KOSHER MAFIA #3, by Mad Cave Studios on 10/30/24, sends Ephraim and Howard fleeing after the weapons deal went bad, but a loophole may provide an out if they can survive long enough.
Credits:
- Writer: David Hazan
- Artist: Sami Kivelä
- Colorist: Ellie Wright
- Letterer: Chas! Pangburn
- Cover Artist: Sami Kivelä
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: October 30, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of KOSHER MAFIA #3:
First Impressions:
Writer David Hazan delivers another gritty entry in the period piece tale of gangsters and goyim on the eve of WWII in Kosher Mafia #3. The twists and turns will keep you guessing as to what happens next, but some readers may struggle with the language barrier.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Eph and Howard in Kosher Mafia #2, the unlikely partners kidnapped a NAZI party thug to force information out of him about weapons trafficking. The issue concluded with Howard forced to make a deadly choice and Ephraim disrupting the weapons exchange. Unfortunately, Ephraim was seen.
In Kosher Mafia #3, Howard and Ephraim speed out of Cleveland after Howard was forced to kill the NAZI they kidnapped, and Ephraim’s breakup of the weapons deal between the Germans and Italians was seen by a lookout. Ephraim knows the head of the Kosher Mafia will do anything to keep the peace with the Italians, even if it means excommunicating Ephraim, putting a bullseye on his back for every enemy he’s ever made.
David Hazan starts this issue on a high-energy note, which only increases as the issue progresses. That said, the dialog between Howard and Ephraim contains an above-average amount of Yiddish for an English comic, so readers may struggle to read the dialog, much less get the cultural references each Yiddish phrase implies.
Howard realizes that it’s Yom Kippur, which is a most holy Day of Atonement. Under Jewish custom, they will be safe from all harm if they can survive until sundown and find a way to broker a truce. Howard turns the car around and heads for Kosher Mafia territory, hoping he and Howard can blend in long enough to buy time. Unfortunately, their car is run off the road by a group of Irish gangsters hunting for Ephraim.
Hazan uses the setup to underscore how many emeries Ephraim made during his time with the Kosher Mafia. You could almost say that the widest range of diverse and inclusive gangsters share an equal desire to see Ephraim dead.
During a rousing gunfight that culminates in the tossing of grenades, Howard and Ephraim escape in a damaged car. Their car stalls out before they reach Kosher Mafia territory, so their only choice is to walk the remaining miles. Unfortunately, the direct line between their broken-down car and Kosher Mafia territory takes them through the Italian quarter.
The issue ends with a sad attempt to act casual, a foot race through the streets, and survival until sundown.
Overall, Kosher Mafia #3 is an eclectic mix of Jewish culture, WWII gangsters, and a relatively gripping thriller. David Hazan successfully explores a corner of classic gangster life you rarely see, even if the above-average incorporation of Yiddish language and Jewish cultural plot points may go over some readers’ heads.
Artwork and Presentation:
Sami Kivelä has the enviable task of presenting the most action-heavy issue in the series. You get gun battles, explosions, multiple chases, and even more gang battles to ensure Howard and Ephraim’s story is as dangerous-looking as possible. In short, Sami Kivelä did a great job.
Art Samples:
Final Thoughts:
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KOSHER MAFIA #3 turns Howard and Ephraim’s stealthy partnership into a race for survival. David Hazan’s script successfully incorporates an unusual mix of classic gangster noir with Jewish culture, and Sami Kivelä’s art delivers the action goods.
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