The Comic Book Story of Video Games, by Jonathan Hennessey and Jack Mcgowan

For most of us, particularly those born in the 1960s or later, video games have always been, and likely still are, a part of our lives.  I remember days spent at the arcade, the thrill of getting our very own Atari 2600, and the countless hours spent on successive generations of games through the years.  Jonathan Hennessey and Jack McGowan have lived that history as well, and now tell it in their The Comic Book Story of Video Games.

With classic comic book art and a deep sense of history and context, Hennessey and McGowan take us back to the earliest days of the computer.  Of course the history of computers is intricately entwined with the history of video games.  The bulk of the book focuses on the earlier days of computing and video games, highlighting some of the individual pioneers.  It continues all the way through current home systems and mobile phone games.

Don't let the comic book format fool you.  This is serious history.  I enjoyed the historical tidbits, quotes from the key players, and the nods to games themselves.  Not only do they give the data for the release of important games and systems, future games make cameo appearances, as if they are waiting in the wings for the technology to allow for their creation.

The Comic Book Story of Video Games has an engaging narrative, informative content, and terrific art.  If this is a subject that interests you at all, you will enjoy this book.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!