16 | OCTOBER 28 • 2021 continued from page 14 OUR COMMUNITY torically Jewish neighborhood that retains a strong sense of its Jewish heritage today. Lockhart spent a lot of time there growing up. “I felt this connection partly because I had studied and read about the history of the LES for another project and because I grew up going there, ” Lockhart said. “I felt this connection of my own family to the city, and our her- itage was entwined with that. ” Lockhart then created the neighborhood in Gotham City that’s based off of the LES, called Down River. Whistle (aka Willow Zimmerman) exists in that neighborhood and develops superpowers after getting sucked into the criminal underworld of Gotham City in order to make money for her family. “Her mom is single and a professor of Jewish histo- ry who had to quit her job because she’s really sick and they have no health insur- ance, ” Lockhart explains. “ After she gets superpowers, she decides to fight for good rather than evil and protects the neighborhood. ” Whistle’s sidekick dog, Lebowitz, is named after author and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, who is also Jewish. “Whistle’s powers and identity are not centered on religious beliefs nor on the trauma of the Holocaust, but she’s culturally Jewish, a per- son who’s deeply connected to a historically Jewish neigh- borhood that she protects, ” Lockhart explains. EMPOWERING READERS Lockhart knows how import- ant representation is in media, and hopes young adult audi- ences, Jewish or not, connect with it. “It’s very valuable for young people to see themselves on the page in empowered situ- ations, but I also really tried to write something that was morally complicated about being a superhero,” Lockhart says. “I hope the book will make people think about what it means to be a good person and how challenging it can be to find a path for- ward.” While Lockhart’s book is mostly targeted at young adults, Schwartz wrote his book with two audiences in mind. “For comic book and pop culture fans, I hope it’s a fun, interesting journey through comic book lore and history, ” he said. “For Jewish readers, I hope it brings them an appreciation for our cultural contribution. We know about Hollywood, Broadway and standup comedy, but now they’ll be able to fully appre- ciate our very significant contribution to such a pop- ular and ubiquitous piece of Americana. ” As far as the future of Jews in the comic book world, Lockhart believes it’s a bright one. “I think the comic book world is opening up and it’s going to continue to open up more, ” Lockhart said. “I’ve seen tons of representation in really wonderful and creative ways. “We’re at the start of a very exciting time when we’re going to see more and more heroes reinvented and invented by a wider range of creators. ” DANIEL SHERBERT, M.D. F.A.C.S. Certifi ed by The American Board of Surgery, The American Board of Plastic Surgery & Fellowship Trained in Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery Specializing in Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery W est Maple Plastic Surgery (248) 865-6400 5807 W. Maple • Suite 177 • West Bloomfi eld Awaken the Beauty Within... Stay in the know with all things Jewish... Get The Detroit Jewish News print edition delivered to your door every week for less than $2 per issue. thejewishnews.com/subscription Get The Detroit Jewish News print edition delivered Subscribe Today!