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Figment #1
Figment
Collects Figment #1-5. The next great Disney adventure is here -- starring one of Disney's most popular characters! Dive into a steampunk fantasy story revealing the origin of the inventor known as Dreamfinder, and learn how one little spark of inspiration created a purple dragon called Figment! Our daring duo explore the realms of imagination, finding friends and foes alike -- while back on Earth, a clockwork army assembles under the command of the frightening force known only as the Singular! And when Clockwork Control invades London while the intrepid explorers are trapped within the Nightmare Nation, the only obstacles standing between the Singular and total domination are Dreamfinder, Figment and their newfound friends! Acclaimed and uniquely talented creators Jim Zub (Skullkickers) and Filipe Andrade (CAPTAIN MARVEL) give a Marvel spin to Epcot's mind-bending attraction, Journey into Imagination!
116 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2015
13 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Jim Zub
931 books321 followersJim Zub is a writer, artist and art instructor based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past fifteen years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Capcom, Hasbro, Bandai-Namco and Mattel.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
January 29, 2022
We're pretty sure in my family that my obsession with dragons started with Figment. When I was four, my parents left us with Grandma and went to Disney World. The gift that they brought back for me, to apologize for going to WALT DISNEY WORLD WITHOUT THEIR BELOVED CHILDREN, was a t-shirt of Figment and Dreamfinder and a stuffed Figment. I still have that Figment. Hell, I still have the shirt, lovingly preserved in my cedar chest.
And that's when it all began.
The dragons: plastic, pewter, stuffed, glass. In shirt form. In poster form. In book form. In jewelry form. The ability to watch the VHS of FLIGHT OF DRAGONS over and over again without ever tiring of it. The mania for all things dragon. But Figment is never forgotten. I have a newer stuffed Figment, side by side with my old one. I have a little one with magnet hands hanging from the blind cord in my bedroom (which I share with my husband, because I am an adult, and having stuffed dragons in your fancy adult bedroom is totally okay). I have little plastic figurines from my first trip to Epcot. And this year I almost bought a purple hoodie with orange horns and wings at Disney World . . . but somehow I thought that might be too much.
So the Journey Into Imagination is MY ride. Figment is MY favorite character at Epcot. I cherish the memory of meeting Figment and Dreamfinder walking through the park, and having Figment nibble my hair while my mom took a picture. I have mixed feelings about the new version of the ride. As much as I love Monty Python, Eric Idle is no Dreamfinder. At least the song, One Little Spark, is there.
And so we come to this. This comic about the origin of Figment, and how Dreamfinder came to be the Dreamfinder.
Well, I'm not gonna lie: I loved. It was GORGEOUS. The art alone carried it. And the story was great too, a fun steampunk adventure, with plenty of crazy creatures and some killer robots! I really want a stuffed Chimera for my Figments to ride on, though, and I need that to be a thing. I'd love to see more adventures, because this was great. And it's a wonderful, tall hardcover, too, which makes the experience of reading the book all the more rich. Two purple thumbs and pair of orange horns way up for this, it's a must for all Figment (and just plain Epcot) fans.
And that's when it all began.
The dragons: plastic, pewter, stuffed, glass. In shirt form. In poster form. In book form. In jewelry form. The ability to watch the VHS of FLIGHT OF DRAGONS over and over again without ever tiring of it. The mania for all things dragon. But Figment is never forgotten. I have a newer stuffed Figment, side by side with my old one. I have a little one with magnet hands hanging from the blind cord in my bedroom (which I share with my husband, because I am an adult, and having stuffed dragons in your fancy adult bedroom is totally okay). I have little plastic figurines from my first trip to Epcot. And this year I almost bought a purple hoodie with orange horns and wings at Disney World . . . but somehow I thought that might be too much.
So the Journey Into Imagination is MY ride. Figment is MY favorite character at Epcot. I cherish the memory of meeting Figment and Dreamfinder walking through the park, and having Figment nibble my hair while my mom took a picture. I have mixed feelings about the new version of the ride. As much as I love Monty Python, Eric Idle is no Dreamfinder. At least the song, One Little Spark, is there.
And so we come to this. This comic about the origin of Figment, and how Dreamfinder came to be the Dreamfinder.
Well, I'm not gonna lie: I loved. It was GORGEOUS. The art alone carried it. And the story was great too, a fun steampunk adventure, with plenty of crazy creatures and some killer robots! I really want a stuffed Chimera for my Figments to ride on, though, and I need that to be a thing. I'd love to see more adventures, because this was great. And it's a wonderful, tall hardcover, too, which makes the experience of reading the book all the more rich. Two purple thumbs and pair of orange horns way up for this, it's a must for all Figment (and just plain Epcot) fans.
June 12, 2024
This one's rather all over the place. The blurb promises something of a steampunk adventure with an imaginary streak, only to dive headfirst into the latter and forget the former altogether - then off it goes into alien invasion, before finishing off with a battle of Chaos versus Order with the former as the good guys.
