With thanks to Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel is about occupied Prague during World War 2. The main point of view character is Radek, a Jewish doctor moving through the city with fake papers in order to provide for a small group hiding from the Nazis in the basement of an old tailor's shop. But hidden beneath the floorboards of the old synagogue lies an ancient secret that might just help the Czech resistance turn the tide...

This was a fast-paced and gripping story combining historical events with Jewish legend and mysticism. There are a number of twists as the story builds, and the art is always atmospheric and impactful. Overall, very enjoyable. The framing device that bookends the story is very good, and the final panel helps to hammer home the message of the book very well.

There's something about fiction set in WWII that is always needed. So we remember the past and do our best to not relive it. He who fights with monsters, tells a what-if story if the victims had the help of a mysterious power. The story is straight to the point and it's a good stand-alone. There's not a whole lot of connection to each character since it feels like each cast member is supposed to be anyone who lived through these events. Saying so if you don't know anything about WW2 you might find it lacking.

We start off in Prague during WW2 and follow a group of resistance fighters in their quest to overthrow the nazis.
It deviates from any normal history then with the introduction of a golem which I’ve read about in other books but didn’t actually realize was a Jewish myth. I loved the whole idea of pulling a mythological powerhouse in to kick ass and take names but unfortunately this graphic novel was not long enough for me. It’s ends rather abruptly and no spoilers but I just didn’t love how the pieces fall at the very end. So overall, a cool execution, gritty art but I wish there was more I could sink my teeth into.


T’hank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for review.

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

This book is needed today as much as ever. The story of what was done to the Jews in WWII can never be allowed to die or pretended to be false. I learned of the Golem when I was a child and I always wondered why the Rabbis did not bring one to life to stop the Nazi killing machine. This gives a good reason for why that would have not worked as planned. Death only brings more death, hate more hate, and wars will always be as long as hate exist.

I highly recommend this graphic novel. It is not only well written, well drawn, but sadly still relevent today.

Thanks to @netgalley, Diamond Book Distributors, Ablaze, Francesco Artbani, and Werther Dell'Edera for the oppertunity to read this eArc in sxchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Francesco Artibani has long worked for the Walt Disney Company Italia, where he writes many tales for Topolino, PK, and W.I.T.C.H., of which he's been a scriptwriter and story editor for three years, and has created the science fiction series Kylion. Werther Dell'Edera is an Italian comic book artist who provided interior art for the unreleased comic Aliens: Colonial Marines - Rising Threat for Dark Horse Comics, as weoo as Marvel Comics, and BOOM! Studios hit Something is Killing the Children. Their newest collaboration is the WWII graphic novel He Who Fights With Monsters.
The novel begins in 1945 in Prague. The Russians are taking over, and puppet master Glonek wants to entertain a Russian Lieutenant with a tale from the history of his city. The rest of the graphic novel is about a young Jewish doctor, Dr. Radek Molnar, and one of his patients trying to survive the Nazi invasion without being caught. To aid their resistance, they create a golem, which seems to work well, until it doesn’t.
This is not the first novel to combine the horrors of WWII and the golem myth, and I’m sure it won’t be the last; however, the tale itself is intriguing enough to keep readers moving. Furthermore, Artibani throws in a few twists to keep readers surprised and engaged, as well. Of course, Dell’Edera’s art is as beautiful and striking as ever. The palette chosen is very dark and drab, immediately bringing the ugliness of war and ruin to life for the reader and adding suspense and terror to the book.
Overall, He Who Fights with Monsters is an interesting moral tale laced with myth and horror. It’s a clever retelling of the golem mythos, and the artwork provided by Dell’Edera is striking and haunting. Horror readers will thoroughly enjoy this graphic novel.

Thank you #NetGalley and #DiamondBookDistributors for letting me read and review #HEWHOFIGHTSWITHMONSTERS by #FrancescoArtibani and #WetherDell'Edera

This is a magnificent story and the art is fantastic. Yossel is a golem built to help save those in trouble during the Nazi regime. But Yossel has a moral conscience and learns a hard lesson about mankind in this story.

I am ready to read Issue 2 as soon as I can!

I received this as an ARC.

This graphic novel was insanely beautiful. The art was breathtaking. The story was heartbreaking and interesting. And the history and its message were unfortunately still very timely.

I was fairly unfamiliar with the concept of Golems so this was very fascinating to me. The struggle and heartbreak of the Jewish people as well as their resilience is captured perfectly in the essence of the Golem. I adored this story and would highly recommend.

So, it was ... solid. The art is stunning, but I'd no doubt about that. Dell'Edera is brilliant. The writing offers an interesting look at World War II with a supernatural spin. However, the writing and plots disappointed me a bit. All told, it's a solid story that won't amaze anyone but the art itself makes it worth a shot.

