If you are serious about the medium of comics I can’t recommend “The Comic Book History of Comics” enough. The book was able to distill a lot of complicated information and weave a narrative around an art form. Fans who are interested in reading more about comic books but aren’t ready to dive into prose are going to find a lot of mileage out of this project. Enter “The Comic Book History of Animation” #1 which reunites the creative team of Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey to bridge the gap between animation and history. There’s a fair amount of crossover into the world of comic books with familiar names like Michael Fleisher and Walt Disney referenced in both “The Comic Book History of Animation” and the “Comic Book History of Comics.” If you are interested in comic book or animation history, I’m here to make the case for why you can’t afford not to purchase this title.
Written by Fred Van Lente
Illustrated and Lettered by Ryan DunlaveyThe team behind IDW’S Comic Book History of Comics returns with a brand-new series! From Aardman to Zoetrope, Disney to Miyasaki, Hanna-Barbera to Pixar, and everything in between! Part One: Silent…but Deadly (Funny!) shows how the animated cartoon began with the first movies under the lawsuit-happy watch of Thomas Edison… cartoonist Winsor McCay shows how ‘toons can make you feel as well as laugh… the Fleischer Brothers revolutionize the technology of animation… and an obscure filmmaker from Kansas City named Walt Disney gets his first big break! The perfect companion piece to CBHoC, the Comic Book History of Animation focuses on the filmmakers and beloved characters of the past century and a half, and is essential for fans of the medium and “toon newbies” alike.
“The Comic Book History of Animation” #1 is brimming with information from Fred Van Lente’s dense but rewarding script. The title uses a lot of small panels with lots of text. You can read “The Comic Book History of Animation” #1 surprisingly quickly but you would still have to dedicate a significant amount of time towards comprehending the text. The issue is coated with a beautiful sense of irony perfectly captured by Ryan Dunlavey’s art. Dunlavey draws people as animals and has little gags relating to the actual text in the comic throughout the issue. Half the fun of the script is seeing how your favorite player in animation will be represented in animal form. Dunlavey goes over the top in his sight gags and it’s up to readers to engage with the text to try and figure out who Lente and Dunlavey are making fun of and why. The pictures are so interesting that readers should be naturally interested in reading the text.
Despite the fact that this is a sea of history with really complicated names and players, Dunlavey and Lente still tell a story with a beginning and ending. Lente introduces a lot of the players towards the beginning like Walt Disney and Winsor McCay. One of the best parts about this title is how Lente doesn’t feel the need to hold back in his depiction of these figures. I have a feeling that Disney would like you to forget the many detailed failings of Walt but they are on full display here. The sense of irony lampoons historical figures and shows readers how these animation tycoons are just people who got extremely lucky that were in the right time and place.
The comprehensive research that goes into the production of these comics cannot be overstated. Lente is making a historical argument in this title and even has to justify his entry point into the story. The stories get so invested in the history of the political figures that they dive deep into their greatest failings of animation heroes. When you hear the story of Walt being betrayed by his animation staff, you might even feel sympathy for him in just a few moments before remembering the incredible fortune he gained in his later years. Lente’s script pokes so much fun at some of the players in the issue that I would almost see this title crossing into noir at certain moments. The black and white aesthetic from Dunlavey certainly lends itself to that framing of the story. When you marry the black and white with the early days of Hollywood there’s a genuinely wonderful vibe that Lente and Dunlavey evoke here. The collaboration between these creators is unmatched. Lente seemingly trusts Dunlavey to frame his panel so he finds the most striking way to depict a scene. Dunlavey relies on the justification of the panel to come directly from Lente’s script.
The level of quality contained within “The Comic Book History of Animation” #1 is staggering. Getting to hear the sad stories and the rat race behind the birth of a new industry is more engaging than you ever could have ever imagined. Lente’s unflinching script is the perfect pair for the irony oozing from Dunlavey’s art. This isn’t just a history book, it is an entertaining narrative story about people screwing up. While I assume most people have an idea that the origin stories behind most industries are filled with greed and bad decisions, there’s nothing like a comic book that reaffirms your level of cynicism. The level of craft behind this project is unparalleled in the industry and deserves to be heralded as groundbreaking. You won’t believe just how far production studios will go to maximize profits. Lente and Dunlavey show you every skeleton in the closet of early animation moguls with a disturbing sense of glee. “The Comic Book History of Animation” #1 isn’t just for animation fans, it’s for people who enjoy great stories.
Final Verdict: 9.3 – “The Comic Book History of Animation” #1 spins a bleak narrative about the desperation of early animation pioneers.
