Zita the Spacegirl

Originally written for the Comic Book and Graphic Novel Review Column at the Fantasy Literature Review Site. Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke Zita the Spacegirl is one of those perfect YA science fiction stories that you wish had been written years ago so you could have read it as a kid — which means that you’re gonna want to get this book in the hands of a child in your life. Just make sure you get a chance to read it first. The story begins when Zita and her friend find a strange object that has fallen from space — a square, hand-held device with a big, red button on it. Just imagine what you’d do: Would you press that button? Guess what the young child Zita does? That’s right — she presses the button. Instantly, a door of light opens before her and the arms — tentacles? — of a strange creature reach into our world and grab Zita’s friend. Zita runs away in terror to think about what she’s just seen and what she should do. As you’d expect, she goes to talk to her parents and spends the rest of the book waiting for her parents to figure out some way to save her friend. She is then reunited with her friend at the end of the comic. They live happily ever after. You don’t really believe a word of that, do you? Like many great adventures written for children, we never see the main character’s parents or any other adults on earth, and the young child must take on adult responsibilities. Zita decides she is to blame for her friend’s kidnapping, and therefore she must fix everything. And why not since she’s got the mysterious device? So she presses the red button once again, and steps into her adventure. In this review, I can’t begin to do justice to Hatke’s vivid imagination in coming up with such a wide variety of creatures and machines and inhabitants of the world Zita enters. Some seem kind but are dangerous, some are boisterous but benign, and still others threaten her before becoming her closest allies. In this world we finally see adults, but they are strange and unpredictable and difficult to judge. The story’s tension is created by several factors other than the unpredictability of those she encounters: First, she soon realizes getting back to earth is not going to be easy. Secondly, to make her being stranded even more frightening, Zita realizes that everyone is abandoning the planet because it’s about to be destroyed by an approaching asteroid. And she can’t find her friend or get off the planet herself. Finally, she finds out that the recusing her friend will require a major mission dependent upon her finding new friends and building a team on a strange planet. Zita the Spacegirl is a delight. As you can tell, I highly recommend it. The dialogue is funny, the art is stunning, and the plot is compelling. Your kids will love it. Both my children — 8 and 11 — enjoyed it and the second volume. The third volume comes out in less than two months. Even though it’s a continuing story and you’ll want to find out what happens next, unlike some comics and novels in a series, it has enough closure to give a sense of satisfaction as you come to the final page. Do not pass this book up.

I absolutely loved this children’s graphic novel. The characters are distinct and memorable, the illustrations are vibrant and full of life, and the pacing makes it a quick, engaging read. I was completely absorbed in the story and lost track of time. I was initially drawn to the book because of the name—Zita was also my grandmother’s name—but Zita the Spacegirl more than lived up to my expectations. A delightful adventure from start to finish!

Excellent book. My daughter loved it.

I have loved Ben's art since I first encountered it and I was very excited to get a hold of this book as this seems to be what he loves to do best! I grew up with nice comic books, free from the reputation they suffer here in the United States, and I must add deservedly so for the most part, and it is a delight to have my children enjoy Zita as I enjoyed Tintin, Asterix and others. We fell in love with Zita for many reasons: first of all Zita is good, brave, kind and cute! Then the characters created by Ben are unique, original and hilarious! The story is fast-paced and very adventurous! Shortly after we got the book my 11 year old was reading in the car with a friend and I had to chuckle at their comments and excitement over their joint reading. The art is wonderful: Ben is a fantastic, talented and solid artist. We have pre-ordered the next one!

Zita has appeared in webcomics and in a couple of the early Flight novels , but this is her first full length feature all to herself and she takes her readers on a fantastic ride. We meet Zita and in the beginning she's just an ordinary, if somewhat spontaneous, young girl horsing around with a friend...when they find a crashed asteroid that contains a device with a giant red button. Doing what any kid would do, Zita presses the button and her friend is suddenly pulled through the vortex that has opened. After a moment of doubt Zita jumps in to try to rescue him. Zita is instantly pulled into a strange world, where even stranger creatures abound...and where most people would fear to tread. But Zita needs to rescue her friend and she rises to the occasion with the help of some new found friends and donning her space uniform along the way...and maybe saving a planet as well. While the story isn't really new, the book is still a delightful ride with some great artwork. The storyline itself, and the way that Zita grows during the book reminds me a lot of Hayao Miyazaki's film Spirited Away (which is a good thing.) And just one more selling point, Zita is a heroine and shows that girl's can save the day as well.

