Review of "Mickey Mouse In Color: 1930s Disney Comic Strip Classics," edited by Bruce Hamilton

 Review of

Mickey Mouse In Color: 1930s Disney Comic Strip Classics, edited by Bruce Hamilton ISBN 0394575199

Five out of five stars

The evolution of a mouse into a star on paper and screen

 Originally called Mortimer, the Mickey Mouse character was not fully formed when it first appeared. It took several iterations and some time as Mickey morphed into the widely popular character. His personality, attire and companions changed significantly over time. In some ways, he was a typical hero, battling mad scientists, crooks and evil doers. Other times, he was a fun-loving creature that enjoyed his journey through life.

 This book is a chronicle of the development of the Mickey Mouse character in the 1930s. The strips from that era appear in true color, showing how Mickey went through his life, braving danger in order to conquer the evil doers. There is also extensive text that explains the background of the character and some of the thought processes that went into the stories. The artists that created the strips are also featured in the textual explanations. The origins of the secondary characters such as Goofy are also explained.

 Like so many comic characters, Superman and Batman are two others, Mickey Mouse was created in the 1930’s, when the United States was in the depths of the devastating economic Depression. While some of the situations and language used then now appears quaint, the strips remain entertaining.