6 Graphic Novels for Space Heads

Growing up on the Space Coast of Florida with parents working for NASA and its contracted companies, my head has always been among the stars. Being surrounded by amazing technology and the spirit of exploration made me a dreamer, a doer...and a huge science fiction fan, too, but that’s beside the point. I love reading about space exploration and 20th/21st century spaceflight efforts, both fictional and historical. Graphic novel publishers and fans must love them too, because there are some great stories out there in sequential art form. Here are my six graphic novel picks for space heads:


Laika (2007, First Second)
Writer and Artist: Nick Abadzis

10 and up - A blend of fact and fiction, Laika follows three primary characters: Laika herself, the abandoned puppy who became the first living being to orbit Earth; Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika; and Korolev, a top engineer for the Russian space program. Just as interesting a read for it's historical facts as it's deep emotion, Laika is a must-read for dog lovers, space and history buffs, graphic novel fans, and everyone else! The soft color work fits the rough art style well and adds to the emotive quality of the book. Have the tissues handy for this one.

Orbiter (2004, Vertigo)

Writer: Warren Ellis  |  Art: Colleen Doran

16 and up - A scientific mystery with surprising emotional resonance. The Space Shuttle Venture has returned home to the ruins of the abandoned Kennedy Space Center ten years after it went missing. Particularly interesting for anyone who has visited KSC and will recognize the crumbling structures. A strange and powerful story with a hint of the usual Warren Ellis weirdness. The payoff is at the very end.


T-Minus: The Race to the Moon (2009, Aladdin)

Writer: Jim Ottaviani  |  Art: Zander Cannon and Kevin Cannon
8 and up - An ambitious book that attempts to chronicle the history of the Space Race. This 128-page graphic novel is an easy pick for nonfiction lovers and fact collectors. While writer Jim Ottaviani does a great job of giving equal screen time to the U.S. and Russian sides of the race, several critical missions are barely mentioned, making this an incomplete history. Though it can be a bit of a dry read at times, readers will indeed walk away from T-Minus having learned much about the Space Race and - hopefully - with a little inspiration from the dreamers that launched us into space.

Twin Spica (Vertical, 2010) [English Translation]

Writing and Art: Yaginuma Kou 16 Volumes
12 and up - This is not the sweet shojo series that the cover seems to suggest. Though the Japanese space program was shut down by a tragic accident ten years ago, one that changed her family forever, 13-year-old Asumi is determined to attend Tokyo Space School and be in the first wave of new astronauts. Twin Spica overflows with poignant emotion as Yaginuma examines the relationship between Asumi and her father, her classmates, her history, and her dreams with an unforgettable bittersweet intensity. Grounded in realism and balanced between dreamer’s optimism and tragedy, Twin Spica is a complex and worthwhile read for all ages.


20th Century Boys (2009, VIZ) [English Translation]

Writing and Art: Urasawa Naoki 22 Volumes

13 and up - Though this complex mystery could be read and enjoyed by younger audiences, 20th Century Boys is really a coming-of-age tale for thirty- and forty-somethings that considers the gap between our adult lives and the people we dreamed we would become as children. Urasawa is masterful at building and maintaining suspense; you are fortunate if you are just learning about this series now, because the final English volume was just released yesterday, no wait required. Be prepared for a marathon, because once you start you’ll want to power through to the end.

Ministry of Space (2006, Image) Writer: Warren Ellis  |  Illustrator: Chris Weston  |  Colorist: Laura Martin

16 and up - An alternate-history version of human space exploration, where America never secured independence from England and the British Empire dominates space travel and colonization. Though the story suffers from being crammed into a 3-issue mini series, the intricate designs, ethical questions, and realism born of attention to detail all make this an important (though often overlooked) addition to graphic novel collections.


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It saddens me that the current generation of children will grow up without shuttle launches to carry their young dreams into space, but hopefully the legacy left by these and other books will keep the dream alive until a new age of space exploration can begin.
This post was written in honor of the Space Shuttle Endeavor's last flight.

Do you know of other great graphic novels about 20th and 21st century space exploration? Please share!

Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (2012)

Even for teenagers who don't remember the early 90s, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is an awesome book with a main character who'll leap of the page - then steal something when you're back is turned.

Cameron is twelve when her parents die in a car accident, and she is distraught... because she is relieved that her parents will never find out that she had been kissing her best female friend. However, the death of her parents leaves her in the custody of her Born Again aunt and old-fashioned grandmother, a situation that Cameron struggles with as we follow her through age seventeen. The boiling point is reached, though, when beautiful, perfect cowgirl Coley moves to town.

