The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

Written and illus. by John Hendrix

C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien began their legendary fantasies with a shock of instant immersion, not just an invitation to an entirely new, fascinating place but an immediate pull toward something deep into which readers could gleefully dive headlong. This graphic novel biography takes a similar tact, setting up a fantastical world of its own to honor the two literary giants with a balance of fact and creative license, using sourced quotes, letters, and dialogue, along with fictional interactions. The end product is author/illustrator Hendrix’s own immersive journey that starts readers in one place and could land them in a number of other ones, perhaps wiser, perhaps more curious, but absolutely entertained.

Hendrix builds his world on a foundation of facts: Lewis and Tolkien both had childhoods that held a mix of happiness and loss, both were deeply traumatized by being soldiers in World War I, and both desperately needed a confidant, intellectual sparring partner, and champion for their creative pursuit. After crossing paths at a faculty meeting in 1926, the two authors were able to be all of those things for one another, inspired and informed through long walks, late night conversations, and heady nights in pubs talking philosophy, religion, mythology, and literature with each other and a group of academic peers, the Inklings.

Rather than just sticking to the biographical basics, however, the book frames that reality with fantasy and adventure. Two narrators welcome readers—wizard and a lion (of course, referencing Gandalf and Aslan) and explain right away that this could be a straight-forward read or it could be a twisty choose-your-own journey where a literary wanderer might leave the main story and head off deeper into the book for rich, detailed explanations of concepts mentioned: fantasy, mythology, or different forms of storytelling, for example. It is such a bold, captivating way to demonstrate the endless side treks of academia and the pursuit of knowledge, by offering actual portals that allow the audience to leap in and out of a narrative timeline, along with a remarkable array of resources in the end matter to pore through no matter how one gets to that point.

Threading through it all is the skilled craftsmanship of the book’s visuals. The illustrations, drawn by hand and digitally colored, are masterful balances of details and sweeping, epic scenes, with warm shades of yellow cozying up next to a range of cool, blue hues. Any dialogue is rendered in typefaces based on the handwriting of the author, and this instantly creates a welcoming, insider vibe. Full page spreads, orderly panels, and sections that are primarily text-only all share harmonious space without disrupting the narrative flow, effortlessly blending fantasy and reality.

Ultimately, the heart of this story is a powerful friendship, and that on its own is rich and beautiful. Hendrix gives the author’s companionship space to breathe, celebrating their vulnerability, open respect, and adoration. An imagined final scene shows them in a fireplace lit room filled with symbols of their writing, sharing a cup of tea. Lewis toasts: “It was grace, my friend,” and Tolkien returns, “Who could have deserved it?” It’s a moment given legendary weight by the significant creative wealth and inspiration each provided for the other: without their friendship, there is no guarantee that either would have landed where they did as authors, and a world bereft of their books is a grim alternate universe indeed.

—April Spisak, Reviewer