Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball

by Jon Chad

in this dynamic, nonfiction graphic novel, Jon Chad illustrates the little-known story of pinball―how it works and why it all matters in an age of special effects and on-screen gaming.

In 1976, champion player Roger Sharpe stepped up to a pinball machine in a Manhattan courtroom. The New York City Council had convened to consider lifting the city’s ban on pinball―a game that had been outlawed since 1942 for its supposed connections to gambling and organized crime. Sharpe was there to prove that, unlike a slot machine, pinball wasn’t a game of chance designed to fleece its players―it was a game of skill that required a measure of patience, coordination, and control. To prove his point, he proclaimed that he would launch his ball into the center lane at the far end of the playfield―much like Babe Ruth famously pointing to the fences. Sharpe pulled back the plunger and released, and the fate of this industry and art form hung in the balance.

Thus opens Jon Chad’s comprehensive graphic novel to the history of the captivating, capricious―and at times infuriating!―game of pinball. Tracing pinball’s roots back to the Court of King Louis XIV, through the immigrant experience of early 20th century America, the post-War boom and bust, right up to the present day, Chad charmingly ushers readers through the myriad facets of this most American of pursuits―capturing not just the history but also the artistry, cultural significance, and even the physics of the game.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, History, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Historical, Games

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 5, 2022

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE PINBALL! As a young boy I spent many a summer afternoon hanging out at my local 7-11; candy, comics and Slurpees - what more could a twelve year old boy ask for! I was good enough to get a free ball from friends; to help get points for a free game. This GN brought back lots of good memories - wish there were still places to go to play pinball.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores pinball as a gaming technology and a cultural force and follows its rise and fall and recent internet-fueled renaissance. I found the art to be really well done - sometimes graphic non-fiction finds it difficult to balance the words and pictures, but here the specific pieces of pinball technology or game design were illustrated superbly and were much easier to understand than if this was just a normal nonfiction book. The history lesson was also really well structured. The other very interesting part of this book was its triumphalism about the recent rise and rebirth of pinball culture. I had *no idea* that pinball was having a internet-fueled renaissance! This is a reminder of the promise of the internet, when communities could use the internet to find each other an organically share and grow their passions.

**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun history of pinball machines teaches me a lot about the game, gives me some nostalgic vibes about my favorite machines, and makes me almost want to see if there are any arcades near me. The author may be a little too close to the subject and allows his enthusiasm to result in some hyperbole and purple prose, but hey, that works fine in a comic book format.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t claim to have any prior academic interest in Pinball and have never been more than a very casual and infrequent enthusiast for playing the game, but this nonfiction graphic novel was loads of fun to read even for this pinball naïf.

This illustrated history, packed with information at close to 200 pages, is probably more than anyone needs to know about pinball. And yet while reading it, I wanted to know all of it anyway.

Chad gives us an interesting and well-balanced to blend of the game’s history and the nuts and bolts (literally, at times) of how pinball works.

There are some interesting psychological observations as well about how our brains process the game and other games like it. This and the evolution of the game from Bagatelle in Louis XIV’s France through many iterations into what the game looks like today were my favorite components of the book.

But the real standout is the art, which is truly outstanding. It’s visually reminiscent of pinball itself, a riotous cacophony of detail and color, cleverly and beautifully rendered to represent the subject.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect combo of history, technical description, gameplay explanation, and LOVE. All of the intangible elements of pinball are artfully explained (pun intended, because the cartooning in this book is incredible), and I hope it finds its way into the hands of non-players, so they can become inspired to seek out pins and find out first hand what all the bells and chimes are about.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pinball is a fun and functional graphic history; it also expresses a reverence for pinball that edges on worship. The detailed explanations of how pinball crosses over between numerous disciplines and engages multiple areas of the brain seemed...excessive. Like, I know that games and sports improve our mental acuity. I don't think pinball is like, the silver bullet in this arena. It's just as good as the next thing that uses hand-eye coordination.

Beyond the outrageous claims, Pinball offers a fun look at the origins of pinball (an extremely popular bar game in the '30s!) and a surprising report on how pinball was illegal in certain cities for many years. Odd! Chad also works wonders with the art, accurately reproducing numerous pinball tables. It's a book filled with excesses that'll likely appeal more to the true pinball nerd. But this pinball newbie had a fine time too.

[Keen Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…from Soho down to Brighton…”

Pinball to me and my peers always felt like another one of those failed American exports along with their terrible beer and chocolate, which left you feeling confused and disappointed as you wondered what all the fuss was about?...Most pinball machines I encountered seemed to reside in quiet, forgotten corners of rock themed bars or clubs, rarely played and seemed to be there more for decorative purposes, suggesting a vague Americana theme.

