DisneyStudio’s Silver Age marked the period between 1950 and 1967 when Disney movies achieved both critical and commercial success, signaling a return to form after the studio resumed producing feature-length films following World War II. As a time of major growth and innovation, Disney’s Silver Age solidified the studio’s status as a dominant presence in animation, producing many classics that remain adored today.
Starting with 1951’sAlice in Wonderlandand ending with 1967’sThe Jungle Book, Disney’s Silver Age was responsible for some of the studio’s most famous properties, which unsurprisingly spawned several pieces of merchandise and written material, including comic books and comic strips. Whether retelling the story or continuing the events and characters of the original films in some form, theseDisney comic adaptations of the Silver Age strike a perfect balance for fans of both Disney and comics.
8Alice In Wonderland
Movie Release Date: 1951
Alice in Wonderland: The Story of the Movie in Comicsis much like other Disney comic book adaptations, detailing the events of the Disney movie in comic book form. There is also a graphic novel intended as a companion piece to the Silver Age movie.The Alice in Wonderland Cinestory Comicis primarily composed of still images from the movie, presented in a comic book format rather than featuring new or altered scenes.Both the comic book and theAlice in Wonderland Cinestory Comicare shot-for-shot retellings of the Disney movie, utilizing the film’s visuals and script.
The comic books continue to tellthe story ofAlice in Wonderland,specifically following the Disney version of events rather than Lewis Carroll’s original book, with the only difference being the format in which fans experience the story. For those who prefer the tangible quality of reading a comic book or graphic novel,Alice in Wonderland: The Story of the Movie in ComicsandAlice in Wonderland Cinestory Comicare must-reads. Likewise, there is also a 1951 comic adaptation of the Disney film, perfect for fans who love vintage, mid-century comics.
7Peter Pan
Movie Release Date: 1953
Given that Disney’sPeter Panwas a filmadaptation of the beloved J.M. Barrie novel, it is not surprising that there have been multiple Peter Pan comic books, especially considering that the movie’s source material was a book. In November 1952,Dell Comics released a comic book version that sold for the enviable price, at least by today’s standards, of ten cents.Due to the predicted success of the movie, the Dell Comics version was translated into several languages, broadening its appeal to a worldwide audience.
Later, in December 1952, Dell released anotherPeter Pancomic, this time centering around a new story involving Captain Hook and the titular Peter Pan, appropriately entitledCaptain Hook and Peter Pan. This comic featured a treasure hunt in Neverland, complete with a treasure map crossword for readers and a one-page cutout of Captain Hook. Once the film was officially given a wide release, the most comprehensive comic book adaptation of Disney’s Peter Pan was published.Peter Pan Treasure Chestwas a 212-page bound comic bookthat included both stories and activity pages.
Disney’sPeter Panwas adapted into a Sunday comic strip by King Features in 1953.
6Cinderella
Movie Release Date: 1955
The 2020 Comicup Studios work,Cinderella: The Story of the Movie in Comics, is exactly what it sounds like:a comic book version of the classic 1955 Disney film, based on the Charles Perrault fairy tale.Written by Regis Maine and penciled by Mario Cortes,Cinderella: The Story of the Moviedoesn’t offer much new information beyond what readers already know from the Silver Age Disney movie, but it presents the story in a different format. The same beloved characters appear in the comic, including Jacques, Gus Gus, the Fairy Godmother, and, of course, Cinderella.
Likewise, the characters fans love to hate also make an appearance in the comic, such as the Wicked Stepmother, the Ugly Stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella, and the troublemaking cat Lucifer.There was also a 1965 comic book adaptation of the 1955 Disney movie released by Gold Key Comics, which is considered quite rare in the comic book community. Both the 1965 comic and the 1955 movie belong to their respective Silver Ages, making for an interesting connection between the two adaptations.
5Lady And The Tramp
As a major success and an enduring classic of the Silver Age of Disney movies,Lady and the Trampremains a beloved film, even for those who aren’t the biggest dog people.Based on the 1945 Cosmopolitan Magazine article"Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog,“the source material isn’t the only connection the movie has to written works, aside from the script, of course.