Its writing seems to be all for children - teaching them to follow their dreams, to value their imagination, and to rebel against authority figures - but the artwork and its themes are much too mature to go along with it. It's never exactly bloody, but I can't imagine a reader that wouldn't be either too young to appreciate the art style, or too old to care for the story.
All in all, it just doesn't know what it wants to be.
Its writing seems to be all for children - teaching them to follow their dreams, to value their imagination, and to rebel against authority figures - but the artwork and its themes are much too mature to go along with it. It's never exactly bloody, but I can't imagine a reader that wouldn't be either too young to appreciate the art style, or too old to care for the story.
All in all, it just doesn't know what it wants to be.
December 30, 2024
It was impossible to be objective about this comic since I grew up with a Figment stuffed toy from Disney World as a cherished possession.
Yep, it looked just like this.
Fortunately the colourful art and nice balance between danger and whimsy helped me enjoy the story. It was a fine way to while away an hour or so.
Yep, it looked just like this.
Fortunately the colourful art and nice balance between danger and whimsy helped me enjoy the story. It was a fine way to while away an hour or so.
July 24, 2016
There may not be a theme park character more deeply loved than Figment, star of EPCOT's Journey into Imagination pavilion. This book has nothing to do with the current version of the Journey into Imagination ride, about which the less said, the better. Instead, it's a tribute to the sadly gone former version of the ride (one of Disney World's greatest missteps, in my opinion), as well as the backstory of Figment's co-star on that ride, Dreamfinder. As such, it will have very limited appeal to anyone but old school Journey into Imagination fans. Zub does a valiant job in piecing together some sort of story, cliche though it may be (Imagination good! Order bad!). The art is rather pretty, and works equally well on Victorian England and the imaginary world the future Dreamfinder is exploring with Figment. It's appealing fluff that does exactly what it set out to do. I do find it a little odd that what it set out to do was to flesh out the backstory of a ride that doesn't exist anymore, though.
November 6, 2020
Giving characters old-timey names and places science-y ones that no one has ever heard pronounced isn't interesting or creative, it's annoying to the brain, grating to the eye, and offensive to the ear.
Add in a nonsense plot about..harnessing imagination?.. and you get a cheap Green Lantern knock off.
Add in a nonsense plot about..harnessing imagination?.. and you get a cheap Green Lantern knock off.
September 26, 2015
Picked this up at the gift shop after the Figment ride at Disney World, for authenticy's sake, but was surprised by how enjoyable it was.
Telling the story of the Dreamfinder and how Figment came to be, this is a fun little romp through the world of your imagination that has a lot of little tidbits about free thinking and faith in yourself which really echoes the Disney mentality behind the original ride. The b-plot bubbles away nicely too until it becomes the a-plot in the final issue, and the ending serves as both a cliffhanger for the next series and yet a good capstone for the series as a whole.
Filipe Andrade draws the series, and whilst he has some exaggerated body shapes and a strange way of portraying hair, he's an apt artist, capturing the craziness of the world of imagination with exactly as much energy and fun as you'd hope for.
Fans of the Figment ride will enjoy this, but it's easily accessible for anyone to read without prior knowledge. Good fun for everyone!
Telling the story of the Dreamfinder and how Figment came to be, this is a fun little romp through the world of your imagination that has a lot of little tidbits about free thinking and faith in yourself which really echoes the Disney mentality behind the original ride. The b-plot bubbles away nicely too until it becomes the a-plot in the final issue, and the ending serves as both a cliffhanger for the next series and yet a good capstone for the series as a whole.
Filipe Andrade draws the series, and whilst he has some exaggerated body shapes and a strange way of portraying hair, he's an apt artist, capturing the craziness of the world of imagination with exactly as much energy and fun as you'd hope for.
Fans of the Figment ride will enjoy this, but it's easily accessible for anyone to read without prior knowledge. Good fun for everyone!
May 23, 2015
A sweet, bite-sized tale, filled with good old fashioned Disney idealism, goofy puns, heartfelt friendship, and gorgeous artwork. Recommended for any Disney fan, young and old alike (particularly one with an affinity for the Disney Theme Parks), steampunk aficionados, and fans of cute cartoon dragons. Doctor Who fans might get a kick out of it, as well.
Figment the Dragon was first introduced in the EPCOT park in the 1980's, as a promotion between Kodak and Disney. The hyper, easily distracted little purple dragon and his resident straight man, Dreamfinder, taught kids and adults alike about creativity and that "one little spark" of imagination needed to bring art and technology to life. Figment took off in the minds and hearts of those who saw him, and became a standout character, and thus, when Disney bought Marvel and began discussing comics based on Disney's amusement park rides, Figment was among the characters picked to be featured.
