After days if not weeks of preparation, the Passover seder is finally ready. But wait — something is missing! As any superhero fan knows, some situations call for special powers, especially when a shank bone is missing or the charoset cannot be found. In Eric A. Kimmel and Charlie Fowkes’s new book, Matzah Man is prepared to address any circumstance that threatens to delay the Festival of Freedom.
This graphic novel is divided into chapters, building readers’ excitement and introducing them to different Jewish cultures around the world. Matzah Man is dressed in traditional superhero garb, with a blue mem emblazoned on his shirt that matches his identity-concealing mask. Beginning his journey in Matzahville, whose welcome sign is reminiscent of midcentury American graphics, Matzah Man is confronted with a cat who has consumed the shank bone. Although family members believe it’s irreplaceable, Matzah Man assures them that a beet or carrot would be a fine substitute.
Then, a frum family in Jerusalem loses their matzah to some hungry mice. Matzah Man is armed with every variety of the unleavened bread, including the strictly prepared shmurah variety. When a Moroccan grand-père and grand-mère find themselves without charoset, each assuming that the other has prepared it, the possibly Ashkenazi Matzah Man can’t supply them with the dates they need for their special recipe. But not to worry: he searches on his phone and quickly locates some. The best location is San Diego, California, a city whose distance does not deter Matzah Man. Both text and image demonstrate the interconnectedness of the Jewish world on a deeply significant holiday.
Every superhero is vulnerable, and Matzah Man is no exception. Eventually, his global travels deplete his energy before he has had time to assemble enough matzah balls for everyone who needs them. When Elijah the Prophet shows up to help, looking like a beloved zayde with his beard and sunglasses, one of the seder guests plays a crucial role. Young readers — and maybe even older ones — will have opportunities to learn about different customs that fulfill the mitzvot of Passover. This book’s empathy and humor open the door to a vision of freedom that, unlike a shank bone, cannot be replaced.
Emily Schneider writes about literature, feminism, and culture for Tablet, The Forward, The Horn Book, and other publications, and writes about children’s books on her blog. She has a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures.