Picture this: it’s November 12, 1990. Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under just debuted, and famous movies like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Tarzan don’t exist yet. Young adults are eager to consume as much Disney media as possible, and with the first ever Disney Adventures Magazine, their wish has come true!
Fans of Disney productions and other various entertainment media had a fun new way to keep up with their favorite movies, characters, and shows. The magazine was pretty inclusive, offering information from rival companies like Nickelodeon, DreamWorks and even major feature films like the Star Wars and Harry Potter franchises. They even added ESPN content later. It was definitely the place to go for your latest pop culture and Disney-themed news and enjoyment.
It was only a matter of time before Disney started creating comics. The comics started off small between articles and columns and then became their own single section called the “Comic Zone.”. They were mainly based on animated Disney properties, specifically those that aired on the Disney Afternoon.
List of some Disney properties adapted as comics:
- DuckTales
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
- Aladdin
- The Lion King
- Toy Story
- Mighty Ducks
- Recess
- A Bug’s Life
- The Incredibles
- Lilo and Stitch & Lilo & Stitch: The Series
Roger Rabbit was a regular feature in the magazine. He was the protagonist of the comics which was a spin off the feature film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Roger was based on the most famous cartoon characters who were popular during the Golden Age of Hollywood animation.
The magazine also had a recurring feature in the comics called “Big Adventures,” which were original stories based around whichever topic was the subject in the “Big Adventures” column each month. Disney Adventures also published new comic stories based on older Disney animated films. These often tied in with new video releases the films themselves received.
On top of the comics, the magazine nearly always featured an image of a celebrity interacting with one or more Disney characters. There were real-life stories, editorial content, and promotional content for the company.
After only 4 years of publication, the circulation of Disney Adventures hit 1 million! In 2007, Disney canceled the magazine after 17 years of publication. If you want to see these amazing magazines for yourself, just head online and buy some!