Blarion "Blair" Mercurial is a dapper English gentleman. Blair is optimistic, intelligent, creative, artistic, and working hard on an energy machine at the Scientfica Lucida in London. Having been easily bored at school, and always tinkering with technology, Blair hopes to send money back home to his impoverished family. However, when testing a new machine that runs on pure brain power, out pops a cute purple dragon Blair drew as a child. Blair's brain power opens a portal that sucks him and Figment into another world, and he has to rely on that brain of his to get him and his own friend home-- and hope nobody else figures out what his machine does, and how it could be used for ill intent...
The version I purchased collects all five issues, and has a nice forward by one of the Imagineers who worked on the original ride, as well as concept art for both the comic and the original ride, plus the original covers. The only downsides are nitpicks, really: There's a typo in the forward, the pages are glued or stapled with some of the words too close to the middle (making it hard to read in a couple of places), and a couple of the word bubbles make it unclear whether Blair or Figment is talking. But overall (and I say this as a lifelong Disney fan-- I admit, I'm biased), I'm in love with it. Hopefully, you will be, too.
Figment the Dragon was first introduced in the EPCOT park in the 1980's, as a promotion between Kodak and Disney. The hyper, easily distracted little purple dragon and his resident straight man, Dreamfinder, taught kids and adults alike about creativity and that "one little spark" of imagination needed to bring art and technology to life. Figment took off in the minds and hearts of those who saw him, and became a standout character, and thus, when Disney bought Marvel and began discussing comics based on Disney's amusement park rides, Figment was among the characters picked to be featured.
Blarion "Blair" Mercurial is a dapper English gentleman. Blair is optimistic, intelligent, creative, artistic, and working hard on an energy machine at the Scientfica Lucida in London. Having been easily bored at school, and always tinkering with technology, Blair hopes to send money back home to his impoverished family. However, when testing a new machine that runs on pure brain power, out pops a cute purple dragon Blair drew as a child. Blair's brain power opens a portal that sucks him and Figment into another world, and he has to rely on that brain of his to get him and his own friend home-- and hope nobody else figures out what his machine does, and how it could be used for ill intent...
The version I purchased collects all five issues, and has a nice forward by one of the Imagineers who worked on the original ride, as well as concept art for both the comic and the original ride, plus the original covers. The only downsides are nitpicks, really: There's a typo in the forward, the pages are glued or stapled with some of the words too close to the middle (making it hard to read in a couple of places), and a couple of the word bubbles make it unclear whether Blair or Figment is talking. But overall (and I say this as a lifelong Disney fan-- I admit, I'm biased), I'm in love with it. Hopefully, you will be, too.
August 15, 2021
Disney’s purple flying dragon named Figment has, I am fairly certain, never appeared in a single Disney film. His domain is solely the Journey Into Imagination ride at Epcot Center in Disney World.
Created in 1983, Figment was immensely popular with guests, which is why it was odd that, in 1999, the ride was “re-conceived” in a completely different form, and Figment was reduced to only a few brief cameos. Riders—especially those who recalled the original—-hated the new concept, and the ride was closed after only two years. It re-opened a year later with Figment as the main character once again. Some riders were appeased, but many still recalled the original concept which introduced a character called the Dreamfinder, who “created” Figment using the powers of imagination.
I never experienced the original ride. My only knowledge of Figment is in the current iteration.
Thankfully, Marvel Comics’ Disney Kingdoms line published a miniseries entitled “Figment”, which features the story of Figment’s origin story.
Written by Jim Zub and drawn by Filipe Andrade, “Figment” tells the story of Blarion Mercurial, a young scientist working at the Academy Scientifica-Lucidus in London, England in 1910. He has invented a machine, called the Integrated Mesmonic Convertor, that can harness the power of the mind and, specifically, the imagination.
The first thing that Mercurial creates is Figment, an adorable purple talking dragon. His second experiment, however, sucks him and Figment into a wormhole to another dimension, one that seems to have been created entirely by his imagination. Now, he must find a way back to London. Unfortunately, he is thwarted by dark forces such as Doubt and Insecurity and Lack of Confidence, created by a lifetime of people telling him that his mind was in the clouds, that he daydreamed too much, that his fantastical ideas were ridiculous, that he was a failure.
Thankfully, he has Figment.
This series is, like its titular character, adorable. It’s a wonderful tale of the importance of imagination, creativity, and critical thinking. It’s a perfect story to encourage those kids who are always asking questions and always coming up with ideas that, sadly, the vast majority of the world will always try to discourage or destroy.
Created in 1983, Figment was immensely popular with guests, which is why it was odd that, in 1999, the ride was “re-conceived” in a completely different form, and Figment was reduced to only a few brief cameos. Riders—especially those who recalled the original—-hated the new concept, and the ride was closed after only two years. It re-opened a year later with Figment as the main character once again. Some riders were appeased, but many still recalled the original concept which introduced a character called the Dreamfinder, who “created” Figment using the powers of imagination.
I never experienced the original ride. My only knowledge of Figment is in the current iteration.
Thankfully, Marvel Comics’ Disney Kingdoms line published a miniseries entitled “Figment”, which features the story of Figment’s origin story.
