The Marvel and Disney partnership has led to far fewer collaborations that I had originally anticipated. Sure, Big Hero 6 happened, but the crossover hasn’t been nearly as intense as I expected. The one exception to that is the Disney Kingdoms line of comics, which take concepts from the theme parks and turn them into comics. This book focuses on a beloved but not all that well known Disney attraction, Journey Into Imagination, and the results are an example of what an all-ages comic can, and should, strive to be.
Written by Jim Zub
Illustrated by Filipe AndradeThe next great Disney adventure is here – starring one of Disney’s most popular characters! Dive into a steampunk fantasy story revealing the origin of the inventor known as Dreamfinder, and learn how one little spark of inspiration created a purple dragon called Figment! Our daring duo explore the realms of imagination, finding friends and foes alike – while back on Earth, a clockwork army assembles under the command of the frightening force known only as the Singular! And when Clockwork Control invades London while the intrepid explorers are trapped within the Nightmare Nation, the only obstacles standing between the Singular and total domination are Dreamfinder, Figment and their newfound friends! Acclaimed and uniquely talented creators Jim Zub (Skullkickers) and Filipe Andrade (CAPTAIN MARVEL) give a Marvel spin to Epcot’s mind-bending attraction, Journey into Imagination! Collecting FIGMENT #1-5.
While I had been to Walt Disney World as a child, my first real encounter with the character of Figment was when I was in high school, and our marching band took a trip to Disney to perform there. One of my friends insisted that we waste no time in Epcot Center, and rushed us right to the Journey Into Imagination ride. I don’t know why it so appealed to my 16 year old mind, but the embrace of creative thought really did make an impact on me, and that ride is one of the most indelible memories of that trip for me.
The comic works on a similar level – the book begins with Blair, a young scientist, being chastised for placing creativity above practicality. At no point in the book are we led to believe that this opinion is correct; at every turn, imagination is celebrated and encouraged. Because of the nature of the property, this is an all-ages book, and in a world of ever-increasing standardized tests and cookie cutter education, kids need to be encouraged to be creative whenever they can be. Even when Blair’s overactive subconscious brings the characters into a literal land of nightmares, that spark is never cursed; instead, the same tool that got them there is expected to get them out.
As for the characters, writer Jim Zub does a great job at fleshing out some very spare concepts into characters that we actually care about. The Dreamfinder, a character no longer even part of the ride, is the star of the book, with Figment being the avatar of imagination and providing hope at every turn. Zub, as the writer of “Skullkickers” for Image, knows all about creating worlds that fit within a certain understanding. “Skullkickers” is set in a world that looks a lot like a Dungeons and Dragons universe and, if you’re unfamiliar with that reference, is simply a wooded world of wonder. The setting of “Figment,” to a young reader, is simply Edwardian England (even if they don’t know that term), a place that is easy to understand. For a more nuanced reader, they see the steampunk influences creeping in, which puts the story of a creator into a larger context.
Zub really excels at making books that work on many levels, and this is no exception. As the story moves from England to Blair’s imagination, it can be read in a straightforward, adventuring way, and it is a lot of fun. But when you look closer, you see Blair’s brilliance in the creatures and settings he creates. Chimera, named for a scientific term, looks like a flying pink dog, but is exactly the scientific definition. The Sound Sprites speak almost entirely in alliteration, and have a lyrical flow to their words that could only flow from the mind of a genius.
Continued belowThe art, by Felipe Andrade, is perhaps the most surprising part of the book. I first came across his work on “Captain Marvel,” and enjoyed his work there for its heavy line and gritty edge it brought to the cosmic setting. Here, he brings an equally unusual take to an all-ages story. His work is far darker than most all-ages work, and it has a rough edge to it that really sets it, visually, apart from any other book with “Disney” on the cover. The most impressive part of Andrade’s work is how adaptable it is – his Figment remains playful and full of magic, even while Blair is full of despair and they are trying to survive in a burning London.
His art, because of the extra bit of toughness in it, manages to just double down on the positive message of the book for young readers: if you focus on the positives and creative portions of your life, you can get through anything. And yet, despite that somewhat corny message, the book never feels corny. Like all great all-ages material, the book is enjoyable for anyone who either loves comics or has an affinity for this property, and it doesn’t talk down to any of them.
Disney and Marvel really struck an interesting tone for this property, and made a comic that works regardless of if you’ve ever heard of Figment or Epcot Center before. Because of that tone, this doesn’t really feel like a Disney comic, nor a Marvel comic, but something different altogether, which I think was the goal. In fact, if anything, this feels most in line with “Before Tomorrowland,” the illustrated novel Disney put out a few weeks ago. Both deal with creativity and invention, and both help to build Disney’s world beyond just anthropomorphic animals.
Final Verdict: 7.7 – a fun book for all who desire to live in a world of pure imagination
