Review by Ian Keogh
Space Chasers concerns Steam Team, five young teens in a NASA internship programme guided by co-writer Leland Melvin’s fictional avatar. The real Melvin is a former astronaut himself, bringing an authenticity to all NASA-related events. While that provides a credible background, the strength of the first volume was the well-rounded characters and their bonding, presumably more down to regular comics writer Joe Caramagna.
Melvin and Caramagna opened the previous book with an extended focus on two characters, and repeat that process by looking at Steven here. To the Moon begins by reprising a scene in which Steven injured his arm and had to withdraw from the programme. Readers of the first book know his absence was only temporary, but the events are expanded to feature Steven’s extremely strong-minded mother. Steven suffers from cerebral palsy confining him to a wheelchair, but instead of his circumstances eliciting sympathy, some fellow pupils at the regular school to which he returns bully him. It’s a powerful sequence, and will hopefully make young readers consider their attitudes.
A major disappointment for the teens was NASA saying there would be no further visits to space stations, as it was too dangerous, so it’s more than surprising that a trip to the Moon is on the agenda. As before, Melvin’s experience ensures accuracy on all astronautical matters, such as sequence of how normal tasks are undertaken in zero gravity, and there are more explanations needed this time, not least how an actual moonbase might function. Also increased are great moments conveying the sheer joy of being an astronaut. Once again, Alison Acton’s attractive and thoughtful art contributes greatly to the personalities and what they’re experiencing.
The moon mission is to assist in a study of quakes, but before that’s fully explored there’s a compelling crisis. The reason for the initial focus on Steven is due to consideration about whether a desire for inclusion is over-riding common sense regarding his condition being too great a limitation in an emergency. It’s a discussion prompted by a new character known to Melvin and also a retired astronaut whose task is to monitor the Stream Team. Major Allen Bolden interviewing each child is is a sequence of excellently written two page scenes revealing more about them. The writers straddle a clever line here, ensuring their points about inclusion don’t overwhelm the narrative, and the only small failure is a melodramatic change of heart on a bully’s part toward the end.
Once the drama of the quakes kicks in To the Moon has already hit high gear, and it’s elevated from there. The first Space Chasers was good, but this is even better. It’s joyous, the foreshadowing is first rate, and it emphasises how everyone has a value.