Written by Jim Zub and drawn by Filipe Andrade, “Figment” tells the story of Blarion Mercurial, a young scientist working at the Academy Scientifica-Lucidus in London, England in 1910. He has invented a machine, called the Integrated Mesmonic Convertor, that can harness the power of the mind and, specifically, the imagination.
The first thing that Mercurial creates is Figment, an adorable purple talking dragon. His second experiment, however, sucks him and Figment into a wormhole to another dimension, one that seems to have been created entirely by his imagination. Now, he must find a way back to London. Unfortunately, he is thwarted by dark forces such as Doubt and Insecurity and Lack of Confidence, created by a lifetime of people telling him that his mind was in the clouds, that he daydreamed too much, that his fantastical ideas were ridiculous, that he was a failure.
Thankfully, he has Figment.
This series is, like its titular character, adorable. It’s a wonderful tale of the importance of imagination, creativity, and critical thinking. It’s a perfect story to encourage those kids who are always asking questions and always coming up with ideas that, sadly, the vast majority of the world will always try to discourage or destroy.
August 1, 2015
It's Figment (the greatest character Disney has ever created) meets steampunk. You don't get a much more awesome concept than that! And it is beautifully rendered in this volume. I just love the idea so much that I wish there was more to the story. I could easily read a much longer book or whole series staring Figment (which is impressive, considering the fact that I do not graphic novels much).
October 24, 2015
Figment is Chimara are such cute and creative characters. I enjoyed this graphic novel quite a lot and intend to continue them.
March 9, 2020
This story is for kids. Only kids. No grown-ups allowed! Thanfully, it's short and has nice covers. It's all about thinking positive thoughts, using your imagination, making friends. Cute, but nonsense.
Blarion 'Blair' Mercurial is an inventor at the Academy Acientifica-Lucidus. He is a rebel of sorts, not one to follow orders or a plan. His experiment causes concern for his superior, chairman Illocrant, who needs Blair to work on discovering a source of energy. Instead he manages to apparently create a creature out of thin air he calls Figment and then gets transported into a fantasy world by accident.
Blarion 'Blair' Mercurial is an inventor at the Academy Acientifica-Lucidus. He is a rebel of sorts, not one to follow orders or a plan. His experiment causes concern for his superior, chairman Illocrant, who needs Blair to work on discovering a source of energy. Instead he manages to apparently create a creature out of thin air he calls Figment and then gets transported into a fantasy world by accident.
January 9, 2024
My 9 year old twins encouraged me to read this graphic novel. I wasn't expecting much, and I don't even like the character Figment that much. I did really enjoy the personification of doubt and thought it was actually had a much stronger message than I anticipated. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and I am glad I read it.
June 7, 2021
this made my heart so happy
September 24, 2019
Really cute steampunk graphic novel with fabulous friends to help save the world from bad imagination.
June 27, 2019
Interesting.... The first wasn't too special and only had just enough hook to make me curious about the next one. Hopefully there is more to come.
January 3, 2019
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"Figment" by Jim Zub tells the story Blarion Mercurial, a young, idealistic inventor, who one day harnesses the power of the imagination and creates a purple dragon from the depths of his mind. Blarion and his creation, Figment, are pulled into a strange world where they must figure out a way to get back to London and stop the clockwork army that has invaded the city.
I guess some backstory if you don't have a clue who Figment the dragon is. Since the series title of this graphic novel is "Disney Kingdoms," you already know it has something to do with Disney. Figment is a character seen at Epcot in the Imagination Pavilion where he has his own little attraction. If you are a Disney fan then you already know who Figment is and most likely love him. This "Disney Kingdoms" series is taking some of it's most popular rides/attractions and creating new stories by way of graphic novels.
I adored this graphic novel. Very child friendly, but adults can enjoy it as well. It was just so much fun. I really liked the story. Nothing overly complicated about it. It's basically an origin story not only for Figment, but an origin story for the Dreamfinder---Blarion Mercurial---who was also part of the Figment attraction. Above all, loved the characters!Figment was adorable, obviously. He has a sort of childlike wonder to him, very optimistic. And then you have Blarion who just wants to prove himself, reach his untapped limits, and believes you can do anything you want to as long as you have imagination and determination. Over the course of the novel he has his doubts and low points, but that's where Figment usually comes into play to boost Blarion's self-esteem. Other lovable characters include the flying-pink-dog creature, Chimera, and a blue sprite named, Fye. Another great thing about this story was it's themes. If you can't tell, a big part of this book is about imagination, that you should never hinder yourself, never doubt your potential, if you fail, try again, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something because it's impossible. It's also a story about friendship, which is the center of the Blarion/Figment relationship.
So to talk quickly about the artwork. Really gorgeous artwork. Very colorful and vibrant. Easy to tell what's going on on any given page. The pages aren't overcrowded with unnecessary detail that's distracting. The artwork is done entirely by Filipe Andrade. I'm really glad this whole thing was done by one artist. It frustrates me when some of these graphic novels use multiple artists and they all have their own individual styles, and it's hard to get into the story because you can tell the difference between artists and it takes away from the enjoyment.
Overall, I highly recommend this graphic novel. Adorable, cute, and so much fun from start to finish. Like I said, adults can definitely appreciate this and find enjoyment, and I really think kids would have a fun time as well.
"Figment" by Jim Zub tells the story Blarion Mercurial, a young, idealistic inventor, who one day harnesses the power of the imagination and creates a purple dragon from the depths of his mind. Blarion and his creation, Figment, are pulled into a strange world where they must figure out a way to get back to London and stop the clockwork army that has invaded the city.
I guess some backstory if you don't have a clue who Figment the dragon is. Since the series title of this graphic novel is "Disney Kingdoms," you already know it has something to do with Disney. Figment is a character seen at Epcot in the Imagination Pavilion where he has his own little attraction. If you are a Disney fan then you already know who Figment is and most likely love him. This "Disney Kingdoms" series is taking some of it's most popular rides/attractions and creating new stories by way of graphic novels.
I adored this graphic novel. Very child friendly, but adults can enjoy it as well. It was just so much fun. I really liked the story. Nothing overly complicated about it. It's basically an origin story not only for Figment, but an origin story for the Dreamfinder---Blarion Mercurial---who was also part of the Figment attraction. Above all, loved the characters!Figment was adorable, obviously. He has a sort of childlike wonder to him, very optimistic. And then you have Blarion who just wants to prove himself, reach his untapped limits, and believes you can do anything you want to as long as you have imagination and determination. Over the course of the novel he has his doubts and low points, but that's where Figment usually comes into play to boost Blarion's self-esteem. Other lovable characters include the flying-pink-dog creature, Chimera, and a blue sprite named, Fye. Another great thing about this story was it's themes. If you can't tell, a big part of this book is about imagination, that you should never hinder yourself, never doubt your potential, if you fail, try again, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something because it's impossible. It's also a story about friendship, which is the center of the Blarion/Figment relationship.
So to talk quickly about the artwork. Really gorgeous artwork. Very colorful and vibrant. Easy to tell what's going on on any given page. The pages aren't overcrowded with unnecessary detail that's distracting. The artwork is done entirely by Filipe Andrade. I'm really glad this whole thing was done by one artist. It frustrates me when some of these graphic novels use multiple artists and they all have their own individual styles, and it's hard to get into the story because you can tell the difference between artists and it takes away from the enjoyment.
Overall, I highly recommend this graphic novel. Adorable, cute, and so much fun from start to finish. Like I said, adults can definitely appreciate this and find enjoyment, and I really think kids would have a fun time as well.
April 7, 2017
Back in 2009 when Disney bought "MARVEL" back in 2010, some of the best writers at MARVEL teamed up with the Disney Park Imaginers to create three different series of comics based off the most popular attractions at the parks including Big Thunder Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and Journey into imagination. The last one I mentioned will of course be the one we will discuss today, But will this book be full of imagination or will it make us want a graphic novel based off the country bears? Lets find out..
Now the best way to describe the is a steampunk/adventure/comedy and this really does handle it well. Its about Blarion (Who we will later know a Dreamfinder) a science in a steampunk-est version of great old Britain. He has created a machine that can bring figments of the mind to life, and that of course is how we meet our next character figment, a childish dragon with what else than a 'imagination'. Blarion and Figment soon become friends and work together on Blarions machine. But when the machine goes haywire it sends them into an alternate dimension that can best be described as wacky land from the old school looney tunes cartoons. In this land of pure imagination, they find all sorts of odd creatures like bortly, a huge red creature with the head of a dog, the tail of a lion, and the wings of an bald eagle! Also in this land are these very odd creatures who like james camerons avatars and their in because Disney has to promote the new avatar land in 'Animal Kingdom' somehow! Meanwhile, back in England Prof. Mercuria is building EVIL robots to take over Britain. Now Blarlarion, Dreamfinder, Bortly, and their newest companion Fye, they must find a way back to Britain and save the world from a robotic doom!!
Now with a plot that sounds ridiculous as it does.. The book pulls it off amazingly with a few references to other disney properties. BUT with all that said their is a couple of minor flaws in the story that don't really matter. 'Figment' can best be described like the recent 'TomorrowLand' film were while it has its problems it makes up for it with an engaging and creative story, likable characters, and plenty of easter eggs for disney fans like me! And with even more series coming down the line based of more classics, they're sure to capture our imaginations.