Zita the Spacegirl is about a girl who gets sucked through a portal to another planet. Hatke gives us a classic hero’s journey in an imaginative, sci-fi setting. Our protagonist, Zita is a compassionate and feisty girl, who meets a bunch of lovable, flawed new companions and scary aliens on her quest to find her friend who was kidnapped by a deep sea helmet with mechanical tentacles. My favorite things about Zita: ~It’s about a female hero. She’s so realistically a young girl I was not at all surprised to read the Hatke has three daughters. She’s frightened, idealistic, so sweet, and brave. It’s always nice to have female protagonists, but often girls have girl problems (like boys, social problems, family). Instead we get a classic damsel in distress, with the roles reversed, the boy needs rescuing, and the girl gets to be the Hero. ~She rides a giant, sentient mouse. ~None of the characters were perfect. Our group of heroes were broken and flawed, and it made them relateable and compelling. (A broken robot, a gun happy prototype, a con man, and a little girl walk into a bar...) ~The story is self contained. While there is a sequel to Zita, the first novel is a whole story beginning to end. I remember being particularly frustrated as a child (while stealing my brother’s comics) about cliffhangers and to be continued’s. There’s nothing worse than an unfinished story. (I’m looking at you Peter Jackson.) ~Hatke has a great colorsense. The palette is soft and consistent. I love a man who knows his colors. ~DID I MENTION THE MOUSE THAT SHE RIDES? ~Threat of apocalypse = automatic +5 bonus points! All around excellent book (especially if you’re looking for something to get your kid’s interested in graphic novels or science fiction!), 183 pages of pure, epic fun! With laser guns! Pew pew!

This book, and others like it, is an answer to the alarmist outcry that kids just aren't reading books as much anymore. Granted, kids today have a lot more choices in how they spend their free time, but if publishers keep manufacturing books such as Zita the Spacegirl, they will develop a emotional connection to reading that is enjoyable and fun; these positive connections to reading will last for the rest of their lives. Zeta the Spacegirl begins when she and her friend Joseph come upon a crater and discover a strange object at the bottom. On closer examination, it's a button that Zeta cannot resist to push. Then, a strange force abducts her friend, Joseph, and he simply vanishes into thin air. Terrified at what she has just witnessed, she flees. Stopping to rest, she notices the button several feet away and makes the decision that she has to find, and hopefully rescue, her friend. Once again she pushes the button and walks straight into the "force field". Interesting characters and creatures abound in this book. I've had several students read it and then ask when the next book is going to come out. It's also nice to have a graphic novel that is aimed for the elementary middle grades. I also like that the main character in the book is female, a regular-type girl that kids can relate to. Highly recommend.

My three year old LOVES it. She likes to figure out the story by the pictures. She engages her emotions (while keeping a distinction between real and pretend). She asks me to read it to her several times a day (which is difficult, mind you) It forces me to use different voices and sound effects, which ends up being very fun. Sometimes she "reads" it to me. Fun! This book is special to her, and helps her understand how to treat books, and it has helped create some good memories for me. I love all the silliness and puns and all that jazz. Door paste? Hahaha!

Best book for beginner kids

Well,beyond expectations anyway.I just couldn't imagine the sheer pleasure of reading this Graphic novel.It was brilliant ! As a middle aged man,I found everything absorbing and had to slow down my reading so as not to turn the pages too fast. Yes,of course I re read it ! To catch all the other good stuff I missed on my eager rush through the first time around. There is no down side..,apart from having to buy the next book to continue to enjoy Zita and her adventures. Well,that's not really a down side,more a welcome addition to my book collection.I certainly don't mind. I have to admit,I bought second hand.Well..,you never know,do you ? Good reviews don't always mean good books. However,on this occasion,the rave reviews were adequately justified.A brilliant book.I can't see anybody not liking it. There are some great life observations and wonderful humour.An excellent story brilliantly told with nice illustrations.

Fantastic and fun book. My 5 year old loved me reading it. Great story

My six year old daughter and I love this series. Wish there were more than three!

These books are wonderful. Highly recommended.