Even if you normally avoid books with religious themes and troubles, I would encourage you to give Cameron Post a try. It is honest to everyone involved and gave me a new perspective on family members who try to "fix" their LGBTQ loved ones. I loved getting to know Cameron, and her acceptance of herself is refreshing.

This is Emily M. Danforth's first novel, but WOW does it not feel like it. You can really feel the setting in this book, taste the dust and suffer the heat in the opening summer scenes. It is long for a YA novel, clocking in at 470 pages, but I promise it is worth it. Take it slow, immerse yourself in the setting, and learn to love the characters. If you're looking for an easy lesbian romance, this is not it, but if you want a thoroughly satisfying lesbian coming-of-age story, don't hesitate to meet Cameron Post.

Other YA fiction with lesbian characters:
Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle
Keeping You a Secret by Julie Ann Peters

Review: Pink by Lili Wilkinson (2011)

There are so few novels out there dealing with bisexual characters that whenever I see one, I have to snatch it up. When I first heard about Pink, I had to read it right away.

Ava attends a crappy high school where no one cares about actually learning anything but her. She wears all black. She's an out lesbian. She dates Chloe, the cool and pretentious feminist queen.

She's sick of it all.

Ava wants to work hard in school without being ridiculed. She wants to see what dating a boy is like. She wants to wear PINK. So she applies to the prestigious Billy Hughes Academy for Academic Excellence where she'll be a complete unknown - where can try on her new life and hide it from her girlfriend and ultra-liberal parents.

This novel is filled with theater tech and broadway musical references, as well as feminist philosophy and literature references. However, knowledge of these subjects isn't necessary to enjoy the book - even Ava doesn't know what they're talking about most of the time. I have to admit that Ava's journey is somewhat painful to watch - mostly because I just wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. She can be profoundly stupid at times. However, I ultimately really enjoyed the book and all the quirky secondary characters. 


Writing about bisexual characters can be difficult; some authors feel the need to come down on one side or the other at the end of the novel, close the book with the character dating either a male or a female. Wilkinson left us with a character who was still questioning, still settling into her sexuality and coming to accept bisexuality as an option, and I found that very satisfying and realistic. This is a great book to give to questioning teens.

Pink is the American debut of Austrailian author Lili Wilkinson and is a Stonewall Honor Book. Full of snarky wit and unashamed geeking, this novel makes for a fun summer read.

Other YA novels featuring bisexual teens:
My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Empress of the World by Sara Ryan
My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

Review: I Am J by Cris Beam (2011)

One of the more recent additions to the small family of transgender teen books, I Am J by Cris Beam is a great read for teens and adults alike. J was born Jennifer, a girl whose parents dreamed of sending her to college, watching her get married, and all the other things parents often want for their little girls. Jennifer, however, hoped that one day, the world would see that there had been a misunderstanding - Jennifer was actually a boy.

J covered himself in baggy clothing to hide the breasts that he wished he didn’t have and tries desperately to stop his monthly period. He has trouble relating to his friends and family, who don’t know his secret and assume he’s a lesbian. J finally runs away from home and enrolls in a school for LGBTQ teens. He learns about testosterone treatments, “T”, a way he can finally become outside what he’s always felt inside and stop feeling the need to hide his body. It is a long and rocky road, though, especially when you’re only 17.

J is a determined character whose troubles are portrayed with depth and sensitivity. Beam’s deep understanding and passion for the struggles of transgender teens shines through in this book, and I would recommend it to... well, just about anyone! Those unfamiliar with trans issues will get an education in this book, and those who are already familiar will find a likeable character to befriend.

Cris Beam is also the author of Transparent: Love, Family and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers, an award-winning YA nonfiction book.

Other YA books featuring transgender teens:
Luna by Julie Ann Peters
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Review: Hero by Perry Moore (2008)

Are superheroes your thing? They used to be almost exclusively contained to the realms of comics and cartoons. Now, superheroes are featured regularly in both hit TV shows and blockbuster movies. However, there is one media that is still relatively superhero-free: the novel. There are a few, sure, but they are few and far between. Hero is one of these magical unicorn books featuring superheroes - oh, and the main character is gay, too.

As a librarian, I understand the critical role that "problem novels" play, but as a reader I'm pretty tired of them. This book is a refreshing change. Thomas Creed is a high school basketball star experiencing the awakening of his sexuality, which he struggles with as an athlete and as the son of a super hero. His father's fall from grace due to a tragic failure and his mother's subsequent abandonment were rough on Thomas, and the mystery of what happened in the past plagues him. He finds himself in drawn into the world of heroes when his own superpowers begin to manifest - just as famous superheroes begin showing up dead all over town. While the novel does address Thomas' sexuality throughout, the main plot driving the story is the mystery of the dead superheroes and Thom's awakening as a superhero.