Now the best way to describe the is a steampunk/adventure/comedy and this really does handle it well. Its about Blarion (Who we will later know a Dreamfinder) a science in a steampunk-est version of great old Britain. He has created a machine that can bring figments of the mind to life, and that of course is how we meet our next character figment, a childish dragon with what else than a 'imagination'. Blarion and Figment soon become friends and work together on Blarions machine. But when the machine goes haywire it sends them into an alternate dimension that can best be described as wacky land from the old school looney tunes cartoons. In this land of pure imagination, they find all sorts of odd creatures like bortly, a huge red creature with the head of a dog, the tail of a lion, and the wings of an bald eagle! Also in this land are these very odd creatures who like james camerons avatars and their in because Disney has to promote the new avatar land in 'Animal Kingdom' somehow! Meanwhile, back in England Prof. Mercuria is building EVIL robots to take over Britain. Now Blarlarion, Dreamfinder, Bortly, and their newest companion Fye, they must find a way back to Britain and save the world from a robotic doom!!
Now with a plot that sounds ridiculous as it does.. The book pulls it off amazingly with a few references to other disney properties. BUT with all that said their is a couple of minor flaws in the story that don't really matter. 'Figment' can best be described like the recent 'TomorrowLand' film were while it has its problems it makes up for it with an engaging and creative story, likable characters, and plenty of easter eggs for disney fans like me! And with even more series coming down the line based of more classics, they're sure to capture our imaginations.
February 6, 2020
Disney has made movies based on beloved rides, so why not a comic? I picked this graphic book up - not this time because it was written by someone from my hometown, but because I fondly remember the Epcot Center attraction that this story is based on. I went to Journey Into Imagination shortly after it opened when I was a tween. I love the film, ride, and activities and, of course, the character Figment! I've always loved Figment, but hadn't really thought of him in years. So I was very happy to see this on the shelf of my local library (now in Edmonton)
This book collects the entire limited series run of five issues. It's a complete story that provides a background to the creation of the whimsical dragon and his human inventor companion, Dreamfinder. It's a gentle, steampunk story of exploration, fantasy, friendship, and of course imagination
If you haven't been to the original or current Epcot attraction, you can still enjoy this story - although in this case it would be more enjoyable for children. For adults like me, this story is sentimental nostalgia that I wish continued a bit longer.
This book collects the entire limited series run of five issues. It's a complete story that provides a background to the creation of the whimsical dragon and his human inventor companion, Dreamfinder. It's a gentle, steampunk story of exploration, fantasy, friendship, and of course imagination
If you haven't been to the original or current Epcot attraction, you can still enjoy this story - although in this case it would be more enjoyable for children. For adults like me, this story is sentimental nostalgia that I wish continued a bit longer.
June 10, 2015
Cute story about the power of imagination.
I confess I have never been to Epcot so this was the first I'd heard of Figment the purple Dragon. How has Disney never made a movie about this? Anyway there's a comic now so it's a start.
I picked up mostly because of the steampunk cover art. The inner art wasn't as good as the cover art, but then it never is. The cover art is more polished so that people will buy it.
I confess I have never been to Epcot so this was the first I'd heard of Figment the purple Dragon. How has Disney never made a movie about this? Anyway there's a comic now so it's a start.
I picked up mostly because of the steampunk cover art. The inner art wasn't as good as the cover art, but then it never is. The cover art is more polished so that people will buy it.
May 25, 2015
I have loved Figment since I first met him at Epcot Center, so when I saw this graphic novel I was just super excited. No surprise that I absolutely loved it, I mean it's Figment after all, it would be hard to ruin anything that Figment is involved in. My only critique is that it is too short, I demand more Figment!!!
July 26, 2015
I love Figment so I enjoyed this comic showing his origins. My biggest complaint is that it left me wanting more. I'd love to see more of Figment & Dreamfinder's adventures. Also, I'd love to know what happened to Fye and the Chimera. I will definitely look for more Figment stories . . .
January 23, 2016
Very fun to immerse myself in Dreamfinder and Figments world. Was a fun backstory to a duo that I love and miss so much in EPCOT. The pages are beautiful and create an interesting world for the two to live in. If you are a Disney fan, or a figment fan, I would recommend this fun comic.
October 15, 2017
Finally, finally, FINALLY! I've tried several of the Disney Kingdoms comics - the Mouse's collaboration with Marvel to tell stories related to some of their more popular theme park attractions - and I was always left underwhelmed. Often I'd think, "what was the point of that, besides money, of course?" Well, I suspect writer Jim Zub and artist Filipe Andrade might've felt the same way because their series, "Figment," doesn't feel like a cash grab, it feels like a story where the fact that it's based on a Disney property is irrelevant. It's foremost just a damn good comic.
Working at what amounts to a think tank in Victorian London, scientist and inventor Blarion Mercurial has created a machine that - he believes - will solve the need for energy by creating it out of pure imagination. But when he fires up his machine the first few times it (1) blows up, (2) uses his creativity to synthesize a small purple dragon out of thin air, and finally (3) sucks them both through a portal into an alternate reality that's made up of imagination and all its facets. Basically what that means is that, once Blarion and his dragon, dubbed Figment, cross over, Zub and Andrade have free rein to write and draw pretty much whatever they like. Zub's story is the first coherent, well-paced Disney Kingdoms story and it's full of humor and pathos and wonder; he really does a great job. As for Andrade, his fill-in issue in the "Seekers Of The Weird" series was the highlight of that collection, so I'm really please to see that Disney/Marvel gave him an entire series of his own; he does not disappoint whatsoever.
