Space Boy Volume 9

Space Boy #9

by Stephen McCranie

A sci-fi drama of a high school aged girl who belongs in a different time, a boy possessed by emptiness as deep as space, an alien artifact, mysterious murder, and a love that crosses light years.

Poison has tainted the flavor of a high-ranking government agent and they are after Amy!

Amy and Oliver survive the drone attack and hide at the dance, hoping for safety in numbers. Little do they know, a rogue agent of the First Contact Project is closing in on them with an EMP grenade that can disconnect everyone at the school--and she not afraid to get her hands a little dirty. Amy soon learns more about the tragic secret of Oliver and the Arno before being taken into custody by the agency controlling Oliver.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Adventure

208 pages, Paperback

Published March 9, 2021

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The building tension of the last few volumes reaches a deadly conclusion, but instead of dealing with the fallout of that, the story pivots at the halfway mark to begin an extended flashback on The Arno, a generational spaceship far from Earth. It's nice to know what happened there, I suppose, but I can't really work up much excitement for the amount of detail provided and that it seems it will continue in the next volume.

More importantly, fewer characters are depicted en pointe, with everyone on The Arno appearing flat-footed. I theorize the weighty events of the story are literally dragging the characters down onto their heels. Or perhaps the artificial gravity on the spaceship is set higher than Earth's gravity to prepare the crew for their higher-gravity destination. Analysis will continue.

[Kayla Squire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE these books!!! I've been reading these all on Webtoons and caught up to what is currently out as of Sept. 8. I never expected to be drawn in so much by a comic! It's not typically my genre, but I have absolutely been sucked in! Stunning art and an incredible story! There are some really awesome profound quotes that I've come across. You can tell the author puts a lot of heart into it. Amy is my spirit animal and I love her! Oliver is just wonderful! All of the characters are so well characterized. It's interesting as I have been reading it, each character has a distinct voice in my head. I don't know what it is about the story that I connect so well with, but I really connect with it. Also it's really interesting, but I was just thinking how the story really does deal with some hard things, and some heavy topics, but honestly it just feels like a ray of sunshine to read. And he really addresses those hard things and heavy topics so well! Would highly recommend! Now, just anxiously awaiting the updates each week on Webtoons. Can't wait to see where this story will go!

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this issue up until the ending. It didn’t feel much like a cliffhanger and more like a page was missing. Excited to see where the story goes from here!

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is finally moving along and we're finally getting answers and I'm very prepared for the next volume to break my heart because YOUNG OLIVER.

[Isabel Hinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age: 13+
Genre: sci-fi, ya
Content: mild depictions of violence
Language: none

Review: Who else was excited to FINALLY get some insight into Oliver's childhood?? So much happened in this volume. I need to convince one of my friends to read this so I can talk about details with them, lol.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues the story of Oliver, and takes us to where he came from, which is a space ship that has been traveling for over four generations of humans. We get to meet his family, and there are hints of what happened to them.

Each volume of this book takes us both closer and further away from what is going on with Amy and Oliver.

The story so far, Oliver's real being, his living body, is far out in outer space, and he has been "living" in an artificial body on earth to keep sane while he continues the journey that his family and the space ship that contained everyone he knew and loved, set out on, in which they died. In this volume we get to see what their mission was, but we don't yet know what happened to them.

[Literary Strawberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely like Oliver a lot more when we get to see his child self and backstory. Like I said in my review for volume 4, I'm not the biggest fan of the "mysterious angsty boy is Lost and Broken and needs the love of the main character to Fix Him" trope here, but Oliver feels more like an actual character to me when I get to see his child self, and it's much easier for me to like and care about him.

I will say though... Little bit gobsmacked at the "behind the scenes" comic at the end of the omnibus 3 (where I reread this volume this time) where the author goes through his process and how the idea for this comic developed (really interesting, and honestly encouraging for my own writing to see how long he took) and he straight-up says that that aspect of the story that I don't like was inspired by Twilight, which I had already been mentally comparing the trope to but didn't want to voice out loud because it felt too mean xD He says he didn't particularly like the book, but he "did see the appeal of the story. The dark, mysterious, tortured man... The girl who is brave enough to approach him... The bond that inexplicably forms between them... It is an archetypal story as old as Beauty and the Beast."