Hero was written by the late Perry Moore, an openly gay producer and director. Hero was his first and only finished novel. The book has been criticized for choppy writing and thin characterization, but I have to say that I didn't really notice these issues at all when I read it. It's a fast, fun, pulpy read that will satisfy teens and adults alike.

Hero won the Lambda Literary Award in the Children's/Young Adult Fiction category in 2008.

Other YA titles featuring gay male teens:
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Totally Joe by James Howe
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
The God Box by Alex Sanchez
Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright

Review: Nation by Terry Pratchett (2008)

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Nation (2008) is not your typical Terry Pratchett offering. Readers who aren’t familiar with Pratchett’s massive back catalog of works need not worry; this young adult novel is a standalone piece unrelated to his previous series work. The Times Online said of Nation, “Thought-provoking as well as fun, this is Terry Pratchett at his most philosophical, with characters and situations sprung from ideas and games with language. And it celebrates the joy of the moment.”

Nation is an alternate history set in the 1860s, though elements of fantasy are present throughout the book. The primary characters are Daphne, a high-born daughter of British nobility with too many thoughts in her head for society’s taste; and Mau, a young Island man set to complete his right-of-passage to adulthood. When a tidal wave destroys life as they know it, Daphne and Mau are forced to reconsider long-held beliefs and cobble together a community of refugees. They learn from each other, respect each other, achieve great things together — and make the greatest scientific discovery of the century.

The real value of Nation is in its handling of the most difficult issues in life: death, grief, faith, and community. While it may sound exceedingly sad, make no mistake, Pratchett’s dry humor and sense of the joy in life make Nation an inspiring and fulfilling read. No matter what your age, if you love character-driven stories then pick up Nation by Terry Pratchett in the YA Fiction collection.

A Printz Award Honor book.

Review: Ash, by Malinda Lo (2009)

Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash is the first book by new author Malinda Lo, a retelling of the Cinderella story with the dark influence of Celtic faerie mythology and several new twists.

Aisling, called Ash for short, is the Cinderella analogue of the story, and the book begins traditionally with Ash beside her mother's grave. The first few chapters establish a world locked in an ideological battle between reason and the old ways of magic and fairies. Despite the lessons of every fairy story she's heard, Ash goes to her mother's grave in the middle of the night and meets Sidhean, a dark and seductive prince of the fairies.

As the rest of the Cinderella elements fall into place, complete with evil stepmother and stepsisters, Ash clings more and more tightly to memories of Sidhean and the fairy world. She begs the prince to take her away to the fairy kingdom where she can live the life of songs and dancing and escape the clutches of her stepmother. His response is always the same: "It is not the right time." Enter Kaisa, the King's Huntress and a strong young woman who begins to heal Ash's wounded heart. They become friends slowly over several chance encounters, and Ash soon finds herself torn between the woman who pulled her out of her downward spiral and the fairy prince she is beholden to.

Lo's first novel is dark and atmospheric, with lush prose that fully draws the reader into a world of dangerous magic. Though the writing is lovely, the storytelling is hollow; the book lacks momentum, the characters are largely undeveloped archetypes, and the dialogue is stiff and awkward. Ash does not seem to mature at all over the course of the book, despite aging by several years. By the end, she still has the mental maturity of the twelve-year-old we met at the beginning, which dims the believability of the love triangle. Despite the novel being highly anticipated for its treatment of same-sex relationships, the romance between Kaisa and Ash falls flat. The moments of chemistry between the two women were few and far between, and by the story's resolution they still feel like nothing more than acquaintances. By comparison, Sidhean has a dark magnetism that keeps Ash coming back. The language used to describe their encounters is smooth and seductive, and the reader feels drawn into their dance.

Ultimately, the book's largest failing was Ash herself. In addition to her lack of maturity, she was weak-willed and dominated by the other people in her life. While this is a natural part of the Cinderella story, it made it impossible to relate to her or feel anything but pity. As identification with the protagonist is especially critical in young adult fiction, this flaw is crippling. By the time Ash finally decides to take matters into her own hands, she seems incapable of carrying out a decision on her own, thus diluting an already weak ending that broke the established rules of the world.

Despite its flaws, Ash is a worthwhile read. The messages of redemptive love and the danger of taking the easy way out are valuable tokens for young adult readers and adults alike. Malinda Lo shows promise, and her future books will be worth picking up to watch her talent develop.

(Originally written for Associated Content in June 2010.)