Thank you, "Figment," for rewarding my trust in the Disney Kingdoms brand. And thank you for keeping my sons quiet because both of them have been curled up with this book, engrossed, many times over the past couple of days. I truly hope that Disney and Marvel revisit these characters with the same creative team in the future; the formula is magic.
Working at what amounts to a think tank in Victorian London, scientist and inventor Blarion Mercurial has created a machine that - he believes - will solve the need for energy by creating it out of pure imagination. But when he fires up his machine the first few times it (1) blows up, (2) uses his creativity to synthesize a small purple dragon out of thin air, and finally (3) sucks them both through a portal into an alternate reality that's made up of imagination and all its facets. Basically what that means is that, once Blarion and his dragon, dubbed Figment, cross over, Zub and Andrade have free rein to write and draw pretty much whatever they like. Zub's story is the first coherent, well-paced Disney Kingdoms story and it's full of humor and pathos and wonder; he really does a great job. As for Andrade, his fill-in issue in the "Seekers Of The Weird" series was the highlight of that collection, so I'm really please to see that Disney/Marvel gave him an entire series of his own; he does not disappoint whatsoever.
Thank you, "Figment," for rewarding my trust in the Disney Kingdoms brand. And thank you for keeping my sons quiet because both of them have been curled up with this book, engrossed, many times over the past couple of days. I truly hope that Disney and Marvel revisit these characters with the same creative team in the future; the formula is magic.
May 28, 2019
I thought this graphic novel was quite the journey into imagination. I've loved Figment since I was a kid and he's always inspired me to be as creative as I can be. It was good to see him do that again. I don't know too much about Figment and the Dreamfinder's history, but I thought this was a good origin story of their friendship. By the way, I loved the steam punk vibe. 1910 was the peak of the Industrial Revolution and it was cool to witness the redemption of Blairion Mercurial. A brilliant man with his head in the clouds. Always spells trouble. The kind of trouble that gifts us with minds like Walt Disney. The Chair-Man was obviously very snooty with a stick up his butt in the beginning, but he changed his tune by the end. And he said he would pay Blair's full salary to his family for the rest of his life, so I respect him. I hope he also takes care of Chimera and Fye. I honestly don't think the Mesmonic Convertor was really amazing. I don't even know how or why or what it takes to make it happen, but it works, allowing us to bask in Figment's fun and ever optimistic presence. I can't help but draw parallels to when Elsa brought Olaf to life. The mind portal was a little chaotic, but it was a doorway to imaginative lands like Fye's, where perfect sound makes harmony. The Singular was creepy and I don't believe he has the right idea about structure and order. At least Blair became the Dreamfinder and saved the Earth, even if he separated from everyone save for Figment. I recommend this book to creative minds, or those seeking one.
May 24, 2020
To be honest, I only like the book because it is about one of my favorite Disney characters: Figment. To me, that and the amazing coloring job may be it's only redeeming qualites and why it holds a place on my bookshelf.
The art was alright at best, the times shining when fight scenes and special effects like lightning were going on. There are times when the facial and body expressions do not match the words being said, and when the anatomy of characters completely breaks.
As for the writing itself, it is ok, it gets the story across... But there's this lack of humor that certainly does not match the Figment I know and love. At times the story was confusing and the writing just didnt make sense, especially near the ending of the comic. The reactions and interactions between some characters were just not clever at all. And, though I know that this is a comic based on a ride that used to be at Disney parks, the references to the ride itself and little quotes they had (that were also present in the ride) felt like they were thrown in there with no extra thought.
There are times when speech bubbles are not clearly given to characters, and certain panels are not organized in a way that makes good use of space or helps with the flow of the comic.
Is this comic a labor of love? From what the ending credits of the book can suggest, yes. I just wished they took more time with it to make the comic look more amazing and read more correctly. The comic and story had potential; it just fell short.
I would still suggest it to beginner readers and Disney Collectors though.
The art was alright at best, the times shining when fight scenes and special effects like lightning were going on. There are times when the facial and body expressions do not match the words being said, and when the anatomy of characters completely breaks.
As for the writing itself, it is ok, it gets the story across... But there's this lack of humor that certainly does not match the Figment I know and love. At times the story was confusing and the writing just didnt make sense, especially near the ending of the comic. The reactions and interactions between some characters were just not clever at all. And, though I know that this is a comic based on a ride that used to be at Disney parks, the references to the ride itself and little quotes they had (that were also present in the ride) felt like they were thrown in there with no extra thought.
There are times when speech bubbles are not clearly given to characters, and certain panels are not organized in a way that makes good use of space or helps with the flow of the comic.
Is this comic a labor of love? From what the ending credits of the book can suggest, yes. I just wished they took more time with it to make the comic look more amazing and read more correctly. The comic and story had potential; it just fell short.