Chad has done a great job of this, starting off in the so called golden age of the 1930s, we see that due to its perceived alleged connection to illegality and delinquency, La Guardia, the then NYC Mayor in the 40s, spotted an opportunity to score cheap political points by targeting an easy, inconsequential topic whilst ignoring many bigger and more difficult subjects, so that by the end of the hysteria some 11,800 pinball machines were destroyed in NYC’s ban.

We get a loose history which dates all the way back to Ancient Greece with a strange game played on grass and then to the introduction of bagatelle in 17th century France, but we see Pinball arrived in earnest during the depression when in 1932 Ray Maloney’s Ballyhoo sold 50,000 units marking the beginning of the golden age of pinball. Apparently Contact was the first game to move the ball around electronically in 1934 and 1935 saw the introduction of the first backbox in Criss Cross. The word “pinball” was coined in 1936. The flipper wasn’t invented until 1947, partly by accident it first appeared in the Humpty Dumpty, which had six of them.

We learn that the era before electricity is known as PM (Pure Mechanical), the machines from 1935-1976 are known as EM (Electro-mechanical) then in 1975 came the Spirit of ‘76 heralding the dawn of the SS (Solid State) era, which contained microchips, memory and circuit boards. These could accommodate up to four players. 1991 saw the emergence of DMD (Dot Matrix Display) technology which dominated the 90s, and then came LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) in 2013 with The Wizard of Oz machine.

We learn about the many obstacles faced by the industry over the years, as well as the hysteria of La Guardia, we see the now semi-famous court case of 1976 (as seen in the recent movie “Pinball”) which proved that the game was one of skill rather than chance. We also see how the pinball industry responded to the challenge of the emergence of the arcade games from the 70s onwards.

So this was a colourful, surprising and rewarding journey through the story of pinball, aided by strong, creative artwork and a curious and rich vocabulary which really does justice to the game and its history, and this reminds you what can be achieved when you transfer all that passion, knowledge and eloquence into such a book and you can start to understand and relate more to what someone may get from it.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Calling all pinball geeks! This one is a very detailed depiction of the checkered and rich history of the pinball machine. Who knew they got outlawed in New YorkCity?! Or that there’s still a thriving pinball community online?

I think readers interested in game development, design, play, and engineering would take special interest, as would graphic novel fans as this is pretty well done, if semi-dry, on an original subject. Very bright and energetic, as you’d expect!

Looking forward to taking a closer look at a machine next time I see a pinball relic in a neighborhood “barcade”.

And course, you have to listen to The Who’s Tommy while reading. Flipper skills ftw!

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this book, which told the long history of pinball -- from SoHo down to Brighton, he must have played them all. I think the reasons for my disappointment are two fold: first, trying to explain something that is just pure fun gets lost in words and images. You got to play to understand the enjoyment. Second, there were too many images on each page so that details were sacrificed. A larger or longer book would have helped. Trying to explain creativity is also a chore, and this seemed to manifest itself only in the last eight pages or so when finally the images exploded off the page. The history is a bit dry, and the industry was overrun by video games, which then moved into homes killing arcades and most of the pinball manufacturers. Sadly, pinball machines remain an oddity, found mostly in sports bars and collector game rooms these days.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

• A copy of this book was given by NetGalley in return for an honest review •

Rating: 4 Stars

The Review

Pinball is a great graphic novel that covers the history of the game from its roots in bagatelle to its heyday during the Great Depression to its dwindling popularity and subsequent revival. Utilizing the graphic novel format with dynamic art perfect for the topic at hand, it’s an easy yet comprehensive read that keeps your interest the whole way through.

I finished it in two sittings, quickly devouring the colors, art, and well-conveyed information. There’s a genuine and infectious love for the silver ball that has gone into this book. It speaks of a passion for the art and nuances of what most, I think, see as a wild, unpredictable game, while at the same time opening a door to those new to it without overloading them with jargon. With easy-to-understand analogies, beginner tips visualized with art, and a glossary at the end, anyone new to the game will get to know it better through this book (and fall in love with it too). I know I’ll be looking for pinball machines to put what I learn to use.

I genuinely appreciate books like these that give me insight into a topic I previously knew little about. And as a graphic novel, it makes it all the better for me who learns visually.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what a graphic history of pinball should be-- a graphic history of pinball that includes biographies or key individuals, a breakdown of the origin story and subsequent playing of pinball right up through publication date, diagrams and vocabulary, culture connections, and the financial and social impacts of the game as well as how pinball affected other entertainment and vice versa.

