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Space Case the Graphic Novel
“A delightful and brilliantly constructed middle grade thriller” (The New York Times Book Review) set on the moon in this humorous and suspenseful first space adventure in the Moon Base Alpha series from New York Times bestselling author of Spy School Stuart Gibbs—now in graphic novel form!
For twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson, living on the moon is a dream come true. Except for the low-gravity lunar toilets. And the food. And the part where his best friend lives about 250,000 miles away. And how there are almost no other kids up here, except for his kid sister and a couple of billionaire bullies. Oh, right, and the fact that a fellow lunarnaut just died—and only Dashiell knows that his death wasn’t an accident.
Plenty of people on the moon base are hiding something, but which of them are capable of murder? It’s up to Dashiell to figure it out—before the killer strikes again.
An out-of-this-world full-color graphic novel!
For twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson, living on the moon is a dream come true. Except for the low-gravity lunar toilets. And the food. And the part where his best friend lives about 250,000 miles away. And how there are almost no other kids up here, except for his kid sister and a couple of billionaire bullies. Oh, right, and the fact that a fellow lunarnaut just died—and only Dashiell knows that his death wasn’t an accident.
Plenty of people on the moon base are hiding something, but which of them are capable of murder? It’s up to Dashiell to figure it out—before the killer strikes again.
An out-of-this-world full-color graphic novel!
360 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2025
67 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 18, 2025
This was a fun middle grade graphic novel! I loved how this book blended a murder mystery with science fiction as it took place on a moon base. I enjoyed following Dashiell in this story as he worked to uncover the truth about what happened. I also liked the art style and color palette of the illustrations. Overall this was a great, quick read.
Thank you to @simonkids for the gifted copy.
Thank you to @simonkids for the gifted copy.
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November 4, 2025Pretty freaky to be honest
April 18, 2025
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline
This is a well done adaptation of Gibbs' 2014 novel. The illustrations make it a little easier to envision the moon base, and graphic novels are certainly popular. I prefer the novels, since Gibbs' writing is so funny and engaging. This graphic novel adaptation, and those of the Spy School books, are very text heavy, and just not as good as the original in my personal opinion. Still, fun to have.
Review of the original novel, since the plot is the same:
Dashiell isn't thrilled about living on the moon with his scientist parents in the first ever permanent moon base, but he realizes that despite the cramped and unpleasant conditions, he is making history. When the base physician, Dr. Holtz, takes an unauthorized outing out onto the surface of the moon and is killed because his suit wasn't on properly, there is lots of conjecture. Did he have space madness? Was he depressed? Or was someone trying to kill him? Dashiell wouldn't have thought much of it, except that he overhead Dr. Holtz talking to someone on the phone when both were in the bathroom late at night. Apparently, Dr. Holtz had a big announcement, but never got to make it. Right on the heels of this event, a new group of scientists arrive at the station, including Kira, who is just Dashiell's age. Since the only other 12 year old is the lumpish video gamer Rodrigo, Dashiell is happy, and inclined to trust Kira with the investigation of the murder. He has been contacted by Zan Perfonic, who has arrived on the shuttle but lacks some of the insider information, to help solve the crime. He and Kira find many clues, including one of Holtz using sign language to indicate that his phone needs to be found-- which the two have to venture out onto the surface of the moon to locate!
Strengths: Gibbs writes a very good mystery for middle grade readers. They are murder mysteries, but full of humor rather than gratuitious violence. This makes them a good step up from clue-oriented mysteries about missing dogs or mysterious neighbors. The details of life in space, from the food to toilet facilities, will intrigue readers and reset the middle grade fascination with bodily functions in a framework of science. Very clever. Good science fiction twist at the end. Of course, this is better for impressionable young people when they are older, because they will not EXPECT jet packs in the way that some of us still do!
Weaknesses: It wouldn't be middle grade if the teen didn't save the day, but it was a bit of a stretch to believe that none of the adults were all that concerned with the death possibly being a murder.
This is a well done adaptation of Gibbs' 2014 novel. The illustrations make it a little easier to envision the moon base, and graphic novels are certainly popular. I prefer the novels, since Gibbs' writing is so funny and engaging. This graphic novel adaptation, and those of the Spy School books, are very text heavy, and just not as good as the original in my personal opinion. Still, fun to have.
Review of the original novel, since the plot is the same:
Dashiell isn't thrilled about living on the moon with his scientist parents in the first ever permanent moon base, but he realizes that despite the cramped and unpleasant conditions, he is making history. When the base physician, Dr. Holtz, takes an unauthorized outing out onto the surface of the moon and is killed because his suit wasn't on properly, there is lots of conjecture. Did he have space madness? Was he depressed? Or was someone trying to kill him? Dashiell wouldn't have thought much of it, except that he overhead Dr. Holtz talking to someone on the phone when both were in the bathroom late at night. Apparently, Dr. Holtz had a big announcement, but never got to make it. Right on the heels of this event, a new group of scientists arrive at the station, including Kira, who is just Dashiell's age. Since the only other 12 year old is the lumpish video gamer Rodrigo, Dashiell is happy, and inclined to trust Kira with the investigation of the murder. He has been contacted by Zan Perfonic, who has arrived on the shuttle but lacks some of the insider information, to help solve the crime. He and Kira find many clues, including one of Holtz using sign language to indicate that his phone needs to be found-- which the two have to venture out onto the surface of the moon to locate!
Strengths: Gibbs writes a very good mystery for middle grade readers. They are murder mysteries, but full of humor rather than gratuitious violence. This makes them a good step up from clue-oriented mysteries about missing dogs or mysterious neighbors. The details of life in space, from the food to toilet facilities, will intrigue readers and reset the middle grade fascination with bodily functions in a framework of science. Very clever. Good science fiction twist at the end. Of course, this is better for impressionable young people when they are older, because they will not EXPECT jet packs in the way that some of us still do!
