also fighting and protecting the front lines of the Israel-Hamas struggle? Why, basically, write a comic that could make Jews look bad?
One of the things I've always strived to do is explain to non-Jewish friends and colleagues that despite my curious traditions and religious restrictions (both dietary and otherwise), I'm just a human being, same as them. As we’ve seen over the last month, there are many bigots and white supremacists, or terrorists and their supporters who may not believe the same. But really, Jews are people too. We laugh, we cry, we enjoy a good book and a great steak. We have sex, we fall in love, and we suffer heartbreak. We aspire to be healthy and thriving, pursuing happiness for ourselves and our families ... just like any other person. Just like you.
Despite some terrible stereotypes you may have heard, Jews struggle just like everybody else. There are sick Jews, healthy Jews, lonely Jews, and happy Jews. And sure, there are wealthy Jews ... but there are probably even more poor and middle-class Jews, many hustling to pay the bills or make ends meet due to the decisions or straight-up pitfalls of life (living/stuck in a specific city; financing school, a residence, car or medical costs; grappling with unemployment, religious choices, critical healthcare issues, etc.). I'm one of these later middle-class Jews. I know what it's like to worry about the next paycheck or be frustrated by (and sometimes victim to) an unfair or difficult system. And like all people—like all Jews—yeah, I’ve got flaws. I make mistakes. I get anxious and worried; I scream at my kids. I say the wrong thing. I’m not smart enough to debate the things for which I’m not well-informed. I shoplifted baseball cards as a kid. And in my darker moments, I have dreamt about manipulating or taking the unfair or difficult system for what it's worth to alleviate my struggles, to find a little breathing room and secure the things that my family not only needs, but wants. I've considered taking the easy way out—skirting the legal limits, when those opportunities have arisen. But like most kind or good humans—and like most Jews, who are both those things—I never have.
That can't be said about others. There are lots of flawed people in this world, as we know, willing to take advantage of the innocent or gullible for personal gain ... and they aren't necessarily Jewish. There are all kinds of criminals in our fucked up, mixed-up world, from every conceivable racial or religious background, all of them armed with all kinds of terrible stories. For the sake of our conversation—and for the sake of Nice Jewish Boys—let’s focus on just one, all right?
Back in 2021, I read a story about a long-established, well-known kosher butcher in Cleveland, Ohio, the family of whom I had a close personal connection during my college years, who'd sold his store and business in 2019 to a Jewish employee and the employee's brother, a silent partner. Over the course of three years, those brothers—the Senders brothers—quietly used this butcher’s store to launder money from their highly profitable…and highly illegal…drug trafficking business, funneling their ill-gotten funds through the butchery alongside a network of bank accounts, LLCs, real estate acquisitions, and a cryptocurrency hedge fund. In September of 2021, the Food and Drug Administration's Cleveland Office of Criminal Investigations raided the butcher and several million-dollar homes connected to the brothers, discovering over three million in cash, along with four luxury watches, a gold bar, a 2019 Nautique G25 boat, and a black 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo, among other assets. Cleveland Jews, by all accounts, were stunned by this revelation. The butchery had been a local fixture for many, many years, and folks believed the Senders brothers to be upstanding, well-regarded, active members of the Jewish community. Now this butcher's reputation was ruined, and though the store still remains open, the brothers are still embroiled in an ongoing federal investigation.
That's just one story, friends. Personally, I know of at least two or three people from within my own family's network of friends and acquaintances that have been indicted for credit card theft and identity fraud. I've heard tales of folks within our larger community giving into the siren songs of murder, blackmail, sexual assault, grand larceny, and of course, how many Jews lost their life savings to the largest and most infamous Ponzi scheme in history, perpetrated by one of our own? It happens. Like all those other races and religions, Judaism is no stranger to the criminal element. We’re not all “nice Jewish boys and girls”. Sure, we love our community—and I do love both my global and local Jewish communities, religious or otherwise, and am proud as hell to be part of am yisroel chai (“the people of Israel live”)—and for the most part, most of the yids you’ll meet are doing what they can to be upstanding members of society, contributing to community and their local neighborhoods, making sure they follow the letter of the law—the laws of the land. But yeah, sometimes you get the odd monster.
What I'm always surprised by is when the criminal revelations come as a shock to those within our greater Jewish community. Is it because we're supposed to be a "light unto the nations”, as it says in the Torah? Is it because Jews, like Hebrew National hot dogs, are asked to "hold ourselves to a higher authority"? I mean, as I said: we're human. We're flawed. We make mistakes like everyone else. We struggle and grow as we do, learning from those mistakes, trying to do better for the next generation or, at least, for ourselves. But here's the other thing: we don’t always discuss it. We whisper about these incidents under our breath or gossip about it in group texts until finally, eventually, the truth arrives like a bomb. Like all people, Jews have flaws. Look at the Senders brothers or Bernie Madoff, that most famous of financial monsters. And sometimes, it's okay to point out those flaws and talk about them so that we can learn from them and try to work together to better our community (and “our” community should extend beyond the wall of Judaism, friends. I’ll just toss that out there for now). Yes, we all love being Jewish. We love our community. But it's also okay to love something—to believe in it and make it an essential part of who you are—while also condemning it for its flaws, whether isolated to specific individuals or groups ... or to a failing that's more widely systemic.