The 1955Lady and the Trampmovie has seen multiple comic book adaptations, including a 1956 series, a 1967-1979 series, and a 2020 version,Lady and the Tramp: The Story of the Movie in Comics, released by Dark Horse. Additionally,Scamp, one of Lady and Tramp’s puppies, had his own comic strip produced by King Features Syndicate, which ran from 1955 to 1988, an impressive 33 years. With the exception ofLady and the Tramp: The Story of the Movie in Comics, the movie’s comic book adaptations are quite rare and difficult to find, even for the most dedicated collectors.
Lady and the Trampwas the first animated movie to be filmed in Cinemascope.
4Sleeping Beauty
Movie Release Date: 1959
A 1970 comic book adaptation of the Disney movie"Sleeping Beauty"was published, offering a retelling of Disney’s version of the story. Featuring a pull-out poster and pin-ups ofPrincess Aurora and Prince Phillipon the inside and back covers, the Gold Key 1970 comic was geared toward younger audiences. However, prior to the 1970 iteration, there was a 1959 comic book adaptation ofSleeping Beauty.Published by Dell Comics, the 1959 version retold the same story as the Disney movie.
Moreover, the art style of the comic is similar to that of the film, reminiscent of the visual direction established by Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle, who were responsible for the movie’s highly acclaimed artwork.There are minor differences between the comic book and the movie, with some tweaks made to accommodate the shift from the film medium to the comic book medium. Some scenes are presented differently in the comic, such as the moment when Merryweather casts her spell to make Aurora fall into a deep sleep instead of death from the prick of a spinning wheel. Additionally, new scenes were added, such as the Three Good Fairies taking care of baby Princess Aurora.
3101 Dalmatians
Movie Release Date: 1961
A 1991 comic book adaptation ofthe Disney film101 Dalmatians, based on Dodie Smith’s original novel, was produced by Dell Comics. The adaptations began with a comic book version of the movie’s events. In a following issue,the Dalmatians embark on adventures not seen in the film.InLucky’s Big Break, the Dalmatian puppies have fun at the park, running wild. A third issue introduced a yuletide plotline inCruella’s Very Furry Christmas, where Cruella De Vil attempts to steal Santa Claus’s sleigh. Trying to steal Christmas fits perfectly with Cruella’s character, as it’s not far-fetched to imagine her causing chaos, even during the holidays.
These comic book additions to Disney’s 101 canon provide more storylines for fans of the movieand its canine characters. Additionally, with Cruella De Vil being one of Disney’s most iconic villains, the comics offer fans a chance to see her in more wicked high jinks and thieving schemes, such as inCruella’s Very Furry Christmas.
2Sword in the Stone
Movie Release Date: 1963
One of the most underrated and overlooked Disney movies of the Silver Age,The Sword in the Stonereceived mixed reactions from critics upon its release. A comic book adaptation ofThe Sword in the Stonewas made in 1964, tracing the same events and characters from the Disney movie.A more recent adaptation, very similar to the 1964 comic, was published as a graphic novel in 2024by Papercutz Graphic Novels.
WhileThe Sword in the Stonehad its own comic book adaptations, one special character from the movie, Madam Mim, also appeared in numerous other Disney comics. This antagonistic character, who serves as Merlin’s nemesis, made appearances in both the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse comic universes, even revealing at one point that she is in love with Captain Hook. Though TheSword in the Stonemay not be as highly regarded, both critically and by the masses, as some other Silver Age classics from the studio, such asCinderellaorLady and the Tramp, the medieval-themed movie was still a hit with a large fan base.This popularity was enough to warrant comic book adaptations, ensuring that the movie lived on long after the credits rolled.
1The Jungle Book
Movie Release Date: 1967
A series of one-shot comic books based onThe Jungle Bookwere published in 1968, featuring characters such as Baloo and Little Britches, King Louie, and Mowgli. An adaptation of the movie was later made into the 1990 comic book Walt Disney’sThe Jungle Book, which follows Bagheera the Panther and Baloo the Bear as they attempt to convince Mowgli to join human civilization and leave the jungle for his own good.Much of the dialogue in the comic book mirrors the movie, essentially making it a shot-for-shot comic book version of the film.
When Disney’s 2016 live-action adaptation was released, a graphic novel was producedthat retold the story of the live-action version. Both the animated and live-action Disney versions of Rudyard Kipling’s classic were adapted into comic books. Additionally, comic books based on the originalThe Jungle Bookby Kipling were also published. However, since the Disney movie is less dark and dramatic than the 1894 original, comic book adaptations of the book differ significantly from those of theDisneymovie.