So yeah, I do feel like he handles the trope /better/ than Twilight, and I do like Oliver better than Edward (especially, as I said, once we get to see more of his backstory), but still, kind of wild that I saw those connections and then the author straight-up confirmed them

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Space Boy continues to grow and evolve as a series in this ninth volume, perhaps more so than ever before! After reaching a stopping point with Amy and Oliver's story on Earth, Stephen McCranie takes us back in time and to space! I guess it's time to learn how Oliver became a lonely boy on a spaceship.

Space Boy continues to be wonderfully intriguing, even if it's fairly basic with its emotions. I'm happy to leave Amy behind, though I'm sure we'll return to her eventually. With the shift to Oliver's story, this long-running series promises to reach a truly epic length. Fine by me! Bring on space!

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are steadily getting a bit darker as we go on, but I love this series a lot.

[kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay so i might be mildly obsessed with this whole web comic, and am thus blinded by love, but in MY opinion, it just keeps on getting better and better with each episode.
.
the plot is great, i love it, BUT THE ART, YOU GUYS. *sobs* it's just so beautiful. 😭

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to get Oliver's background even though we know it must end in tears.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how big of a reading slump I may be in, I will always be eager to devour the latest installment of this series. So much is revealed in this volume, creating tense situations and nail biting turns. Yet, that calming thread still runs through the narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed the peek into Oliver’s past and anticipate the catastrophic event in the next volume that set him on his current course.
He seems willing to risk it all for Amy’s sake, which begs the question of if he actually will have to later in the series.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are definitely getting more serious in this series and the reality of Oliver's true situation is hopelessly sad. It was adorable to flash back into his childhood and see how he has so many similarities with Amy.

[Shaunna MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series gets better and better! Next issue please!!

[Matthew Gasperoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying and thankful the author is taking us on an unexpected detour and backstory to really bring even more depth to these characters.

[Pages Bursting Hearts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh there was a misspelling of YOUR. SMH!
I still love this series. :)

[Silly Goose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can finally say that these books, do in fact, have a space boy

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

At Volume Nine of this series we finally learn what the title of the book is in reference to. And it's worth it! We finally get a better look at whom one would assume, based on the title, was the protagonist of the series. It's still an absolute delight to read. And I recommend it to anyone who enjoys all-ages books.

[Thomas Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's GORGEOUS. I've already read the contents of this book on webtoons, so I know for a fact that it's five stars, but look at that cover! It's perfect.
To be honest, I'd love nothing more than for Cooper to be featured on the cover of volume 10. Please, please, please?

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing onward, the plot thickens

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is chugging along at a solid 4 stars for me.
We got some big answers in this volume, but I'm still awaiting some more!
BIG Oliver is the SOLE survivor from the Arno on his way to the Artifact. No wonder he needed a RFP (Remotely-controlled, Full-body Prosthetic). The FCP needs to keep him sane so he reaches the Artifact. He's all alone up there. :'(
The reveal was intense with Sato looming over Amy and reviling in telling her how alone Oliver is. :(
And just like that... after being truly afraid of Commander Saito... she's gone. It was a pretty dark way to go, though I did like her chuckle at "poison". It was dark, but very in character.
Still not in love with Oliver and Amy's love, but *shrug*.s.
And then the volume shifts after those huge reveals to some time on the Arno when Oliver was younger. The shift was jarring, but also, kinda needed? I needed a little break from the doom and gloom, and it was a good transition to Oliver's backstory, which I assume/know we'll get more of in volume 10!

Looking forward to continuing!

