Amazing artwork, an interesting premise (supernatural WW2), but unfortunately the overall product didn’t meet my expectations.

Maybe it’s the translation, but the writing and narration felt off to me.
I’m sure others will enjoy this, so definitely give it a chance.

This graphic novel was way more interesting and intense like I already thought about it but it did way over my expectations. The storyline, the pace, and the characters were written well. Another thing I enjoyed was the references going on here as well. I hope it was way more longer than how it was, but still, it was good good.

'He Who Fights With Monsters' by Francesco Artibani with art by Werther Dell'Edera is a graphic novel about a besieged town that goes to extreme measures for help.

During World War II, Prague was under siege from the Nazis. There was a struggling resistance, and a population in hiding to avoid being sent to the death camps. A lone doctor tries to fight in his own way until he discovers a strange monster from the past waiting to be awakened in the Synagogue.

It never helps a reviewer when they've read a similar story told better elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with this one, and there were some nice empathy moments in the story. The art is not up to the par of 'Something is Killing the Children' but it's darkness works well here.

The file expired before I could read it which was a pity because I would have liked to have read it.

My thanks to Diamond Book Distributors Ablaze for a temporary digital review copy of ‘He Who Fights With Monsters’ with story by Francesco Artibani and art by Werther Dell’Edera.

This historical horror graphic novel is set in Prague during World War II. The Jewish population is being savagely oppressed by the Nazi occupying forces. Against great odds the resistance is continuing to organise in the shadows. Their greatest hope lies in the ancient legend of an avenging monstrous protector… the Golem of Prague.

Obviously this is a serious subject. I found this graphic horror novel a respectful reinterpretation of the Golem legend. Werther Dell’Edera’s artwork was outstanding and evocative.

Following the main text there is a gallery of covers and character sketches. It was interesting to see the original concept for the Golem that somewhat resembled Ben Grimm/the Thing and the more refined finished image.

As a last resort, some Jews hiding from the Nazis revive a Golem. He doesn't do a whole lot in the long term though and this story overall seemed a bit pointless. It definitely missed out on its potential. Werther Dell'Edera's art is great.

http://bewarethescarylibrarian.blogspot.com/2022/08/graphic-content-he-who-fights-with.html A clever take on the golem legend.

Some resistant fighters in Nazi-controlled Prague are inspired by an old man to revive the Golem – the clay-based, giant animated figure of vengeance. But is defeating the entire Nazi force within his powers? And what becomes of the people who ask such a thing?

Such a slender plot summary shows there really isn’t that much to this book – and what we have, while looking perfectly OK, just seems done before. You could even prove that my second question above really doesn’t worry the story, leaving the soapy connections between the characters almost the most notable part of things. Fleeting – and two and a half stars.

He Who Fights With Monsters is a thought-provoking and intense graphic novel that tells a deep story of the past.

The main thing that made me keep reading this was the art style. I think it was really beautiful and well done! It was honestly a little hard to get into at first because it felt like not a lot was happening, but as I kept reading, I wanted more. I wish there was more of this though because it ended on too much of a cliffhanger.

More than the art style, though, I love how all the characters are rounded. Everyone has their motivations and it was clearly shown, regardless if they had a lot of exposure or not in the story. I find that I relate with a lot of the characters because they were really human.

This is a great story that really kept me wanting more! Can't wait to read more of it.

Essentially, Artibani uses the Golem legend to critique the eye-for-an-eye death-spiral of human wraths, but using occupied Prague as the setting to do so is definitely bold. Yet, it turns out, the Golem is one of two highly intriguing characters in Artibani’s fable-like war-horror story. Recommended for readers intrigued by its sophisticated treatment of Golem lore and Czech history. Full review here: http://www.jbspins.com/2022/09/he-who-fights-with-monsters-wwii-golem.html

He Who Fights with Monsters was bracing storytelling with a unique style for a supernatural story. Recommended for fans of comics and horror/suspenseful stories.

