From New York Times bestselling award-winning creator John Hendrix comes The Mythmakers a
graphic novel biography of two literary lions—C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien—following the
remarkable story of their friendship and creative fellowship and how each came to write their
masterworks "Masterful. . . Effortlessly blending fantasy and reality." ( BCCB starred
review) Through narrative and comic panels Hendrix chronicles Lewis and Tolkien’s
near-idyllic childhoods then moves on to both men’s horrific tour of the trenches of World War
I to their first meeting at Oxford in 1929 and then the foreshadowing action and aftermath
of World War II. He reveals the shared story of their friendship in all its ups and downs
that gave them confidence to venture beyond academic concerns (fantasy wasn’t considered
suitable for adult reading but the domain of children) shaped major story theme ideas and
shifted their ideas about the potential of mythology and faith. The Mythmakers also shows the
camaraderie and the importance of the social literary circle of friends called the Inklings
and how the friendship of these two great men fell apart and came together again. Hendrix
concludes describing how the writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien had re-enchanted the
20th century after two World Wars. In writing aimed at scholars adults and young people
these two tweedy academics altered the course of storytelling and embraced the concept that
fantasy writing for an adult audience was an accepted form of literature. The format is
similar to The Faithful Spy: prose interspersed with images and narrative comics. The narration
is often conversations between a knowledgeable wizard and a comical lion. Through brisk
conversation between these two friends they explain some of the bigger ideas in an
approachable and entertaining way. Throughout the story there are “gateways” that lead
readers to the back matter where certain themes such as how myth fantasy evolved or the art of
world-building are discussed more fully. This device keeps the main story flowing quickly and
smoothly for those readers not interested in the more academic ideas behind the narrative.
Among the ideas covered in the narrative and back matter: ‑ Tolkien’s world-building ‑ The
“Theology of Creation” linking their faith to their writings ‑ The meaning of real friendship
‑ Notions of modernity and mythology ‑ The value of fantasy ‑ The power of a creative
community ‑ An exploration of the different kinds of storytelling in Narnia and The Lord of
the Rings both relying on “the Myth” as a storytelling device but differing in the use of
allegory vs. symbolism ‑ The creative differences of Lewis and Tolkien: the high standards of
Tolkien’s fiction and the faster and more immediate approach of Lewis’s ‑ Logos vs. Mythos:
Lewis created from images Tolkien created from language ‑ The mixing of mythologies Also
included are an author’s note endnotes bibliography and index.
