Tolkien's works in popular media/Comics

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Tolkien's works in popular media include a multitide of illustrations in the style of comics or cartoons. This article lists notable comics based on, or including references to, Middle-earth and/or J.R.R. Tolkien.

Early comics/cartoons

Single frame cartoon in Newsweek from 1954

The first known published illustration in the comical vein is a single frame cartoon appearing in the 29 November 1954 edition of Newsweek (following the release of The Fellowship of the Ring). The cartoon portrays the Orcs of Moria as hairy creatures with large heads featuring bird-like beaks. Gandalf wears a robe adorned with what appears to be magical symbols.[1]

Licensed comics

A page from Luis Bermejo's El Señor de los Anillos

Comics licensed by the Middle-earth Enterprises or the Tolkien Estate

References in popular comics

DC Comics

MAD

Marvel

Captain America reading Tolkien in Avengers #46 (1967)
  • Marvel's got characters named Sauron, Numenor and Aragorn (a winged horse). Sauron actually named himself after the character.
  • Spidey calls his pals the Fellowship in White Tiger #6
  • Billy Kaplan's bedroom door has "Speak Friend and Enter", in Young Avengers Presents #1
  • A boxing match between Slammer Sauron and Freddy Frodo in Avengers #43
  • Captain America is reading a "chapter of Tolkien" in Avengers #46 (1967)[6]

Other

Notes

  1. Although not technically a traditional comic book, speech balloons have been added to film frames from Ralph Bakshi's 1978 film The Lord of the Rings, giving the work an impression of being a comics.

References

  1. "Newsweek, 1954 - Fellowship cartoon", Tolkien Collector's Guide (accessed 19 February 2017)
  2. Pieter Collier, "The Lord of the Ring Comics by Luis Bermejo" dated 28 January 2011, Tolkien Library (accessed 19 February 2017)
  3. Jesse Schedeen, "Brian Wood heads to Middle Earth" dated 8 July 2011, ign.com (accessed 19 February 2017)
  4. Andy Khouri, "Brian Wood to Write ‘Lord of the Rings’ Video Game Tie-In Comic" dated 7 July 2011, comicsalliance.com (accessed 19 February 2017)
  5. Nisse Lindberg, "Frodo Lever:Tolkien och serierna" [Swedish-language: "Frodo is Alive: Tolkien and the Comics"], in Bild & Bubbla 204 (2015)
  6. "Post in the private group 'Tolkien's Middle-Earth'" dated 19 November 2016, Facebook (accessed 19 February 2017)