[Jess Castz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, esto si que se está poniendo muy mal para Amy y Oliver. Literal. No solo estamos viendo que la comandante Saito desconfía de todo y de todos, sino que también nos estamos enfrentando a una situación en donde se está dejando a la pobre de Amy completamente sola.
En serio, llegado cierto tiempo, la mujer hace algo que provoca que la pobre muchacha tenga que emprender la huida por su cuenta, pues ya no es una opción el esperar por su amigo. Viendo aquello y toda la locura que se le viene encima, me pregunto. ¿Qué hará Amy para librarse de la incansable persecución de Saito? ¿Alguien más podría ayudarla, o tendrá que pelear con sus propias fuerzas?
Si este tomo marca un antes y un después dentro de la historia, y no solo lo digo por lo que pasa con Amy, sino por qué también se da el final de la primera temporada del cómic, y entramos a la segunda. Justo a una parte de la historia que no me gustaría revivir, pero que es necesaria.
La familia de Oliver. ¿Qué pasó para que el chico terminara viajando solo hacia el artefacto? Es tiempo de descubrirlo.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The people hunting Amy have arrived at the school dance, and Amy is in grave danger. The agent chasing her is sure there is a murderer loose in her agency and doesn't trust anyone but herself. Meanwhile, readers get a flashback to see what life was like for Oliver as a young boy on a generational space ship bound for the Artifact.

So yeah, the couple on the cover are Oliver's parents. Not a future Amy and Oliver as I first thought. The plot is definitely thickening in Amy's time, and doom is ticking in Oliver's flashback, though it is really nice to get to know him as a person better finally.

Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. A person is poisoned.

[Anaïs :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing volume 9 ! Loved how we got to learn a little more about Oliver's childhood and family , they look so similar to Amy's one . I wished Amy could have met them 💔 the drawings are just getting better and better too , and I love it is super accessible and fun to read for a more " adult" audience and not only pre-teens/children . Also loved how it denounces propaganda on the satellite, even when they're supposed to be " the good people just trying to prove that we're not alone on this universe " .
And PLEASE , these " Young Amy " skits at the end got me rolling on the floor haha I love these two with my whole heart ! Can't wait for the rest to be published in France

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Commander Saito has gone rogue hunting Amy on her own. Her team is aware and trying to stop her from hurting Amy. Meanwhile Oliver is helping her, his cover blown. Cassie is missing and Amy believes the worst has happened and it's all her fault.
We learn just how ruthless the man responsible for the Arno making it to the artifact really is, nothing matters but the mission. We see, in a flashback that Oliver's father also puts the mission at the top of his list too. Not above his family maybe but above everything else. He gives Oliver a family heirloom that will play a prominent part in the story soon.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Oliver and Amy's adventures continue as a rogue agent corners them at the school dance before trying to kill Amy. More secrets and backstory are revealed in this volume, including a glimpse into Oliver's life on the distant space station before the terrible accident that doomed everyone else aboard.

This series continues to be popular in its drawn-out sci-fi space/romance saga. I get a bit frustrated because so little is revealed in each title--but it surely keeps readers coming back for more.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pace picked up for this volume which was a nice change from the very methodical pacing of some of the more recent volumes. There’s an odd choice to end the story of the current times on a cliffhanger mid-book and then immediately switch to historical background on Oliver. Though I do want to know what happened to Oliver and I’m thinking it will horribly sad and painful to read I’m now left with wondering what will happen to Amy. Hopefully the next volumes keep up the pace.

[Breelynd Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels like we're finally getting somewhere. I like seeing Oliver's back story a lot and I can't wait to see where it goes.

I don't know if it's just my copy, but there were some really weird printing issues towards the end with a lot of double printed pages. I hope I didn't miss any of the story because of it.

[Grace]

I kind of want to give up on the series because of the agonizingly slow and boring pacing, the unrealistic setting (lots of the things in the world don't match the 34th century [cars?! the schools, traditions, amusement parks?? society, etc])- and the unlikeable characters. I wish this series was better. It had so much potential.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this one because we get to see some of what Oliver’s life was like before the Arno lost all its passengers. I wonder what will happen to Amy now that the FCP has her. Can’t wait to read the next one.