That's the story I'm here to tell. Nice Jewish Boys is set in Teaneck, New Jersey—my community, sure—but it's about all Jewish communities…and, to be honest, religious or racial communities like it. Also, yeah, like all good stories, it's about one of its co-authors (me, all right). About his fears and anxieties and what it might be like to succumb to frustration with a beloved system that can also be restrictive and expensive ... and, in many cases, unfair to those who love what it can offer in terms of faith, community and a connection to something greater than ourselves if only it would put aside the entitlement, judgment, and unwillingness to change. It’s about me sitting around wondering about loyalty and the law, and what might happen if I knew Jews like the Senders Brothers or someone like them. What if I was one myself—or close enough to be one—and discovered my closest friend was a master criminal? Would I turn him in? Keep his secrets? Would I tell my wife, my family, the cops, or succumb to the draw of easy money and less of a struggle…or instead, hold myself to that higher authority and do the right thing? That’s the tale, good-looking readers. You may not agree with everything you’ll read in Nice Jewish Boys. You may fucking hate me for some of my stances and conclusions. But it’s the story I needed to tell, and in the end, that authenticity and honesty is what I hope will set it apart.
As I said earlier, folks who know me well will see parallels in that tale to my own life; for the sake of my poor, suffering wife and family who never asked for me to tell this story, I'll raise the standard, truthful boilerplate that lives in the indicia at the front of each issue: the names, characters, places, incidents, and events featured in Nice Jewish Boys are the product of my imagination and used fictitiously. Sure, there are similarities for the sake of authenticity, but this comic book is a work of suburban crime fiction ... fiction being the operative term. Please accept and enjoy it as such. Try not to focus on how much of it is based on reality. Most of it—aside from some of my more vehement opinions—is not. Neil Kleid is not Jake Levin. My wife isn’t Jake’s wife, my kids aren’t their kids. My opinions are not always his opinions, the ones you’ll read about in this story. I didn’t grow up in Teaneck, but have absolutely loved living here for fifteen years. Teaneck is a great place to raise a Jewish family and a wonderful place to live. The struggles I have with living as a religious Jew are not struggles unique to yids in New Jersey; they exist in Detroit, Chicago, L.A., Cleveland, Boston, Jerusalem, everywhere. Nor are those struggles unique to Orthodox Jews—there are all kinds of folks, from all kinds of races and religious backgrounds, that are having trouble making ends meet out there and what might be manageable to me may destroy someone else. So don’t mistake me for my supposedly fictional counterpart—sure, I’ve had to fund bar mitzvahs and make ends meet, but I’ve also got a full time day job and don’t rely on my writing alone to pay the bills. Also, please don’t mistake my use of Teaneck for this story’s setting as the town’s condemnation. Again, it’s a lovely place to live, and the folks who reside here with me are wonderful folks, especially those who populate the Jewish community. Again, fiction; it’s a story that lived inside my head and now graces the page thanks to my talented co-authors, and both pastiche and exaggeration dwell within. Don’t fault my neighbors and friends for my ability to spin a compelling yarn; don’t blame my wife or kids for the choices I’ve made within the narrative.
If Nice Jewish Boys does feel like it's based in reality, all thanks and praise go to the conscientious dedication of my talented, fantastic co-authors, John Broglia and Ellie Wright, and our attentive, incredible editor Sarah Litt, who pushed both us ... and this story ... to be the best we and it could possibly be. John, with whom I created Savor, was courageous enough to jump aboard and figure this out after our previous foray on a very fictional little island filled with food pirates and hippo chefs, is not to blame for the words on the page or the shape of the narrative. What he is to blame for, however, are the beautiful, evocative depictions of my town, its inhabitants, the drama playing out within and without the Levin home, Jake’s emotional whirlwind, and the sordid goings on at throughout the town. His stark, black-and-white depictions of the all-too-real landmarks and locations throughout Teaneck and the grace he brings to the pages are—as always—done with a brilliant level of care. John’s line art is enhanced and embellished by the wonderful Ellie Wright, whose deft palette heightens each scene, drowning our grief in darkness or brightening hopeful moments in vivid color. Massive thanks to our fantastic editor Sarah Litt, whose sharp eye for detail and knack for helping wrangle plot holes, improve narrative, and tighten grammar—not to mention her brilliant editorial vision—ensured our train ran on time and never veered from the always precarious tracks. Our collective appreciation goes out to our families for strength, our friends for encouragement, everyone at Comixology Originals for their unyielding guidance and backing (and to Chip Mosher who believed in the vision of our story, knew how good it could be, and championed it, even on his way out the door). Thanks as well to our comics colleagues for helping us get out the word and reading early drafts. And, of course, thanks to you, our good-looking readers, for supporting our work and ensuring it had someone to appreciate it, no matter how you feel about it. We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for continuing to support quality creator-owned comic books.
