Review by Ian Keogh
Space Chasers concerns a programme run by NASA to recruit gifted children and give them an opportunity to become astronauts. An indication that co-writers Leland Melvin and Joe Caramagna aren’t just planning the single graphic novel is the time spent showing the backgrounds of two youngsters eventually selected. These scenes occupy 20% of the book, beginning with Tia, an exceptional car mechanic despite only being eleven and being raised by her older brother. She’s contrasted with Brad who has a more comfortable home life, but whose father is determined he’s going to be a football player.
They’re as much an odd couple as the writing team, with Caramagna the comics pro with experience while Melvin brings the name recognition in some quarters of being a former astronaut. It certainly ensures an accuracy to training once the kids begin their internship, but the process never overwhelms the characters.
When the other interns are introduced they’re visually distinguished by Alison Acton, but the writers also give them personalities from the start. Andromeda tends to run off at the mouth and Steven is shown to be caring and considerate. He’s also in a wheelchair, suffering from cerebral palsy, and so an interesting choice for someone selected to experience the weightlessness of a space station. While Tia’s constant vomiting is comic relief, Melvin and Caramagna include plenty of small thoughtful touches in constructing a rounded story, such as Brad’s father finally overcoming his dyslexia. Melvin inserts himself into Space Chasers as the person leading the internship programme, but it’s in no way intrusive and if even young readers notice in the first place, Melvin is so convincingly placed into ongoing events that he’s naturally part of the gang.
As Space Chasers is strongly character-based there’s a need for an artist able to convey feelings through facial expressions, and the range seen on the sample spread of Tia learning about the NASA programme shows Acton’s definitely the person for the job. She keeps the art simple for the most part, and always attractive, but some of the training scenes require greater detail for authenticity and the visual reference is beautifully transformed.
Just before halfway a potential conflict is introduced, having been set up early as a problem for Tia, but it’s cleverly used to reinforce the idea that astronauts have to be a team. Due to her background Tia’s used to keeping things to herself, and that needs to change. Melvin and Caramagna also highlight how transferable some skills are to astronaut training. At first it seems later recruit Indira is short-changed in the personality department, only there to make Tia feel awkward, but once the kids actually get to a space station she comes into her own.
The cute dogs seen on the cover make their appearance just before an extended series of crises and associated stresses round off a first rate all-ages adventure. It’s inspirational and motivational and look for more in Space Chasers: To the Moon.
