We all know Josh Gad as the funny guy in a movie or even as Olaf in Disney’s Frozen, but joined the Berkowitz Brothers he has set his sights on co-writing The Writer at Dark Horse along with artist Ariel Olivetti.

In a dark turn, comic book writer Stan Siegel’s life dives into a neo-Nazi occult nightmare. Orchestrated by legendary Josh Gad and the Berkowitz Brothers, The Writer plunges Stan into a whirl of folklore and magic. Amid demonic chaos and high-speed chases, Stan’s hunger for answers unveils hidden identities, setting off a desperate race against time in this thrilling saga. To combat the rising tide of terror, Stan must become the hero from his pages.

The Writer‘s protagonist Stan Siegel, who looks eerily like co-writer Josh Gad, is thrust into a world of darkness and danger along with deep complex themes such as antisemitism. The serious issues tackled in this debut issue are ever present, while still managing to be an incredibly fun comic book. Writers Ben Berkowitz, Max Berkowitz, and Josh Gad do a wonderful job creating an entertaining comic book while also dealing with an emotional and important issue that is all-too close to real life. The fantastical world being crafted here is also worth noting. Is Stan Siegel a superhero or just an Average Joe, only time will tell.

While the story is well done, Ariel Olivetti steals the show with truly stunning and detailed artwork. Each panel is meticulously crafter to show emotion and action that adds a layer of depth to the gripping story that is simply outstanding. This issue took us twice as long to read as a typical comic as we were so interested in seeing what Olivetti would accomplish next as we turned each page.

A bonus for us was the inclusion of a stuffed animal that resembles Wally, a character familiar with New England baseball fans, bringing a sense of authenticity to the story. Especially to a reader such as myself who is a born and raised New Englander. Little touches like this make all the difference when reading a new series.

Despite tackling heavy themes such as antisemitism and race, The Writer strikes a perfect balance between seriousness and humor. The creative team nailed this debut issue and has us eagerly awaiting more.

The Writer #1 hits local comic shops on June 19, 2024 from Dark Horse.