Zeph finally has a potential lead to Amy’s kidnapping: Jemmah—the last person Amy called on homecoming night. Meanwhile, Qiana and Amy venture into the Lords of Lore to find Sophi. When she offers to help them escape the FCP, Amy finds herself torn between seeing her family again and helping Qiana with her quest. A fragment of the ancient Babyloyptian scroll may provide answers, but it may also lead to more questions…
Regrets are voiced and deep wounds are healed in this latest volume of Stephen McCranie’s Space Boy.
Stephen McCranie has been drawing comics since before he could read or write. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Fine Arts and currently lives and works out of a small apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
As always, incremental progress. A couple things even verge on being big breakthroughs, but I'm sure no haste will be shown in pursuing them.
Actually, by focusing on Amy, Qiana, and Oliver, this is one of the better volumes in a while, reminding me why I've been reading for so long. I hope we can maintain this focus for a while instead of finding ourselves stuck following the secondary characters again.
The Foot Code: In two different scenes a character's feet switch between flat and en pointe as the P.O.V. switches from long-range to mid-range. Usually the character's feet are consistent in any given scene, so I can only assume this dramatic change is important . . . somehow.
The Name Game: After going for twenty volume's as Amy's mom and Amy's dad, Amy's parents are finally revealed to be Lacey and Greg. Still no last name for the family though . . . But a historical document discussed in the story reveals that naming structure used to be significant to ancient Babylogyptian society: no name = slave, one name = commoner, two names = royalty, three names = divinity. I suppose you could squint and somehow apply that to the present-day cast? Oh, also, Jemmah's proper name seems to be Jemerald.
Man, I just love this series! The art, the storyline, the characters, and the depth are all fantastic. Even though it’s a little bittersweet having to wait between volumes now, it just makes each new release even more exciting to dive into.
I’ve especially enjoyed the relational development and the growing complexity of the plot. I’m really looking forward to the next volume! While I’m grateful to my local library for having so many volumes available to get me started, I’m excited to slowly start purchasing them for my own collection. This will be the first graphic novel series I officially add to my shelves — and that should speak volumes about how much I love it.
I’m so obsessed with this series and the characters, it’s just too good. I really wish I knew what was gonna happen but at the same time I never want it to end 🥹 Oliver and Amy have my entire heart; they are too pure for this world and theirs.
I'm not sure how much more of this pacing I can take. I need something to happen, and I seriously question whether anything ever will. I might be dunzo...
I have never binged a series like I have Space Boy. The plot, the characters, OLIVER, the mental health notes, AMY, the intrigue, the devilish tension of the Wanderer, the emotion, all the little stories, the friendships… THE ART STYLE?? I could go on and on and on.
This is binge-worthy like shorts are. Like, I could’ve read the whole series in a day, if life and time boundaries didn’t hold me back.
If you’re looking for a series that’ll make you laugh, cry, cheer and rant at the characters, characters that’ll quickly become near and dear to your heart, look no further. Space Boy is here.
I rate the series up to this point 5/5 stars, no notes. Recommended for anyone who loves a good story. All ages would enjoy, but there are some heavier emotions themes that younger readers may not understand. And soft romance.
These books are like therapy for me at this point. I've learned so much about empathy, grief, trauma, healing. Sophi is such a power house, I love her. And it was wonderful to see Qiana get some healing, poor girl. I had been wondering how McCranie would manage pulling the Wanderer from dreams into reality for the characters, and he did an excellent job of it in this installment.
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Edelweiss.)
So much happens in this latest collection of SPACE BOY, even though the events transpire over the course of just a day. Most notably, Sophie Brix reaches out to Amy and Qiana. Now that she knows that the girls are captives of the FCP, she's determined to use her wealth and resources to secure their release. Sophie recounts her engagement to - and subsequent estrangement from - the murdered archaeologist Aleksander Lesnik ("Leksi"). And when she gives them the ancient Babylogyptian scroll discovered by Leksi, Amy and Qiana make some truly earth- (galaxy-?) shattering connections.
Meanwhile, Zeph uses Amy's hacked Net Gear glasses to get in touch with Jemmah, and Amy's parents deal with their grief at her "death" in different ways.
Volume 21 of SPACE BOY contains some of the most touching scenes of the series. I teared up when Qiana finally broke down, in an honest-to-goodness, ugly crying fit in front of Amy, thus purging the copper and iodine flavor and allowing the plum and apple to blossom, much to Amy's relief. The scene in which Lacey compares her grief response to Greg's is similarly affecting. I can't wait for them to find out that their daughter is still alive! I'm looking forward to Amy's reunion with Jemmah at least a much. (Their relationship is just so fascinating to me - it was a cunning contrivance on McCranie's part.)
*****
Here's a breakdown of the episodes contained in each TPB. Sometimes I borrow the books from the library, other times I receive early electronic review copies online - and to bridge the gaps in between, I read the strips on Webtoons. Forever and always do I tear my hair out trying to figure out which strips I missed in between the collected volumes.