I admit to playing less than a handful of times on a true pinball machine. But I know the how and the why of it now whether I ever get to or not, but I like its brother game, skeeball, which is referenced.

There are a few pages that are a little buy for my taste, but it matches the mood and tempo of the story. Culture lovers and gamers would enjoy.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating:4 stars - It was really good

As a fan of pinball, I knew this would be an interesting comic. This is a wonderfully illustrated history of the pinball machine from ancient Greece to modern day. I never knew how resilient this machine was but I am glad it has made it to the modern day because it's my favorite thing to play when I go to arcades.

Overall, this is a detailed and beautifully illustrated look at one of the world's most iconic games and I highly recommend it, especially if you are a pinball fan.

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*

You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.

[mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this non-fiction graphic novel, you can read everything you would want to know about pinball, everything from origins, usage, and various improvements through time. I never imagined there was so much to tell about the pinball game. The graphic is good, cartoonish.

I like reading non-fiction graphic novels as I always learn something new this way. I didn't know much about this game. I would recommend it to all who like some in-depth read about pinball.

Thanks to First Second Books for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.

[Elisabeth Cavallaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended to me by a friend. Good recommendation! 

I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic history of pinball. The last chapter was not that great, but the rest of it was a lot of fun. 

I have several friends who are really into pinball. I have nothing against the game, but I also didn't understand what the big deal was. Then I read this and it helped me appreciate the game much much more. Now I want to go play some pinball!

[Jace H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite non-fiction book. I love pinball, and I’m so happy I got to learn more about it. The writing is informative and easy to understand for those who are new to pinball; the book’s glossary explains pinball-specific terms in memorable terms. And the art is stunning. I would 100% recommend this to any pinball fan or person who wants to learn about it

[jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didn't have much of an interest in pinball before reading this book, but now i really want to play. tbh i learned a lot, and the history of it is actually really interesting.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, fast read. Definitely jonesing to play some pinball now!

[Lisa]

I sense I'm in the minority here, but wow, I did not like this book. It seemed to put all the least interesting parts of pinball together to me, and I wasn't a fan of the generic artistic style either. oh well, not for me!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned some things and the author's passion for pinball is clear. But really what I learned is that pinball is deeply boring and quite a boys club. If you love pinball you might love this book, but otherwise its a pass

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!
Graphic novel, history and so much more!

Thank you author: Jon Chad and everyone's involvement in the book.

Elise

[Jessica Samuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an illustrated history of pinball. It traces pinball’s early origins from a table-top version of a lawn game called Bagetelle in the court of King Louis XIV to more portable versions brought to the U.S. by immigrants to the invention of the flipper to the incorporation of electricity to the modern version of pinball we see today.

FUN FACT: Pinball was illegal in New York for years because it was considered a game of chance.

A comic book about the history of pinball? Yes, please! I’ve never been much of a gamer myself, but when my siblings or friends dragged me to an arcade growing up, I usually ended up in front of either Ms. Pacman or a pinball machine. I liked the “Rube Goldberg machine” feeling of the game. Pinball was more tangible than some of the other games because it involved a physical ball rolling through a real playing field rather than a simulated character moving around on a screen.

The book is both visually interesting and highly informative. The back of the book includes tips for actually playing the game like flipper skills, basic pinball field layouts, a glossary, and a list of additional resources. If you have any interest in gaming or microhistories, I recommend giving it a try.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
Pinball developed over several centuries – perhaps its origins are rooted in lawn games played in ancient Greece! Chad shows the history of pinball from 17th century France to its near-demise in the United States in 1942 to its audience today. Through additions and adaptations, pinball has become the arcade game we know and love today.
I loved every page of this book. The illustrations bring the history of pinball alive, and, intentionally or not, this focused history still shows the developments outside of pinball in the world’s history. Being able to see how even a game is impacted by and impacts the history of countries was amazing to me. Admittedly, this is a very niche subject, but the content is good enough to bring back another wave of pinball fans!
The illustrations made a pronounced effort to depict people of all ages and skin colors. The mature content rating is for depictions of smoking and mentions of illegal activity; the violence rating is for illustrations of guns and mild violence against inanimate objects and video game characters.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[John Stanifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only was this an incredibly fun romp through the history of pinball -- I learned a lot that I didn't know. For instance, early versions of pinball were very popular during the Great Depression and helped people pass the time during one of the most difficult economic periods in modern history.

And then there's the jaw-dropping fact that pinball was BANNED in New York for decades (because of its perceived ties to crime and juvenile delinquency) and that over 11,000 machines were destroyed when the ban was put into place and just . . . tossed in the river.