I would still suggest it to beginner readers and Disney Collectors though.
July 19, 2021
OMG! I loves this book! As a huge Disney Nerd, seeing stories being published regarding extinct characters like Dreamfinder is always good. I read all of the book in one sitting, and that should be enough to convince you that this book is worth your time. The story is an origin story for Dreamfinder and Figment, and it does an amazing job painting the two as they were in the original Journey Into Imagination attraction at EPCOT. As the story progresses, I was able to see Dreamfinder growing as a character and Figment being there to be friendly and supportive. This dynamic is so engaging and fun to watch develop because it makes Dreamfinder's character relatable for me. Furthermore, the story features a diverse cast of original characters that are good additions to the story and help push Dreamfinder and Figment along on their adventure! Overall, this story has memorable characters, moments, and quotes that I believe make it an instant classic in my book! If you're a fan of Disney, EPCOT, or Journey Into Imagination, I would highly recommend this to you!
July 1, 2025
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! 💗Mesmerizing! Gorgeous artwork, magical story, action(and Imagination)-packed, unexpectedly creative, and touching, like a dream that takes you on an enchanted, unforgettable journey where your thoughts conjure up brand new worlds. At last, a flawless graphic novel that I loved just as much as fries (and I really love fries). :)
“Imagination is our key to unlock the hidden wonders of the world.”
A story about the power of the MIND, of imagination and hope that takes place in 20th-century London + another dimension. Figment (the dragon) is adorable, Chimera (he huge and friendly pink “dog” who eats buttons) is so cute. The protagonist is a brilliant yet-a-bit-whacky inventor whose mistake/failure inspires his best achievement, as tumultuous as his journey may be.
I don’t know anything about the (old?) Disney attractions (I’m from Romania), but I am glad one of them sparked a creative idea that two very talented artists turned into a delightful series.
p.s. too bad the collaboration did not continue for the sequel...
“Imagination is our key to unlock the hidden wonders of the world.”
A story about the power of the MIND, of imagination and hope that takes place in 20th-century London + another dimension. Figment (the dragon) is adorable, Chimera (he huge and friendly pink “dog” who eats buttons) is so cute. The protagonist is a brilliant yet-a-bit-whacky inventor whose mistake/failure inspires his best achievement, as tumultuous as his journey may be.
I don’t know anything about the (old?) Disney attractions (I’m from Romania), but I am glad one of them sparked a creative idea that two very talented artists turned into a delightful series.
p.s. too bad the collaboration did not continue for the sequel...
August 25, 2022
Being a HUGE fan of the original ride and resenting the rebranding they did which included a far joke, I was super happy to read this wonderful adventure to show the inception of The Dreamfinder AND Figment. Art throughout is absolutely stunning though sometimes it gets a bit intense in regards to the stakes, the concept, and the story line. In that sense, this story is written for people like me who grew up going to Epcot, owning a Figment hat, and who can't stomach the new ride, though I do wonder if a story for younger kids would have been a better choice or if this is just perfect as it is. Dialogue throughout is interesting and there is definitely a lean into steampunk vibes, dialogue, names, and beyond. Simply put, if you think of the original song and smile, you owe it to yourself to give these characters a wonderful hurrah.
August 29, 2017
As a long-time fan of Figment, this was a pleasant surprise. While Blair is not as impressive a character as I might like, the adventures he and Figment go through are imaginative and manage to throw a fair number of references to both the original ride and the larger Disney universe. The art and story manage to connect to the classic ride but also expand the concept fairly well, with the last issue making up for a lackluster middle. It's not quite as funny as I was hoping for from Jim Zub, but it does evince a little bit of emotion at its finale. Fans of Figment will enjoy it, but I don't know that it would really entertain people who don't already have nostalgia for the two leads.
March 26, 2018
Another great story in Marvel’s Disney Kingdom’s line. I was never able to experience the old Journey Into Imagination ride at Walt Disney World’s Epcot, so I really went in to this book only knowing of Figment, the small purple dragon.
Marvel created a steampunk-inspired story about the origins of Figment and The Dream Maker, and I found the story to be quite delightful. The moral of the story – being that there are no rules to the imagination – I also found to be endearing, which certainly fits into Walt Disney’s message about being able to be, and do, whatever your dreams desire.
I am giving four stars because I liked the story. The pacing was good, and the art, while not my favorite style, served the atmosphere of the story well. This is a book that I will revisit, and I’ll certainly recommend it to readers looking for certain qualities.
Marvel created a steampunk-inspired story about the origins of Figment and The Dream Maker, and I found the story to be quite delightful. The moral of the story – being that there are no rules to the imagination – I also found to be endearing, which certainly fits into Walt Disney’s message about being able to be, and do, whatever your dreams desire.
I am giving four stars because I liked the story. The pacing was good, and the art, while not my favorite style, served the atmosphere of the story well. This is a book that I will revisit, and I’ll certainly recommend it to readers looking for certain qualities.
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