When Sophi offers to rescue Amy and Qiana from the FCP by whatever means necessary, they are torn what to say in reply. She also tells Amy and Qiana what the manuscript they shared with her meant. And Amy realizes the thing that is talking to her has been around for centuries, Oliver has talked to it too, and it isn’t just in her head. So what should she do about it? Meanwhile Zeph has contacted Jemmah to get advice on what to he should do. Should he investigate further and risk arrest, or stop?
Another great volume in this ongoing series. We’re getting closer to some answers about various things, while we did get some more background information that was enlightening. The way Amy cares for others even in the midst of her own hardships is so touching and inspirational.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: In the video game world Qiana gets an outfit that has about the same coverage as a bikini. Nothing else. Violence: A past murder and past accident that resulted in a death are talked about. Ethnic diversity: People have a variety of skin tones. This futuristic world blends many cultures. LGBTQ+ content: None specified. Other: Anxiety, worry, people being held against their will, a government conspiracy, and a malevolent alien that gets in people’s minds are all part of the plot.
In my review of volume 20, I noted that the endgame was on the horizon. The 21st volume has only confirmed that suspicion! The wheels are finally turning!
Or, at the very least, Amy and Qiana make huge progress on taking down the FCP and escaping their weird prison. () Further, Qiana has a powerful emotional breakthrough that was surprisingly affecting even to curmudgeonly old me. And we learn actual facts about the Wanderer, finally cross-referenced with Oliver!! () We end with Amy (exhausted from all the emotional realizations within this volume) finally breaking down scientist guy's walls so that he'll explain his past with Oliver (coming next volume).
Really a solid volume overall. I couldn't put it down! Which, admittedly, is the case for most of these Space Boy books since they're terrifically fast reads. But like, I didn't want to put it down!
This series just has so much heart and gentle wisdom. 💗 I adore it. I really loved Amy’s interactions with both Quiana and Dr. Kim- how she holds space for both of them in their vulnerabilities. Amy’s statement about how disabilities don’t bar people from having full lives was lovely to see discussed in this comic. She focuses on the importance of relationships and connection being more important to the quality of a person’s life. Amy is a giver to her own detriment though. In trying to care for and protect those in her circle, we begin to see her fray from the overextension. I feel that her breaking point will come soon and hopefully she allows those who love her to provide her support as well. A lot of puzzle pieces fell into place regarding the Wanderer. But, so many questions remain- like who and what exactly is it and why is it so bent on reaching The Artifact? This is an exceedingly slow build, but I know that McCranie is preparing us for something huge. Looking forward to the next installment in November.
I feel like I talk about death a lot when I talk about reading. The two are inextricably linked for me. Death means no more reading. It means, more than likely, a book left unfinished. I am scared to die.* I wish I could read them all; I wish I knew how all the stories end.
Why do I bring them up here?
BECAUSE STEPHEN MCCRAINIE NEEDS TO WRAP THIS STORY THE HELL UP.
How the crap this story ends up matters to me. I want to know if Oliver reaches the space thingy. And I want to know how all the friends on Earth wrap their shit up, too. It'd be great if we could do it without another roleplay chapter, but OK, your call. I'm here no matter what. I'm invested. Prove it goes somewhere and make this worth the time put into it.
*Not currently, like, an active concern. I'm just always a little aware of death. Isn't it always kinda there for you, too?
Getting the Babylogyptian scroll from Sophi brings answers to Amy. Her nightmares are given some meaning but Qiana doesn't believe what Amy's telling her can be possible. It's too scary to believe and what does it mean? Finding an ally in Sophi is a positive but has Amy torn between her family and Qiana. Zeph is hopeful that he's found help in finding Amy when he uncovers the last call Amy made on her net gear glasses. Oliver feels alone as Amy hasn't time for him lately. Dr. Kim is recovering and coming to terms about the robot he's been building.
Qiana and Amy venture into the Lords of Lore to find Sophi who offers to help them escape the FCP. Amy is more than ready to go home but Qiana has unresolved issues with the FCP. In the meantime, Sophi makes life as difficult as possible for FCP. And Amy learns more about the one who has been watching her and invading her dreams.
Thank you to the publisher for this free eARC! All opinions are my own.
Amy and Qiana continue to investigate. Zephyr contacts one of Amy's old friends to tell her about their investigation into Amy's "death". The Wanderer's origins are revealed. #Edelweiss+
This volume had some surprising revelations and gave some crucial information that we've been waiting for. It didn't feel like much happened, but the graphics were very nice and I enjoyed reading it.
Sitting on the precipice of the climax, characters develop more of their story and the prices come together. But how? How will Amy and Quiana be free of the FCP? What will happens when Oliver reaches the artifact? Will he or Dr. Kim ever tell us why their relationship is strained?
Amy and Qiana go back into the world of lords of lore and visit Sophi after what happened to Dr.Kim. Zeph continues on his new lead on his search for Amy. Amy is left with two options and is torn about what to do. I didn’t like how we didn’t learn more things about Sophi and Qiana.
I felt like this book had a lot of meat to it. We learned a lot and I was so glad that Amy finally shared everything with Oliver so they could figure things out together.