The Mythmakers isn’t your typical biographical graphic novel. While it does do the job of telling the complex story of the relationship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, it does so in a very creative way.
The book is narrated by a wizard and a lion – a reference to particular fantasy characters, perhaps? They use the technique of breaking the fourth wall to connect with the reader, alternating between their own discussions about literature and the lives of Lewis and Tolkien.
I have read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series, as well as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so as a huge fan of both of their works, I was very interested to learn more about the authors.
And I was not disappointed. The tale of their personal histories and the ups and downs of their friendship does provide great insight into their respective works. The artwork is quite muted, in shades of greys, yellows, and pinks, and as such doesn’t distract from the writing.
Throughout the book, you are given the option of going through Portals to sections in the back of the book, where literary ideas and themes are explained and fleshed out more. It’s not required to jump back and forth between the main story line and these appendixes, but I enjoyed how they taught you the deeper concepts along the way.
With the banter between the wizard and the lion narrators, the academic portals, and the semi-fictionalized tale of the friendship between Lewis and Tolkien, The Mythmakers surprisingly succeeds at being both educational and entertaining.
Hendrix, John. The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien. Abrams Fanfare, 2024.
