Comic Book Delves Into the Story of Video Games

July 6, 2026 - 13:42

A new comic book biography is taking readers on a journey through the origins of the video game industry. Released quietly back in February by TidalWave Productions, the 22-page comic titled "Orbit: Power Up - The History of Video Games" traces the story from its earliest days. The narrative begins with Ralph Baer, the engineer often credited with inventing the first home video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The comic does not stop with Baer. It moves through key milestones, covering the rise of arcade classics, the home console wars of the 1980s and 1990s, and the shift toward 3D graphics and online play. The book aims to present these events in a visual, accessible format, using the comic medium to highlight the people and moments that shaped gaming culture. It is part of TidalWave's "Orbit" series, which has previously profiled figures like Stan Lee and Steve Jobs.

For readers who grew up with games or are simply curious about how the industry evolved, "Power Up" offers a condensed but colorful look at the timeline. The 22-page length means it covers a lot of ground quickly, but it focuses on the key inventors, developers, and turning points that turned a niche hobby into a global entertainment force.