Let's end where we started. There's a Yiddish saying: “the best lie is the truth." Stephen King also says in his book, On Writing, that "fiction is a lie, and good fiction is the truth inside the lie." As I said, I'm proud to be Jewish. It may not feel like it when you read this comic, but I assure you that it's true…and I beg you to read this tale through to the very end to see where it land. As you read Nice Jewish Boys, there will be moments where truth may peek through the fiction. It's my hope, dear reader, that those are the bits—amid the crime, anguish, guilt, and betrayals—which speak loudest and longest. In the end, if nothing else, I hope you love this work of fiction as much as I do…but feel free enough to condemn me for the crime of telling that truth.
But is it “good for the Jews”?
I don’t know if I can answer that. I believe honesty above all is always good. I believe, as I said above, that it’s good to question any system—even one you love and are proud to be a part of—and point out its flaws in order to help it get better. There are plenty of flaws inside the Jewish community. We’re not a perfect people, by any means. I know that, and so do you. As someone born, raised, and living within it, I’ve struggled with aspects of my religious Orthodox Jewish community for a long while, and will always questions whether or not the system can improve. Sure, the crime. But also the financial hardships and casual racism often disguised as “retaliation to victimization”. Homophobia lives here, as does substance and sexual abuse There’s a lot to fix, and the community has incredible systems in place to help. But sometimes, glaring issues can be overlooked (as they are in any community across the globe, Jewish or not).
Despite following and living our lives to the letter of G-d’s Law, not everything we do is what He would have us do (hell, that’s why we have a Day of Atonement, right?). Those grey areas are what Nice Jewish Boys explores and exposes in service of informing (and perhaps improving) Jake as a character, even if the truths are hard to swallow. I hope anyone reading can understand that, regardless of which race, religion, or creed they claim. Sometimes being a “good Jew” means pointing out where we’re fucking up as a people. And I don’t think that’s ever a bad thing, really, even if some folks might hate me for shining the sequential spotlight.
I'm proud as hell to be Jewish. I’m a firm believer in the need for more original Jewish fiction, whether in comics, prose, television, or film. Not all of it is going to be pretty. Some of it, in fact, needs to be honest, ugly, messy, and divisive. It has to spark a reaction and conversation, opening the doors to debate, compromise, or change. My fellow co-authors and I hope, if nothing else, that’s what you take away when reading Nice Jewish Boys. And we hope you do the same with any comic book you may happen to read—Jewish or otherwise—even if, ultimately, like others I’ve mentioned above, you came away from this one troubled and hating me, as I’m sure some will.
But like the concept of teshuvah (redemption), here’s the great thing about writing comic books: we’ll always have the chance to do another one and win you back.
Nice Jewish Boys #1 is out right now from me, Broglia, Wright and Litt via Comixology Originals. We hope you enjoy it and stick through to issue five. We’re really proud of the work we put into it, and thanks for reading. May this year bring you—and me, and Am Yisroel—peace, happiness, security, and love. May it truly be a year that’s good for the Jews. Oh, here’s the cover to issue #2:
By the way, here are a few articles I’ve read lately that were interesting and diverse takes on the whole subject of Jews and antisemitism right now. You may not agree with all of the content—I don’t, but I am trying to read everything I can get my hands on right now—and I thought these three were worth including:
“How Does it Feel to be Jewish?” By Rich Dlin
“What Should American Jews Do With Our Fear?” By Emily Tamkin
“Because Jews” by Michael Seitzman
SOME PRAISE FOR NICE JEWISH BOYS #1
Thanks so much to the folks who have already read the first issue, reached out via email or on social media and had wonderful things to say about our comic.
Friend of the newsletter, Powers co-creator and the mind behind Miles Morales and Ultimate Spider-Man, Brian Michael Bendis, emailed to say “This is a tremendous idea for a project. I was envious in the best way. I loved it. What a well-timed piece of writing.”
AIPT Comics said “…it feels really inventive as this new way to understand and explore the larger Jewish experience in America…it manages to dissect a community in a compelling and respectful way by bringing that group into a familiar storytelling structure...It’d be a real shanda if you missed out on this book.”
