Erez Zadok, the Giant of Israeli Comics
- Caroline Haïat
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
In the contemporary landscape of Israeli comics, Erez Zadok has a singular position. Born in Netanya in 1986, he has established himself as a graphic novelist, illustrator, and creator of cultural and educational projects. His strength lies in his ability to blend personal storytelling, understated humor, and sharp social observation, while making complex or ritualized subjects accessible—such as the Passover Haggadah. We met an artist who has become an essential figure in Israel’s comic-book scene.
Zadok’s passion for comics emerged later in childhood. Inspired by The Lion King, he initially gravitated toward animation, but quickly encountered its technical and financial constraints. “Twenty-four frames per second was unrealistic for me at the time,” he recalls.
Comics soon became the obvious alternative. Within a few panels, he could tell an entire story—an autonomy he would never find elsewhere. His first professional publications, Zoo-La and Max, appeared in children’s magazines, marking his entry into the field.
After contributing to the independent fanzines Zoo-La and Max, which he presented at various festivals, Zadok continued his studies at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, where he graduated in Visual Communication in 2014. His education extended well beyond drawing: typography, video, and storytelling shaped his visual language and narrative approach.
His graduation project evolved into Tranquilo, a graphic novel inspired by a post-military trip to South America. Both intimate and universal, the autobiographical work was quickly recognized as a landmark in modern Israeli comics. Critics and readers praised his ability to transform personal experience into a visually compelling and emotionally resonant narrative.
From children’s comics to religious culture
Zadok subsequently broadened his creative scope. In 2015, he collaborated with author Liat Rotner on Miko Bell: The Potions Boy, a comic aimed at young readers, demonstrating his versatility across audiences and genres.
In 2019, he teamed up with Jordan B. Gorfinkel—best known for his work on Batman—to create a graphic-novel adaptation of the Passover Haggadah, the liturgical text read during the Jewish holiday. The book combines traditional text with narrative illustrations and contemporary visual sequences, making the story of the Exodus accessible to all ages. Published in Hebrew and English, with transliteration, the project blends pedagogy, art, and cultural heritage, and confirms Zadok’s interest in works that extend beyond conventional storytelling.
A distinctive style: visual storytelling and understated humor
Zadok’s work is characterized by a clean graphic style, a strong command of narrative rhythm, and an ability to approach serious subjects with lightness. His autobiographical Instagram strips—where he shares everyday anecdotes, reflections on fatherhood, and personal moments—embody an intimate and humorous approach. “It’s a bit like stand-up comedy,” he explains. “You have to identify a moment from daily life that’s worth telling.”
For more structured projects, such as Bill Finger—a biography of Batman’s overlooked co-creator—Zadok adopts a meticulous working process: page-by-page breakdowns, panel hierarchy, inking, and coloring, with each page requiring between eight and twelve hours of work.
Artificial intelligence: a superpower for artists
Like many contemporary illustrators, Zadok has had to come to terms with artificial intelligence. The transition was initially unsettling. “For almost two years, I felt like everything I had learned was becoming useless,” he admits. Today, however, he views AI as a tool capable of amplifying human skills—provided it is used to raise creative standards rather than to produce faster at any cost. This pragmatic stance reflects his adaptability and thoughtful engagement with the medium’s evolution.
For Zadok, comics are particularly well suited to portraying Israeli reality. Accessible, visual, and efficient, they allow artists to address heavy or complex topics with strong emotional impact while requiring minimal resources. “A single creator can tell a complete story without relying on a budget or a large team,” he notes.
Two projects stand out in his career: the Passover Haggadah, which became an Amazon bestseller in 2019 by merging ritual text with visual storytelling, and Bill Finger, published in French, Portuguese, and German, exploring the long struggle for recognition of a creator erased from Batman’s official history.
Zadok remains optimistic about the future of comics in Israel, noting that several Israeli graphic novels have recently won Eisner Awards—the comic-book world’s equivalent of the Oscars. In his view, AI and emerging technologies will enable more creators to express themselves and usher in a “true golden age” for the medium.
In closing, Zadok emphasizes the importance of creativity, perseverance, and adaptability. “These are the only skills that truly endure in an unstable world. If you cultivate them, you’ll always find your place.” His career—at the crossroads of artistic innovation, personal exploration, and educational engagement—perfectly illustrates the richness and diversity of today’s Israeli comic-book scene.
Caroline Haïat
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