Jon Chad knows his stuff and makes me want to track down some of the important pinball machines that he references in his narrative ("Spirit of 76," "High Speed," "Addams Family," and the Star Wars: Episode I machine that basically killed the industry for several years are just a few examples).

This is a must-read if you have even a tiny shred of interest in gaming or pop culture! Bravo!

P.S. One small touch that I loved about the artwork in this book -- sound effects are frequently portrayed using colorful geometric shapes resembling the famous Memphis Design of the '80s.

[Alec Longstreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heads up: I consider my opinion of this book to be biased but also informed (I co-created seven issues of a pinball zine with Jon Chad from 2010-2015, and have read lots of pinball books, own a pinball machine, etc).

This is a five-star pinball book. A three-star pinball book would merely walk you through the history of pinball, and talk about some of the innovations that were introduced to various machines over the years. This book does cover that information, but what makes it special is that Jon Chad delves much deeper into SOUL of pinball - he tries to uncover what actually makes it such a magical immersive experience to play.

Using masterful cartooning, Jon explores the alchemical combination of experiences that are used to create a game of pinball: illustration, lighting, sounds, animation, physics, coding, rulesets, and more! If, like me, you're someone who loves pinball, but have never been able to fully express WHY you love it - this book does an amazing job of unpacking everything that happens as you play pinball, and how it affects the player. I plan on buying multiple copies to share with people in my life that have never really understood my obsession with pinball.

If you've never played pinball, you're in luck! In addition to the engaging historical narrative, the back of the book features tips for how play, a vast glossary of pinball terms, and a list of other pinball books and movies to continue your learning.

I give this book my highest recommendation! I read the whole thing in one sitting, and long afterwards I was still thinking about some of the ideas it explored, and even individual panels and pages which were so brilliantly illustrated with Jon's nib.

You'll never find a better book about pinball!

[Meyer Mercker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal telling of how the modern game of pinball originated as well as the several obstacles pinball had to overcome in order to stay alive. The various hardships pinball players and manufacturers had to go through and the ways in which they pressed on kept me enthralled the whole book. Roger Sharpe saving the future of pinball with one shot in the middle of a courtroom has to be one of the greatest moments in gaming of all time. This book brings pinballs history to life on its pages, that can capture the minds of newcomers and pinball enthusiasts alike. The illustrations added to the joy of reading this book as not only did it help me increase my pinball understanding, it allows the reader to learn valuable flipper skills that they can incorporate into their own game. I can’t wait to head down to the local barcade to play the silver ball and try out all these new tricks and impress with my new knowledge!

[Fraser Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very informative and the information design is great. I can’t say I ever cared to know about pinball, but this was an Eisner book, so I checked it out anyway. To be honest, even when I was a kid, enamoured with arcades, pinball never once drew me in. The history of the game was interesting and I had no idea there was such a sub culture around it, but it makes sense. There is one around basically everything and we live in globalized times, so to each their own.

I do think that even though this is a teaching text, and in them reiteration is good, but there was facts repeated many times over only pages apart, and those stick out to me as annoying because they were also making the same points with the same information. How it’s presented is exceptional, though.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting topic told in the least interesting way possible. Coming directly off of "Ping Pong", a comic that successfully sold me on the drama and skill of a sport I knew nothing about, this feels really stiff and lacking in personality. It's written and drawn like one of those political explainer comics that were popular on Tumblr in the mid-2010s. All it's missing is a cartoon avatar of the author condescendingly explaining the facts to a reader surrogate like an annoying episode of "The Magic School Bus". My impression of pinball had previously been "it's an outdated retro thing only weird nerds care about", and after reading this my opinion hasn't changed!

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am on such a graphic novel roll - this new release about the history of Pinball was so fascinating and well done. My 11 year old has read it at least 4 times, but I felt like I learned so much, loved the historical aspects, and now really want to play some pinball again! My only critique is that computer pinball wasn’t me ruined at all; I realize this isn’t pure pinball, but it was a huge part of my childhood and I felt like I understood a lot of the game mechanics and terminology because of pc pinball.

[Frank McGirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

I have only recently started to feel the allure of pinball, finding that I'm usually bored at the bar-cades I visit with the video games that used to enthrall me but entertained by the pinball.

Chad's really pinpoints (hah) the allure of pinball and provides an entertaining history as well...including a courtroom showdown!

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grabbed this from the library on a whim, and my whole household got interested in it, and we ended up learning a lot about pinball and going to the arcade to play some. The beginning and the end of this graphic novel were interesting, but the middle was slow for me. It might be that I'm not the target audience, so if you are more of a gamer, this might be positively titillating.