Comic Book Confidential (1989)

"Comic Book Confidential" is an audacious cinematic journey that illuminates the colorful and oftentimes tumultuous history of North America's most underappreciated art form: comic books. Bursting into the cultural scene in the late 1930s and 1940s, this film captures the first wave of comic book popularity ignited by the visionary superheroes crafted by the likes of Jack Kirby. This artistic pinnacle is epitomized by Will Eisner's mesmerizing creation, "Spirit". However, the film doesn't shy away from exploring the darker chapters of this medium's history. It delves into the post-war era, marked by the surge of crime and horror comics, particularly those of EC Comics, under the audacious leadership of William B. Gaines. This rise was abruptly halted by the crippling blow of censorship and the imposition of the Comics Code, an event that left an indelible scar on the medium's creative freedom. Against this backdrop of devastation, the film portrays EC's defiant survival and the birth of the unique "Mad Magazine" by the rebellious Harvey Kurtzman. The narrative then shifts to the late 1950s and 1960s, celebrating the renaissance of superheroes and the radical innovation of Marvel Comics, steered by the legendary Stan Lee. The film also spotlights the wild, uninhibited world of underground comics, brought to life by eccentric talents like Robert Crumb and Dan O'Neill. It pivots to creators like Harvey Pekar, who steered the medium into uncharted territories of expression. As the timeline advances to the late 1970s and '80s, it showcases the rise of alternative comics, spotlighting audacious talents like Jaime Hernández, Sue Coe, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Art Spiegelman. Culminating with the revitalization of the superhero mythos through Frank Miller's fierce miniseries "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns", "Comic Book Confidential" paints a portrait of a medium that's far from being mere juvenile trash. Instead, it is an art form with a tempestuous history and a future brimming with promise. Let this film be your guide through the labyrinthine world of comic book history, a testament to creativity's triumph against all odds.

Comic Book Confidential is a documentary movie featuring Frank Miller and directed by Ron Mann.

Comic Book Confidential is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy Comic Book Confidential on Amazon Video and Apple TV.