Author Fred Van Lente tends to write a lot of comic books, especially with Superheroes, but this time around, he wants to educate ya, Scott McCloud style.
Fred Van Lente does a good job at documenting the history of comics through its early stages. This first issue is primarily focused on the beginning of comic books when it was in its infancy, and with humorous commentary breaks down information In a simple and fun way that anyone can pick up. Van Lente does a good job at showcasing different eras of comics, from the prehistoric paleolithic cave drawings, and how over time, newspaper comic strips lead to pulps and its successor which is comic books. Lente examines how this would be the new medium that told stories in a new, entertaining, educational, and cheaper way. Since this is only the first issue of this mini documented series, readers will have to wait for the second issue if they want to see how superheroes would come into the picture.
The art by Ryan Dunlavey is cartoonish which is his style for this book obviously, but it’s humorously executed in a way that makes it approachable for anyone of any age to want to pick the book up and get some knowledge along with the humorous visual eye candy. Hus art style kinda harkens back to some of the fun spot illustrations that long time comic book fans that used to read Wizard Magazine (before the internet and comic book news, there was Wizard Magazine kids) can nostalgically recall. The colors by Adam Guzowski does a good job at making Dunlavey’s art energetic and fun.
For anyone that wants to find a more simpler, condensed way of learning about how comic books became the new medium that it is today, while also having fun reading as they are learning, I highly recommend reading this book. It’s very informal and easy to comprehend. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is a kid that wants to get into comic books, teenagers who want to brush up on their history, and to adults who may find some new found appreciation for the medium. Definitely worth taking a look at.
Newsdesk