mattm7n's review
4.0
Read as part of nightly reading ritual with my 10 year-old son, Spawn[1]. Off-the-wall, seemed to be written like it was a translated manga -- at least, my brain kept wanting to make the dialog sound that way when I read it.
Spawn[1] is anxious to get his hands on the second book.
Spawn[1] is anxious to get his hands on the second book.
sandraagee's review
3.0
Meh. The writing in this book is really weird, kind of like a bad translation from another language. Unfortunately the book was written by a (presumably) English-speaking American, so I don't know what's going on there. The story is light and fun enough if you can muddle through the language.
renatasnacks's review
4.0
What a funny, weird little story! I don't really know what I thought this was about, but I wasn't expecting it to be so gleefully goofy. Great for tweens-adults, includes a diverse & adorable cast of little space students who take classes in stuff like "Anti-Gravity Gymnastics" and "Driving Dinosaurs." More than anything this reminded me of Scott Pilgrim Jr, but in space.
Also I would just like to mention that there is a panel where a robot speaks entirely in Tori Amos references: "Caught a light sneeze, but at least they didn't ruin my precious things. But it looks like I'll be putting the damage on." I feel like this book's intended audience probably does not appreciate that joke, but I would like to take a moment here to acknowledge it.
Also I would just like to mention that there is a panel where a robot speaks entirely in Tori Amos references: "Caught a light sneeze, but at least they didn't ruin my precious things. But it looks like I'll be putting the damage on." I feel like this book's intended audience probably does not appreciate that joke, but I would like to take a moment here to acknowledge it.
etiberland's review
5.0
Dave Roman knows something about layers. Like a delicious parfait, Astronaut Academy is a hilarious romp through outer space guaranteed to delight both adult and child readers. The characters are parts adorable, quirky, and deep. Told through short vignettes that delve into the lives of each character, Astronaut Academy allows readers to see the entire picture of the academy and see how it all fits together. Honestly, it defies description but trust me when I say that it should be devoured like a special treat that leaves you remembering the awesome-sauce experience you had. (And for me, it was when Dave Roman referenced not one but three Tori Amos songs in a panel ("Caught a light sneeze, but at least they didn't ruin my precious things... but it looks like I'll be putting the damage on.") And because he is Dave Roman, he can bring in pop culture, quips about authority figures, and the infinite majesty of the cosmos all in one panel.
rach's review
4.0
A super cute little book about the students at Astronaut Academy. The art is adorable, and I really enjoyed the unique characters. This book felt less like a novel and more like a series of connected short stories, as we got to know the different characters. I love how the characters' lives intertwine with one another, and I love the straightforward, almost blunt, way that most of the characters speak. It feels true to the way kids are, for the most part: without artifice, saying what they think, often times misunderstand or misconstruing a situation. I'm looking forward to the next volume, as we see what happens to our heroes (because yes, you can still be a hero even if you are just an ordinary space student!) on break.
BTW, I briefly met Dave Roman at Comic Con a few years ago, which is when I bought this book and he signed it for me. We only exchanged a few words, but he seemed super nice, and was very pleasant, despite being at a crowded con, signing books at day.
BTW, I briefly met Dave Roman at Comic Con a few years ago, which is when I bought this book and he signed it for me. We only exchanged a few words, but he seemed super nice, and was very pleasant, despite being at a crowded con, signing books at day.
ki4eva's review against another edition
2.0
Odd stories. This graphic novel reminds me of reading comic strips.
smlunden's review
3.0
I was pretty excited when I first saw this, but it is written in installment-style (bunch of mini comics compiled into one story), and that is not my favorite format. It was still fairly cute.
merer's review
3.0
Astronaut Academy, I'm still not sure how I feel about you.
I want to be all kinds in love with this GN, and it was definitely funny at times, but something just seemed "off" about it--like it wasn't quite ready for the presses yet. I'm not sure that kids or teens will understand the jokes the characters make, or the references they drop. I also thought the plot was too scattered to easily follow. Frequently, I found myself thinking, "I don't even know what's going on in this scene." On several occasions I got to the point where I just wanted the joking to stop for a moment so that the story could progress. I think the series has potential and I'll be interested to see if the next one is a bit more organized.
On the plus side, it's a great read-alike for kids who love Babymouse or Choco Mimi, though I probably wouldn't give it to anyone younger than 10.
I want to be all kinds in love with this GN, and it was definitely funny at times, but something just seemed "off" about it--like it wasn't quite ready for the presses yet. I'm not sure that kids or teens will understand the jokes the characters make, or the references they drop. I also thought the plot was too scattered to easily follow. Frequently, I found myself thinking, "I don't even know what's going on in this scene." On several occasions I got to the point where I just wanted the joking to stop for a moment so that the story could progress. I think the series has potential and I'll be interested to see if the next one is a bit more organized.
On the plus side, it's a great read-alike for kids who love Babymouse or Choco Mimi, though I probably wouldn't give it to anyone younger than 10.