Astronautical!

Debut creator Stormie weaves an intimate tale about family, self-acceptance, and personal responsibility into an imaginative spacefaring graphic novel adventure. After their father is kidnapped, pale-skinned brothers Max and Lari set off in a wooden starship on a rescue mission across their fragmented planet, Zephyr. Along the way, they cross paths with an asteroid engineer turtle, a black hole disguised as a kind elderly woman, and sentient, small-business-owning, humanoid stars. As the brothers’ antagonism leads them into increasingly treacherous peril, they’re forced to reconsider their roles—not just as siblings but as individuals whose decisions, intentional or otherwise, will shape their futures together and apart. Fluid line art and dynamic paneling balance high-energy action with quiet character moments. Expressive designs heighten the story’s emotional depth, while jewel-toned cosmic landscapes and subtle visual humor add texture. Throughout, Stormie considers concepts such as control vs. adaptability, the weight of leadership, and the idea that repairing what’s broken doesn’t always mean restoring what was lost or returning to the way things were. The boys’ close sibling relationship and their interactions with myriad memorable characters make for a thoughtful take on a classic hero’s journey. Ages 8–12. (May)