55

The Jewish genocide in comics: teaching and passing on the Holocaust differentlyComic books are currently enjoying an unprecedented boom. In 2009, for example, 4,863 graphic novels were published in French-speaking European countries alone. Many of these explored historical themes, thus introducing a creative element into the traditional presentation of contemporary history. As a result, the connection between graphic novels and history has become a subject of intensified academic research. Since the publication of Art Spiegelman’s Maus, the Jewish genocide has become a topic for high-quality graphic novels such as : Mendel’s Daughter by Martin Lemelman, Yossel, April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert and Miriam Katin’s We Are on Our Own. Teaching the Holocaust via graphic novels is a new and refreshing way of dealing with the ever-growing interest in the subject, especially in high schools.