There's a Jewish legend about how, in a time of need for the Jews, a wise rabbi named Ben Bezalel brought to life a monstrously big anthropomorphic creature made of animated clay, to defend the Jews of Prague in the 1600s from persecution, after which the creature, called a golem, disintegrated once its mission was accomplished. This legend has several variants across Eastern Europe, some being morally ambiguous because the golem isn't always a force for good.

And what greater time of need has there been for the Jews than when they were being exterminated by the millions? Based on the old legend, authors Artibani and Dell'Edera have situated their knockoff story during WWII. In their story, a young man in an as yet unnamed country, which can easily be identified as Poland if you know your WWII history, recreates the deeds of rabbis of old and teams up with a golem to fight the Nazis. A creepy puppeteer tells the legend of the golem, but people think it's just a story, but a series of murders ensue, the targets being the Germans, as what was only a myth becomes a reality for young Radek and the golem.

It's an atmospheric story, the cruelty of the situation is shown well as is the brutality of the Nazis. But the plotline is rather generic, it could've happened anywhere during WWII, to anyone, even non-Jews, it could've been the Polish resistance, it could've been the Czech resistance. Hell, it could've been the French reistance even. All because of how generic the ambiance and storyline are; perhaps it'll improve as the story progresses and more is shown, but in this first installment, about the only different element is the golem character.

**Thank you netgalley and Diamond book distributors for the digital copy in exchange of my honest review**

I was excited to read it because the title was really intriguing! The stunning art style immediately drew me in and I read it in one sitting. Certain aspects of the story I didn’t really like and it wasn’t as fast paced as I hoped it would be but overall I enjoyed it.

Whenever I review a volume of Something Is Killing The Children, I note that it's a grab-bag of very familiar horror tropes but that I keep reading it for Werther Dell'Edera's glorious art. Well, turns out I was being a bit harsh on James Tynion's script, because I requested the Netgalley ARC of this purely for Dell'Edera's art too, and it's definitely less good. Obviously I can't be sure to what extent the failing is writer Francesco Artibani, and to what extent Micol Beltramini's translation, but the setting is occupied Prague (Nazi-occupied in the story proper, Soviets in the framing narrative), something which is helpfully spelled out in shamelessly expositional dialogue taking us through the situation, recent events, and divisions on how best to proceed:
"Europe is powerless against Hitler, and the Czech rebels can only do so much..."
"Well, the attack on General Heydrich was an important sign..."
"Nonsense! It was foolish, it brought death and destruction, and life is, if possible, even harder for us Jews now!"

Exactly how people talk, I'm sure you'll agree. Anyway, this is a story about Jews under threat in Prague, so what's the single most obvious direction it could take? That's right – they resurrect the golem! Except why keep him the strong, silent type like in the legend when he can be a chatty bastard and come out with more of the same leaden dialogue as every other fucker? Yes, there is still the art to hold the attention, but even that doesn't have quite the same luminous, magnetic quality as in SIKTC, going for more of a beaten-down, faintly Mignola-esque feel. I can see exactly why this is getting an English publication, but it's strictly for the hardcore.

He Who Fights With Monsters (Story by Francesco Artibani, Art by Werther Dell’Edera)

Prague, 1942. The resistance is suffering defeat after defeat against the Third Reich, the boot of the superior forces eradicating anyone who even has the slightest connection to the resistance. Others resist in less violence ways, one man – a doctor – runs an underground hospital, but his connections to the armed resistance brings their defeats to his very door.

One patient, an old man, tells stories of a mysterious creature that can be called on to serve those in need, and – more in hope than belief – the doctor seeks out this creature and resurrects it. The Golem walks again amid Prague, but even an ancient avenger can only do so much against the Nazi war machine.



Atmosphere drips from every page of He Who Fights With Monsters, the story is tightly written and rushes by with such speed that its 150 pages or so seem like half the length. The art, while often not exactly pretty, serves the story well, working with the ugliness of the situation. In places the art is almost impressionistic in its approach, stark, often severe, but still manages to have moments where beauty shines through – most notably with the character of Zuzka.

Though marketed as a horror tale I found very little horrific in He Who Fights With Monsters, outside of the obvious horror of the Third Reich itself of course. It played out – to this reader – more as a supernaturally themed drama. As much as I enjoyed the book – and I did a great deal – this would be the thing I would change if I were able. The Golem is humanised a little too much, its intentions too clear and the control of it too easily maintained.

Black and white are too well defined, and greater grey would have served the story better. While the Golem becomes a weapon against the Nazi, it would have been better if had become one against broader injustice, and therefore potentially turn on those it was tasked to protect if they stepped over the line.

He Who Fights With Monsters is a great read, and highly recommended, but I think with a little more nuance it could have been much more. There’s real greatness potential in such a tale, and it is realised very well, but it does not reach as far as it could, and this is a shame.