No matter if a superhero was bitten by a radioactive something, caught in the heart of a nuclear explosion, or watched a bat 
fly through their window, a large part of that hero’s narrative is their origin story. Of course, it’s not just the event that gave the hero their powers, but it also provides their motivations, whether they use their powers to preserve order or destroy evil, which transforms the debate into whether or not the hero is using their powers responsibly.
Even though Edenfrost, written by Amit Tishler and illustrated by Bruno Frenda, is a historical fantasy story set during the Russian Civil War, it borrows many plot points from the archetypal superhero narrative.
The story’s unlikely heroes are brother and sister, Alex and Yuli, who are on the run after their village is attacked by Russian soldiers. However, this is more than just a village being razed by superior firepower. A survivor of the onslaught says that a terrible monster sprang up out of the earth and attacked them. Alex knows about this monster and soon Yuli will, too. It is a monster that is immensely powerful, but it also craves someone who will use that power, whether for good or evil purposes.
It’s easy to get lost in the geopolitical nuances of this war that hangs over the book, but Tishler does a good job of keeping this story on a very basic path of conflict: hero(es)’s home destroyed, hero(es) must try to escape the charismatic yet evil villain (in Edenfrost, it’s the ice-cold Colonel Krasnov) pursuing them. Tishler does sprinkle some commentary about the effects of war, such as when Alex and Yuri must hide out with a woman who would kick them out (or worse) if she knew about their Jewish heritage and a soldier who tries to tempt Alex into using the golem’s power in the war effort. This tale could be applied to any story where the heroes must make some very difficult choices with the power they’ve been given.
That power is depicted through Frenda’s dynamic artwork. Fans of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and how it depicts earthbending will love to see columns explode out of the ground. When the golem, a creature made out of earth and stone, not only appears but mow down enemy soldiers, the creature acts with a speed and brutality one typically sees in martial arts battles displayed in the graphic format. However, Frenda’s artwork isn’t just “Dragonball” or “Ranma ½” set in Ukraine. The faces of these characters all feel real and distinct. Alex and Julia are young and their emotions are all over their faces. Krasnov emotes very little, merely sneering at those who challenge his superiority until he tells the troops under his command to shoot those challengers.
Edenfrost is a superhero story, but it doesn’t necessarily end with its heroes soaring over a city skyline. Alex and Yuli are still surrounded by war, death, and social upheaval. Their powers don’t guarantee that they’ll even survive, much less survive this war with their values intact. Its mature themes might land with an adult audience who have grown up reading superhero comics but have lived long enough to know that one’s problems, or society’s ills, are solved by a radioactive spider bite.
Edenfrost
By Amit Tishler
Art by Bruno Frenda
Mad Cave Studios, 2024
ISBN: 9781960578686
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Creator Representation: Israeli-American,
Character Representation: Ukrainian,
