Cleopatra in Space, Book One: Target Practice

The title Cleopatra in Space directs my mind to campy science fiction movies of years gone by, where aliens are guys in rubber costumes and women are just there to be pretty. Cleopatra in Space, written and drawn by Mike Maihack, has nothing to do with that kind of sci-fi and is unlike any kids gn you've read before.

For fans of the Amulet by Kibuishi, Cleopatra in Space is the quintessential space adventure for graphic novel lovers of all ages. Cleopatra, known as Cleo for short, is a bored and trouble-making Egyptian teenager on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday--and taking over the kingdom. She escapes her boring palace to find her friend Gozi in order to find adventure. Well, they do alright, and Cleo wounds up being sent into the future....WAY into the future.

This future is set in space, with Cleo falling into the hands of P.Y.R.A.M.I.D., Pharoah Yasiro's Research and Military Initiative of Defense.  Yes, everything looks like floating pyramids in space. Think 80s colors mixed with the modern Star Trek reboot and you have the setting and tone for the world that Cleo finds herself in, except with cats instead of tribbles.

This fun frolic in the world of Planet Mayet, learning about Cleo as well as this charming futuristic landscape, and seeing what robot mummies are capable of leaves me wanting more Cleopatra in Space. I know there are more books to come in the future, but the future cannot come soon enough! She is funny, quirky, and an independent female adventure lead, of which there are normally very few.

Please order this for your library! It's perfect for not only fans of Amulet, but for Zita the Spacegirl and any other Westerns/Space Westerns as well. Its funny, witty, and full of surprises. From interviews with the author, it seems like there will be more installments to come. I literally laughed out loud, which rarely happens when reading graphic novels for little ones. This one's a keeper.