Hendrix Publishes Graphic Novel, “The Mythmakers”

John Hendrix, the Kenneth E. Hudson Professor of Art and Chair of the MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture program, at Washington University in St. Louis, recently published his latest work, “The Mythmakers.” The graphic novel follows the friendship and literary and spiritual camaraderie between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Few fantasy writers have enjoyed being household names for as long as Lewis, who is known for “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, and Tolkien, known for “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Hendrix explores the two authors’ histories, from countryside childhoods to the perils of World War I and II, to their academic careers at Oxford University.

“J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis did not mean to do what they did,” Hendrix said. “It is impossible to understate the influence that this humble friendship had upon the course of popular literature. In their mid 40s these two tweedy professors accidentally reinvented fiction, purely because they desired to write fantasy that escaped the traditional audience.” Hendrix went on to explain that in the 19th century, fairytales were exclusively for children. “Lewis and Tolkien’s friendship, a hothouse of creativity, led to an entirely new genre of reading, writing, and consuming media. Fan culture itself could be arguably traced to Tolkien’s work catching fire among college students in the 1960s,” he said.

“The Mythmakers,” is published by Abrams Books and available now. Local bookstore The Novel Neighbor will host an event and book signing with Hendrix Wednesday, October 2, at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and registration is required.