Dave Sim's 'Secret Project' has been revealed -- it is a searing, photo-realistic examination of the Holocaust.  Available in May, the 56-page, perfect bound Judenhass (literally 'hatred of Jews') was begun in 2005 in response to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and it will be published this spring during the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Sim plans to keep the volume in print and hopes that retailers will support it as a perennial title.

Sim's visual meditation on the Holocaust has had a profound effect on the industry figures who have seen the entire work.  Neil Gaiman's comment was typical: 'Judenhass is an astonishing piece of work. Painful and real and unflinching. I don't remember the last comic I read that made me cry, but this did,' while Marv Wolfman added: 'Judenhass is endlessly disturbing, often unpleasant and incessantly horrifying in its stark coldness. The quotes should never be forgotten or made light of. It is why all people of good will say, 'Never again.''

Because of the nature of the subject matter, Sim will not advertise or promote this project in the way in which he is marketing his more conventional work such as his new Glamourpuss series (see 'Aardvark Vanaheim to Publish Glamourpuss').  Sim is a longtime supporter of the direct market and the Judenhass Website indicates that the book will 'be available exclusively in comic stores.'  Judenhass is listed in the March Previews, which ships this week.