3 out of 5

You there – cut yer smirks.  No, I’m not here to proclaim Jewish Hero Corps as some amazing revelation that you’ve denied yourself by snickering at the clearly educational propaganda bent of the thing; …that is, absolutely, what the book is: A resource for inoculating those with comic book leanings with some facts and history regarding Judaism and some of its practices.  However, it is the best  version of such a venture – said somewhat with a smile, but true nonetheless – with competent artwork, a valid attempt at wrapping the whole thing in a super hero plot, and mainly, a good, healthy DIY sense of spirit.

Yeah, that’s right: Book’s got chutzpah.

A.superhero team of Jewish-themed heroes must prevent the “fobot” missile from launching and “erasing Jewish memories worldwide.”. But first!  Secret origin files for each hero!  …leaving only four pages out of 24 for our actual plot!  Did I mention DIY?  From the computer cut-and-paste printing, to the way the story clutters in clumps, akin to letters on a sign getting more cramped as they close in in a border, there’s not a stitch of the issue that doesn’t reek of the basement blood and sweat of self construction.  But it maintains a lighthearted tone the whole time that suggests self-awareness, and it exists on a humorous plane of ridiculousness, grounded by, like, Flash Jew Facts.

Someone gave me this issue as a gag, it’s true.  But, hey, you can laugh at the cover and content, but creator Alan Oirich committed to the project, assisted with equal efforts by artist Ron Randall, and produced something legit.  And if I found issue two in a cheapie bin… I’d be amenable to that.