I came into this one completely blind to what the story was about beyond a friend telling me that it was a must-read, and I have to agree with the sentiment. This story of a group of Jews hiding in Prague during WWII who find the mud and magic necessary to revive the legendary Homunculus to protect them from the Nazis and then proceed to wage a guerilla war against the violent oppressors is brilliantly emotional and hard-hitting. The tough choices made for survival during a brutal war that dragged innocent civilians into the worst of it get shown from different viewpoints and personalities, all just fighting to get through the worst of it.
I'm amazed that the writer most known to me for light and fun Disney and fairy stories had this brutally realistic story to tell and how well it's done. Maybe it was me judging a book by its cover, but I was not expecting that and I'd like to apologize for doubting Artibani.
The art is shadowy and ill-defined in a way that works wonders with the story as it functions with the tenet that your imagination will conjure up way worse than could be shown on the page. The slashes of light that reveal just enough are a brilliant touch.
This one will stay with you long after turning the last page, it will be worth it.

Very enthusiastic thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Ablaze for the chance to experience this great read!

"On All Hallows' Eve, a community struggles under the boot of the Nazi war machine when supernatural forces come to play a part in the conflict from the artist of the bestselling Something is Killing the Children comes a tale that will send shivers up your spine...

It's World War 2 and the struggle between good and evil is in full force. In Prague, the great Bohemian city is being oppressed by the Nazi occupation and the population lives in terror, while the resistance forces try to organize themselves in the shadows. It is an almost impossible task. With the ruthless SS tightening their grip on every street and neighborhood with overwhelming might, only one hope feeds the struggle. A crazy hope, which rests on the fragile foundations of an ancient, monstrous legend..."

If you haven't seen Werther Dell'edera's art you are in for a wonderful discovery.

The book/comic was wnjoyable but it ended rather aburptly with no real sense of finality. I see it is part of a series, but how it ends is just a bit jarring. Probably would not recommend until being able to complete the series.

I haven't enjoyed an intense, comic art graphic novel in a very lone time!

But this one broke the chain. Thank you.

Plot: a community struggles under the Nazi rule. And there's supernatural elements playing a role.

The city is Prague being oppressed by the Nazi occupation.

It's difficult to say anyone would survive.

For me, I love the artstyle and the neat art sequence. And I love the way the dialogues are presented. There's an easy way of the presentation which appeals to the eyes.

There's terror. There's violence and blood but nothing much of gore.

Waiting for the sequels.

Love it.

Thank you, Diamond Book Distributors, for the advance reading copy.

This is a graphic novel about WW2 and resistance fighters in the city of Prague. One of them discovers a golem that they can use to kelp fight the Nazis. The art gets 5 stars. I feel the artists of graphic novels usually get overlooked in favor of the authors when the artist has a much harder job then the author does. The story gets 2 stars. It was disjointed and confusing, I did not have a clear picture of any of the characters and I felt the Golem storyline was not overly original.

This graphic novel tells a story featuring the Prague Golem, a mighty protector figure from Judaic folklore – formed of clay and breathed to life by magic words. The setting is Nazi-occupied Prague, and the golem is brought to life after a great period of dormancy, having been stored in the rafters of a synagogue, in order to once more act as protector to the Jewish people.

It’s a gripping tale of wartime resistance, but with a flat ending. However, I’m not sure it could have concluded in a satisfying way. That’s the challenge of writing a story of a superhero versus Nazis. The Holocaust is such a colossal tragedy that to rewrite the it resets the book into some alternate reality fantasyland, striking a raw nerve and killing any poignancy in the process.

The artwork is skillfully rendered and captures the grim nature of a city under fascist occupation quite well.

I enjoyed the story, despite not really knowing how to process the ending. Maybe that’s the point, that one can’t turn such mindless brutality into a storybook satisfying ending [by satisfying I don’t mean happy, but rather concluded in the definitive and intrinsically reasonable – if horrifying – way of tragedies.] Still, one is left wondering about apparent changes in character motivation and whether they make any sense -- because they don’t feel like they do.

If you’re intrigued by a historical fiction / fantasy mashup set in Prague during the Second World War, check this book out, but expect to be left in an uneasy space at the end.

I couldn’t really get into this one. The premise feels very familiar. I feel like I’ve read a similar book before but liked that one better. The art is a bit on the dark side, but I did like it.

The art is stunning and a retelling of the golem myth set in WWII feels very unique but I wish this had been longer. I felt like certain parts were a bit hard to follow or certain scenes needed to be developed more.

I thought the art style was excellent but I found the writing kind of confusing. I love the legend of the Golem and I was excited to read this but.... once I reached the halfway point I realized I didn't really understand what was going on. I wish I had liked this more :(