Are you a comic book or Star Wars fan? No really… I mean it. Are you a card-carrying, back-pack toting, convention going, costume-wearing, self professed fan geek that still lives in the basement of your parent’s house? Do you have first hand knowledge that a Boba Fett action figure is worth much more in an unopened box than out of it? Did you picket and write letters to Universal for turning the Hulk movie into a Greek tragedy, Fox for casting pretty boy Ben Affleck as Daredevil, or Sony for giving Peter Parker organic web-shooters? Then my friend, “Comic Book: The Movie” is for you. Since “Star Wars” is still considered to be one of the most well-known films in movie history, it’s a pretty safe bet that everyone has at least heard of Mark Hamill. You know, the guy who’s biggest claim to fame is being Luke Skywalker in that little-known “Star Wars” Trilogy. To be specific, I’m talking the original Trilogy that was filmed before the current Trilogy in which the storyline actually takes place before the storyline of the original Trilogy but was filmed after. (Did you follow that one?)

Big-time fans of Hamill also know him as THE definitive voice of The Joker in all those new animated Batman, Batman Beyond, and Justice League adventures. On a side note, if you ARE a fan of his vocal characterization of The Joker, you have to see him in the two episodes of the live-action “Flash” TV series where he played Jesse James a.k.a The Trickster. Hamill can play insanity like nobody’s business.

In “Comic Book: The Movie”, Hamill not only stars but also takes the reigns as director of this mockumentary about the insidious relationship between Hollywood and the comic book industry. And for those who have no idea what a mockumentary is, just think “This is Spinal Tap.” In a nutshell, “Comic Book: The Movie” follows the exploits of Don Swan (Hamill), a comic book historian number one fan of a fictitious 1940’s superhero called “Commander Courage.” He is hired to film this documentary about Hollywood’s plan to make a big budget motion picture of his favorite character. He is sent to San Diego’s famed Comic-con (a real event), and finds that his idea of a movie about Commander Courage and Hollywood’s are not on the same page, or even in the same book!

Hamill took advantage of the real live convention to film this mostly un-scripted movie. There are cameos throughout that will appeal to convention fans everywhere. Some just show up in the background, while others play along with Hamill and allow themselves to be ‘interviewed’ about the fictitious project. We hear from the likes of Kevin Smith and Bruce Campbell, either of which alone makes this a movie worth watching. I was especially surprised to see an appearance by the secret God of fan geeks everywhere, Hugh Hefner.

What appealed to me the most about “Comic Book: The Movie” though, had to be its cast. Hamill, who has made a quite a career out of voiceover work, decided to use several fellow artists whose names you might know, but whose voices you’ve heard everywhere. Billy West, who is probably one of the most diverse talents in the business, stars as Leo Matuzik, the grandson of the deceased creator of Commander Courage. You’ve probably heard West’s work in “Futurama” (Philip J.Fry / Professor Farnsworth / Dr. Zoidberg / Zapp Brannigan), “Ren & Stimpy” (Originally as Stimpy, then later as both), as well as just about every animated TV show ever produced. He even spent several years on “The Howard Stern Show.”

Jess Harnell is another favorite, having been the voice for Wakko on “Animaniacs”, and the title role of “Secret Squirrel.” His voiceover credits are also very extensive, and here we finally get to see him on camera as Ricky, Swan’s perpetually stoned cameraman He is absolutely hysterical and I hope he gets the opportunity to do more movie work.

If any of you have ever watched “Fairly Oddparents” or “Jimmy Neutron” you have heard Daran Norris. Again we have another voiceover actor who proves his metal in a live-action film. Norris plays Bruce Easley, an actor who is hired to portray Commander Courage. And then we have Tom Kenny. I almost guarantee his is a voice you have heard. Amongst his numerous credits, Kenny is not only the Mayor on “Power Puff Girls”, but is also behind the ‘nails on a chalkboard laugh’ of Spongebob Squarepants. Each and every one of these guys displays an immense talent for improvisational acting that adds greatly to the believability of this mockumentary.

I pretty much knew that I would really like the movie as much as I did, but I didn’t expect the DVD release to have so many extra features as to warrant a second disc. Most are going to appeal to the fan-geek in all of us. The commentary recorded for the film by Hamill and some of the cast is one of the best I’ve heard in a while. Not only was it obvious that they all had so much fun making the movie, but keep in mind it is a commentary by voice actors. This is not your run of the mill commentary. Then we are treated to “Behind the Voices”, which is look at a gathering of some of the businesses top vocal talent as they gathered onstage to speak to an audience at the Comic-con. It runs just under an hour and is well worth watching if you’re into these guys.

There is also the obligatory ‘Making of…’ featurette, which is kind of unusual as it is a documentary of the mockumentary if you will. It runs a little over 15 minutes and has a bunch of ‘real’ interviews and some funny behind the scenes footage. One of the more unusual extras is a reading of a Commander Courage radio show that was ‘found’ by ‘Don Swan.’ It is performed by some of the members of the panel featured in “Behind the Voices” in the same convention audience setting.

Those who enjoyed the bit of ‘interviews’ in the film with Kevin Smith, Bruce Campbell and Hugh Hefner will find them in their entirety on the second disc. They are all fairly lengthy and fun to watch. And as if these are not enough, this disc also has ‘interviews’ with Mark Evanier, Billy Mumy, Scott Shaw, Peter David and Paul Dini. Most of those names will be familiar to the audience this film is made for.

Then there is the one guy that has to be involved in anything ever made about comic books, Stan “The Man” Lee. As the guy who came up with Spider-man, the Hulk and too many other superheroes to mention here, he deserves his opportunity to speak. What I like about his interviews is that after so many years in the business, he still speaks about it with all the enthusiasm of someone just starting out. He is still a kid a heart and a heck of a lot of fun to listen to. And the extras go on and on.

The unfortunate thing about “Comic Book: The Movie” is that it probably won’t be seen by as many people as it deserves to. Hamill, along with producers Scott Zakarin, Peter Jaysen and Rich Tackenburg of Creative Light Entertainment put together a really funny film. Everyone plays their parts so ‘serious’ that some audiences would probably be fooled into thinking it was a real documentary. I guarantee fans of the genre will love all the in-jokes and guest appearances. But even if you’re not into the comic book scene, as long as you can understand and appreciate the intended humor behind a mockumentary, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

Directed by: Mark Hamill
Starring: Mark Hamill, Donna D’Errico, Billy West, Roger Rose, Jess Harnell, Tom Kenny, Lori Allen, Daran Norris
Extras: Audio Commentary with Mark Hamill and Cast, “Four Color Franzy” – The Making of the Movie, “Behind the Voices” Featurette, Don Swan In-Depth with Kevin Smith, Commander Courage Radio Show, Stan Lee on Comic Book movies, Don Swan’s Complete Bruce Campbell Interview, Hugh Hefner on Comic and Women, Deleted Scenes and Bloopers, Cast & Crew Biographies
Specifications: Full Screen (1.33:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Miramax / Creative Light
Release Date: 1/27/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating:
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We'll give Comic Book: The Movie an A.