RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Cunninghamolga This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

fitzapril The film Comic Book Confidential by director Ron Mann was made in 1988. A great documentary for people who are new to comic books and want to learn the brief history. The film treated comics with respect. One is able to go behind the scene and into the amazing minds of the comic book writers and illustrators. The film does a great job of summarizing the evolution of the comic world, starting with the creator William M. Gaines' father, to the 1988 modern day writers. It left each subject with a lack of information because everything could not not of been said in such a short period of time. The video gave a perfect overview of comics in all its forms.

tap712 I felt the movie "Comic Book Confidential," directed by Ron Mann illustrated the history of comics, and comic book making very well. Approaching each, and every artist, creator, or well known figure related to comics. The very first comics began in 1934, sticking strong till 2011. However the only flaw I seemed to notice throughout the film, is Ron Mann never approached the topic of comics relating to well known novels. There were huge comics relating to Huckleberry Fin, The Odyssey, and Tom Sawyer throughout the later 1930's-1950's. Some comics were even combined stories, such as Huckleberry Fin, and Tom Sawyer. I would've appreciated this film much more if they had gone more into detail about the comics, and less about the creators. The only comics they approached were the well known Superman, and Batman comics (yes very major comics) however hearing more of the unknown comics would have been a little more appealing to me.

Megan This documentary illustrates the relationship between the imagery of an artwork, and the written word. Literally. Through the use of a comic the artist can clearly identify the depiction and create an interesting story. Comic strips have come a long way since their introduction in the Sunday paper. Their variety in contemporary topics range from political, to humorous, to entertainment, making the comic a universal medium catering to all types of interests. Comic book confidential starts to unfold the history behind its popularity and explains what the comic attempts to achieve. The comic strip is the product of imagery, literary analysis and development, and modern culture. This documentary further explains these connections and thus the success and historical background of the comic book era.

Michael Neumann Ron Mann's playful documentary works in two ways, first and foremost as an affectionate thumbnail history of comic books and the social attitudes that nurtured them, from the super patriotic fervor of the Second World War to the right-wing paranoia of McCarthyism to the counterculture underground of the '60s and beyond. Elsewhere it's an introduction to almost two-dozen comic artists (the tag cartoonist doesn't do them justice) still plying their trade, all of them misfits, rebels, radicals, and malcontents. Snappy graphics and sample art combine to make the film a colorful celebration of an enduring and popular form of self-expression, with one drawback: most of the highlighted artists could have inspired their own full length feature, and the film simply isn't long enough to examine them individually to the depth they each deserve. Also, parents please note: despite the subject matter this is certainly not a film for children.