The Making Of The Umbrella Academy (book review).
Don’t buy ‘The Making Of The Umbrella Academy’ expecting it to be like typical ‘making of’ TV or film books. This volume is illustration heavy with a greater emphasis on the scenery than the people. Interestingly, writer/producer Gabriel Bá also contributed to the art that is used in the series.
Elliott Page who plays Vanya Hargreaves is referred to as Ellen Page in her pregender change which might cause some confusion when his name change happened against the book being published. You do get to see Tom Hopper who plays Luthor in his muscle suit or at least his arms if you thought he really was built that way. Oddly, we don’t see Adam Godfrey or even a name check of him playing Pogo.
It’s very hard to raise conversation with this book. Lots of art and probably enough for you if you’re planning to cosplay any of the Academy. More space is given to the various sets from season one. There’s even storyboards for scene elements.
What is lacking for people like me is text. It would have been interesting to have seen conversation with the creators and even the actors but nary a word. I know Dark Horse works out from visuals and there is a note that there will be a follow-up book or two but to really succeed it could really do interviews and such.
GF Willmetts
August 2022
(pub: Dark Horse, 2020. 190 page illustrated large squarish hardback. Price: I pulled my copy for about £25.00 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-50671-357-1)
check out website: www.darkhorse.com