Our pals Alex, Justin and Pete at the Comic Book Club, on their Stack podcast, (at the 32:53 mark) said it’s “a great read” and “great job setting up this world…makes for a great story. If you’re a fan of any sort of crime comics across the board, from your Ed Brubaker stuff all the way down, this book is right in that vein and definitely one that you can enjoy.” Look, as a huge fan of Ed Brubaker, that really meant a lot.
Lotusland Comics gave the issue four out of five stars, saying “Kleid brings to life his Jewish upbringing and traditions through the story of these "nice Jewish boys" as the first-person narration calls to mind the opening of ‘Goodfellas’…'Nice Jewish Boys' is a captivating read that should leave readers hooked.”
The ODPH Podcast said “Under the veil of friendship and family, Kleid, Broglia and Wright establish a devious tale that tests pushing a man to his breaking point. Fantastic writing fills the vivid imagery to construct a story that would be criminal to pass on reading.”
HERE’S WHERE NEIL WILL BE
This one was a bit long , so a quick reminder for those in the tri-state area that this Sunday, November 12th, I’ll be attending the inaugural Jewish Comics Experience at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan. We’ll be celebrating Jewish comics and Jews in comics for this one-day convention-style event, which includes both Jewish and non-Jewish comics luminaries (I mean, Frank Miller?!), engaging panels, booths and vendors, and an Artist’s Alley featuring yours truly!
If you’re local to New York, please swing by!
HERE’S WHAT NEIL IS WATCHING AND READING
Bullets, bullets again. Maybe next time I’ll spend more time talking about The Legion of Super Heroes: Great Darkness Saga, which I just read for the first time. But for now, here’s what’s on my viewing and reading radar:
Was lucky enough to get an early look at Masterpiece #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and the great Alex Maleev from Dark Horse Comics, and it did not fail to deliver on my expectations. I have always loved Bendis’ crime stuff (Torso, Goldfish, Powers) and the work he and Maleev did on Daredevil is top-notch. This comic is classic Bendis & Maleev in the best mindscrew sort of way. It’s about a brilliant orphaned girl named Emma—aka Masterpiece—a webcomics artist known for her creative inventions. When one of the world’s most famous billionaires tracks down Masterpiece and confronts her with the news that her parents were two of the greatest, most charismatic criminals of all time, he also says they stole from him and he wants revenge. After being threatened into pulling an impossible heist, Masterpiece rounds up a group of her peers and her parents’ old associates to turn the tables. Fantastic, compelling characters (especially the kids). Brilliant design. Cracking pacing. Bendis dialogue at its best. Order your copy and jump on board. You won’t regret it.
Finished the first two volumes of Crowded by Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein and Ted Brandt via Image Comics, as well as the entirety of Eight Billion Genies by Charles Soule and Ryan Browne. Both incredibly inventive takes on a world that’s a week away from now. Charles, by the by, is one of the co-architects of Star Wars: High Republic and may be the only person on the planet who loves Lobot more than I do, dammit. Anyway, check out both books. You’ll be glad you did.
Have you read Marvel’s new The Punisher series, starring Joe Garrison, the latest traumatized soldier to wear the skull and successor to our psychotic friend Frank Castle? This new series is written by friend-to-the-newsletter and fellow comics Jew, David Pepose, illustrated by the brilliant Dave Wachter. An explosive, entertaining debut for a new era of punishment...plus, it includes one of my favorite Marvel villains. Really fun narrative and fantastic artwork. I’ll be grabbing the second issue when it comes out, and if you haven’t read it yet, I recommend Pepose’s Marvel debut—Savage Avengers—and his latest from Mad Cave Studios, The Devil That Wears My Face. The first issue of the Joe Garrison era of The Punisher debuts today, so pick up a copy if you're headed to the store.
I just re-watched Game of Thrones Season Eight, and it’s still as gloriously flawed as it was the first three times I watched it. But I still maintain that the true winner of the game was Hot Pie, Arya’s baker pal from seasons two and three, who pops back again in seasons four and seven. I want to write a Hot Pie vertical scrolling comic in which he bakes pies and gets caught up in all sort of hijinx with pals in the Riverlands. There would be recipes—and adventures! Anyway, I maintain that Hot Pie won the Game of Thrones because he avoided all that nonsense and is just baking wolf bread and living his best life near Riverrun. Never saw a White Walker; never got Red Wedding’ed or firebombed or kissed his aunt (wait, did he?) or dragoned or nothing at all. He’s just Hot Pie, same as he ever was. Good for him.
Yes, I also just read The Great Darkness Saga for the first time. Don’t judge me. Maybe we’ll talk about that next time.
Hope to see a few of you at JEWCE. If not, enjoy the first issue of Nice Jewish Boys #1. If you do, leave your thoughts in the comments (or on Amazon), and we’ll see you again in two weeks.
—Neil
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