Publisher: Mutant Farm Comics
Writer: Dolan Waddick
Artist: Vu Danh

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Offered by Mutant Farm Comics as an add-on during the June 2025 kickstarter for issue two of ‘Unholy Nightmare’, Dolan Waddick’s storyline for “The Golem” must surely have delighted any of the campaign’s backers who added it to their pledge. Indeed, the comic book creator’s take on so iconic a mythical monster from Jewish folklore is incredibly emotional, and should readily tug upon the heartstrings of even the most cold-blooded of readers; “I love you, Bissel. Happy Birthday. Someday soon, we’ll celebrate on a beach.”

This genuine sense of attachment to both the pitiable Jerome Abrahams and his deeply endearing eight-year-old son, Adam is undoubtedly the highlight of this short-story, and proves particularly impressive given that the writer achieves it within the space of just a handful of panels. In addition, it makes the second part of this horror tale all the more impactful, and easily explains just why the boy’s father readily loses all interest in life once the ‘apple of his eye’ has been so cruelly taken from him.

Of course, those bibliophiles more interested in action than careful character building will doubtless have soon found plenty of adrenaline-fuelled terror and physical mutilation to keep them happy in this comic too – courtesy of the titular character rising from its remains and taking a truly terrible revenge upon the Nazi soldiers responsible for running the Concentration Camp. These scenes don’t suffer from any unnecessary dialogue or exposition, and are simply allowed to run their course as the almost silent behemoth tears all of his former captors asunder, whilst simultaneously tenderly mourning the demise of his recently executed father.

Adding an incredible amount of depth, tenderness and all-too understandable savagery to these enthrallingly-penned proceedings are the incredibly well-detailed layouts of Vu Danh. The decision to simply utilise the Vietnamese concept artist’s black and white pencils really adds to the sombre, almost hopeless existence experienced by Abrahams and his fellow prisoners. It also allows the audience to witness the tragic, physical frailty of the death camp’s inmates, as well as later emphasise the sheer hopelessness of their Nazi captors when the tables are well and truly turned against the vile regime.

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[ARTWORK PREVIEW – CLICK TO ENLARGE]

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The writer of this piece was: Simon Moore
Simon Tweets from @Blaxkleric ‏
You can read more of his reviews at The Brown Bag

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