Weaknesses: It wouldn't be middle grade if the teen didn't save the day, but it was a bit of a stretch to believe that none of the adults were all that concerned with the death possibly being a murder.
November 28, 2025
While Space Case is not nearly as nostalgic for me as Spy School, I was still extremely excited to see they turned it into a graphic novel. Does this mean we could get FunJungle the graphic novel next? Ooooh that sounds so good.
Anyway, I have the plot of this book memorized, so nothing really took me by surprise. I enjoyed seeing the characters brought to life, and I really enjoyed this art style. I think my only problem is that, when reading the regular books, I could totally see "Nina the Machina" as the unemotional dictator she was painted to be. In graphic novel form, though, I saw her more as a person, and was able to empathize with her more. Honestly I felt kind of bad for her, when everyone was criminalizing her for just doing her job and trying to be responsible. Also, sometimes the dialogue would get chopped up weirdly in this graphic novel, and sentences that should have been together seemed like completely separate thoughts.
Overall, Space Case is still an exciting book, and I'm so glad I finally got my hands on a copy of the graphic novel adaptation. Both fans of the original and the new readers should all be able to enjoy this book.
Anyway, I have the plot of this book memorized, so nothing really took me by surprise. I enjoyed seeing the characters brought to life, and I really enjoyed this art style. I think my only problem is that, when reading the regular books, I could totally see "Nina the Machina" as the unemotional dictator she was painted to be. In graphic novel form, though, I saw her more as a person, and was able to empathize with her more. Honestly I felt kind of bad for her, when everyone was criminalizing her for just doing her job and trying to be responsible. Also, sometimes the dialogue would get chopped up weirdly in this graphic novel, and sentences that should have been together seemed like completely separate thoughts.
Overall, Space Case is still an exciting book, and I'm so glad I finally got my hands on a copy of the graphic novel adaptation. Both fans of the original and the new readers should all be able to enjoy this book.
August 30, 2025
I wanted to like this graphic novel more than I did. The art was fine, and the details were scientific and interesting. There were realistic expectations of cramped spaces and fascinating plumbing. I especially liked the labeled details of the page for each character as they were introduced. Middle grade graphic novels are wonderful, clever, and exciting. This one did not have the humor, intensity, or snappy dialog we have come to expect from stories like this one on "Moon Base Alpha." There were a few cute moments and a satisfying ending but mostly this book did not hold any excitement or charm. Maybe skip.
October 6, 2025
Reading 2025
Book 217: Space Case the Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs
Book 40 of #30booksin30days is a middle grade graphic novel adaptation of a book in the Moon Base Alpha series. Also read the first Spy School GN, and the first in the Charlie Thorn series by Gibbs, saw him on a panel at #NTTBF
Quick Take: Enjoyed this book better than the Spy School series. My nephew loved the Spy School book and read it over and over. This book seemed more focused, and I enjoyed the main character more. The twist at the end was unexpected. 4.25⭐️
Book 217: Space Case the Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs
Book 40 of #30booksin30days is a middle grade graphic novel adaptation of a book in the Moon Base Alpha series. Also read the first Spy School GN, and the first in the Charlie Thorn series by Gibbs, saw him on a panel at #NTTBF
Quick Take: Enjoyed this book better than the Spy School series. My nephew loved the Spy School book and read it over and over. This book seemed more focused, and I enjoyed the main character more. The twist at the end was unexpected. 4.25⭐️
December 17, 2025
3.5
Enjoyable graphic novel adaptation. Good choice for kids who like mysteries (and aren’t afraid of a little murder) and unusual settings.
Kids Graphic Novel Club read for December 2025. Overall mixed reviews from the group—some loved it, some were so-so, and a couple were not impressed.
I still think Stuart Gibbs is a solid author to recommend and I’m excited for more of his books to be made into graphic novels. Looks like the sequel is coming in summer 2026.
* Perfect book to create an escape room challenge for *
Enjoyable graphic novel adaptation. Good choice for kids who like mysteries (and aren’t afraid of a little murder) and unusual settings.
Kids Graphic Novel Club read for December 2025. Overall mixed reviews from the group—some loved it, some were so-so, and a couple were not impressed.
I still think Stuart Gibbs is a solid author to recommend and I’m excited for more of his books to be made into graphic novels. Looks like the sequel is coming in summer 2026.
* Perfect book to create an escape room challenge for *
August 20, 2025
If you have reluctant middle-grade readers in your life than have them check out this title!
Twelve-year-old Dashiell lives on the moon base, where life is dull and terrible. But then the base's doctor dies, and he has a mystery to investigate...
My child read it in one sitting and said, "I like the ending. You have to read it right now!"
Twelve-year-old Dashiell lives on the moon base, where life is dull and terrible. But then the base's doctor dies, and he has a mystery to investigate...
My child read it in one sitting and said, "I like the ending. You have to read it right now!"
August 31, 2025
Started the actual book years ago and always meant to get back to it to finish it. Reading the new graphic novel adaptation start to finish instead gave me the closure I needed. 😀
October 27, 2025
What fun to revisit Space Case in graphic novel form. Set on the moon, Dashiell Gibson is the only one who thinks a mysterious death was actually murder and he risks his own life to prove it.
November 14, 2025
I really enjoy how Gibbs' makes action-packed stories that respect its young audience. I was intrigued by each twist and turn. The artwork also matched the story well.
November 17, 2025
This was a lot of fun! I also enjoyed the book too!
December 14, 2025
My 13 yob read this one. He tends to like graphic novels but said in a somewhat disappointed voice that it’s pretty different from the chapter book. He still said he enjoyed it but not as well as the original. I’ll try and get more info…
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews