From New York Times bestselling, award-winning creator John Hendrix comes The Mythmakers, a graphic novel biography of two literary lions—C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien—following the remarkable story of their friendship and creative fellowship, and how each came to write their masterworks
Through narrative and comic panels, Hendrix chronicles Lewis and Tolkien’s near-idyllic childhoods, then moves on to both men’s horrific tour of the trenches of World War I to their first meeting at Oxford in 1929, and then the foreshadowing, action, and aftermath of World War II. He reveals the shared story of their friendship, in all its ups and downs, that gave them confidence to venture beyond academic concerns (fantasy wasn’t considered suitable for adult reading, but the domain of children), shaped major story/theme ideas, and shifted their ideas about the potential of mythology and faith.
The Mythmakers also shows the camaraderie and the importance of the social/literary circle of friends called the Inklings, and how the friendship of these two great men fell apart and came together again. Hendrix concludes describing how the writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien had re-enchanted the 20th century, after two World Wars. In writing aimed at scholars, adults, and young people, these two tweedy academics altered the course of storytelling and embraced the concept that fantasy writing for an adult audience was an accepted form of literature.
Part of a collection of commissioned covers for Batman Black & White, art direction and curation by Chip Kidd.
A visualization of the Joseph Campbell's concept of "The Hero's Journey" in storytelling. A central theme in the book, "The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien," this chart uses the characters from that telling, Lion and Wizard. A remix of an image originally commissioned for Nautilus Magazine.
This collection of thought-provoking, humorous comic strips is a series of conversations between a squirrel, a badger, and a friendly blue ghost who may or may not be one third of the Holy Trinity. Charming, witty, and at times poignant, yet never holier-than-thou, New York Times bestselling and award-winning illustrator John Hendrix tackles some of life’s greatest questions. Whether you consider yourself faithful or a nonbeliever, these delightfully off-kilter comics deliver laughter, comfort, and philosophical musings with humble, honest spirit—and just the right dose of playful irreverence.
From Publisher’s Weekly: “Cartoonist Hendrix’s first collection is an amusing and sensitive exploration of Christian belief...In a masterful avoidance of treacle, Hendrix probes tender ideas like seeing God in emptiness and ugliness, the challenge of loving the outsider, and cosmic insignificance...Hendrix portrays a surprising range of emotions with his simple character drawings...The handwritten text adds a charming earnestness...It’s a delightful trove that’ll provoke reflection and grins.”
Shelter from the storm. Protection for family farms during crisis. For Future Farmers of America, 2020.
Ronan Boyle may be the youngest detective of the secret Garda, but now that he’s saved the captain from a spooky cult, he’s also the only detective that has the head of an old Irish god in his vastsack! But his adventures are far from over. His parents are still on the run (he told them the prison break was a bad idea!), and he still has to turn over the corrupt wee folk to the leprechaun king and return to the Human Republic of Ireland to turn over the god’s head. Simple, right? VERY WRONG! Between having to get swallowed by a whale to take a short cut, avoiding a jar of hot pickle farts, and figuring out how he can prove his parents’ innocence, Ronan’s really got his hands full. Will our small, nervous hero be able to somehow save the day once again? Fast-paced, action-packed, and sidesplittingly funny, the third book in the New York Times bestselling series delivers strange creatures, heart-pounding thrills, and plenty of laughs.
But Jesus was going somewhere.
His journey to find those most in need of him began anew each morning.
Jesus walked . . .
. . . and ever since, people have followed him.
Through parables of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son, the lost sheep and the beatitudes, Jesus taught his disciples the redeeming power of sacrificial love and showed mercy to everyone around him—especially the sick, the poor, and the downtrodden.
In this inspirational and richly illustrated book, John Hendrix brings to life the wisdom of Jesus. Interweaving hand lettering with his signature, award-winning art style, Hendrix captures the spirit of Jesus’s timeless message that will resonate with readers of any Christian faith.
A visual rumination from my sketchbook exploring famous (and less famous) “named swords” in history, literature and film.
Interior page spread from The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler, Abrams Books for Young Readers/Amulet, 2018. Printed in three color pantone separations.
Interweaving handwritten text and art in his signature style, John Hendrix tells the fascinating story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his fight against the oppression of the German people during World War II. Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was shocked to watch the German church embrace Hitler’s agenda of hatred. He spoke out against the Nazi party and led a breakaway church that rebelled against racist and nationalist beliefs of the Third Reich. Struggling with how his faith interacted with his ethics, Bonhoeffer eventually became convinced that Hitler and the Nazi Party needed to be stopped—and he was willing to sacrifice anything and everything to do so.
If you would like to learn more about my research process for this book, check out this page about my trip to Germany in March of 2016 to follow the footsteps of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
A spread for Christianity Today, about translations of the Bible. This is a visual translation of the first passage from the Gospel of John.
Ronan Boyle may be the youngest and lowliest recruit to the secret Garda, but he’s determined to save his captain from the harpy that dragged her into Tir Na Nog at the end of book one. He may not be the strongest, or the smartest, or the best looking, or the most dexterous . . . so why was he picked for this mission? He’s not entirely sure. But he may be the captain’s only hope—if he can escape man-eating elves, escape a job in a unicorn’s lounge act, and find the captain before she’s sacrificed to a spooky cult trying to resurrect its leader. Eventually Ronan must battle the scariest monster of all: impostor syndrome. Fast-paced, action-packed, and utterly hilarious, the second book in the New York Times bestselling series delivers laughs and much, much more.
A cover for Asset International about the vicious cut throat battle in financial services for new clients. Art Director: SooJin Buzelli
Ronan Boyle is a high-adventure fantasy tale is set in a magical world of law-breaking leprechauns and deadly monsters. Lennon delved into his Irish ancestry as a basis for the story, introducing 14-year-old Ronan, the youngest and lowliest recruit to the Garda Special Unit of Tir Na Nog, the Irish police force that handles the crimes of leprechauns and other wee folk. Ronan’s parents are in jail, but he’s convinced that they were framed by the wee people. Despite his small size, poor eyesight, and social awkwardness, Ronan is determined to learn all he can while in the garda in order to prove his parents’ innocence. To show he’s got what it takes, he’ll have to confront a fiery leprechaun, a sinister harpy, and a world full of nefarious creatures of Irish mythology hidden in plain sight.
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019, Chad Beckerman, Art Director.
Cover for Sneak Theif, a life-affirming tale of a Southern girl lost—and found—and how she learns that sometimes pain serves an important purpose, letting one know that something has to change.Maria Middleton, Art Director. Penguin Random House.
Once seen as a rare event, earthquakes are now becoming the new normal for Oklahoma state residents with the advent of pervasive oil fracking. For Alcalde Magazine, University of Texas. Art Director Kate Collins.
Are the titans of Wall Street really in control of the powerful financial tools under their feet? For art director SooJin Buzelli, Asset International.
Cover of by Faith Magazine, focusing on the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as told by the book The Faithful Spy.
Freakishly intelligent and socially awkward, Nikola has given up on living in harmony with classmates and teachers who reject her unusual hobbies and general refusal to get along. When Nikola’s life is axially inverted by mysterious aliens who abduct her father and attempt to recruit her into their service, she discovers her father has concealed the existence of an entire hidden world from her. Now she must take refuge at a school for humanoid aliens where she discovers that there are other people in the world who understand what it’s like to be her, and that she has certain abilities no one understands. Art Director, Cecilia Yung. Penguin Random House.
The story of Star Wars: A New Hope, told in icons, from the top left to the bottom right. For a show at Gallery Nucleus.
A sketchbook is an essential tool for the growth of any aspiring artist, but its blank pages can be daunting to even the most motivated. Obsessed with perfection, many wind up treating their sketchbooks more like portfolios than playgrounds. In Drawing Is Magic, author John Hendrix teaches aspiring and advanced artists to find their unique visual voices and become creative daredevils. Through his freeing, offbeat exercises, drawers learn a sophisticated philosophy of creative thinking—in a way that is totally accessible and fun.
Illustration for the story/poem, Casey at the Bat, as illustrated for the National Pastime Museum.
Newsweek cover image, the plan for protecting the worlds seeds in the event of a global disaster. Priest + Grace, Art Direction.
Cover for Nautilus Magazine, A group of researches discover the Icelandic viking, King Kvedulf, whose DNA is connected to a massive amount of the population of Iceland. Len Small, Art Director.
Illustrated chart for the relative scale of life in the universe. Nautilus Magazine, Len Small, Art Director.
The history of the autopsy and it’s impact on medicine. Cover image for The Journal of Norwegian Medial Association. Art Director, Emma Dalby.
A retelling of the story of Jesus. This book freshly reinterprets some of the oldest and best-known stories in human history and focuses on some of the many miracles that Jesus performed before his crucifixion. Jesus’s miracles are endless. From the large harvest of fish to washing the unclean, healing the sick, feeding the poor, and walking on water, Jesus performs feats that draw in believers that he is the Son of God. Unfortunately it also attracts the attention of nonbelievers, who saddle him with the cross he must bear. After all of his miraculous acts, the book closes with a final wonder for all to see—one that changes faith and religion as the world knows it, forever.
Will robots ever have complex emotional responses? Nautilus Magazine, Len Small, Art Director.
A spread for a visual retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Disney/Hyperion. Rotem Moscovich, JoAnn Hill, Art Direction.
A memorable scene from Harry Potter, book three.
Where do viruses live on the internet? Did you know the web and the internet are different? A piece for Scientific American. Art Director, Michael Mrak.
A series of drawings in my sketchbook done on Sunday mornings during the sermon while I'm sitting in the pews at church. I color them when I get home on Sunday nights. An improved visual musing on theology, metaphor and faith.
