Space Junk by Julian Hanshaw is a charming and unique science fiction story that explores friendship, trust and self-discovery set against a backdrop of space. Space Junk is a quirky, weird and beautiful coming-of-age tale.
In the shattered remnants of a doomed planet, the last shuttles are leaving soon… So why do these misfits want to stay behind? Faith has a metallic mystery bolted to her head. Hoshi keeps his rage in check with an emotional support chicken. On a dying world where most adults have already left and the remaining kids are training for their turn, these two are starting to wonder “what’s the point?” Gradually, a cluster of lonely souls who’ve spent their lives emotionally adrift are pulled into one another’s orbits as they try to stay in place in a universe that is moving all too quickly.
The artwork in Space Junk is unconventional and something we don’t typically gravitate towards when looking for a new graphic novel. However, it was captivating and fit this story so perfectly. The weird and cartoonish style is something unique that along with simple backgrounds and panel design give us a visually attractive experience. Additionally, Hanshaw uses flat contrasting colors that make each panel pop off the page. After diving into the book, the artwork was definitely a highlight.
The quirky characters and their emotional journeys are at the heart of Space Junk. From Faith with her metallic mystery bolted to her head to Hoshi who finds solace in an emotional support chicken, each character brings something unique to the story. As these lonely souls come together and form connections, they begin to question their purpose on a planet that is slowly crumbling around them. Their struggles and growth make for a touching and heartfelt story that will resonated long after the final page.
A sucker for a story based in space, this graphic novel checked off a few boxes. Even though I typically shy away from this art style, Space Junk was definitely a hell of a journey. A unique blend of poignant and thought-provoking story with elements of science fiction and coming-of-age themes makes for a well rounded graphic novel. Julian Hanshaw has created a truly unique and special graphic novel that is worth adding to your book shelf.
The Space Junk graphic novel hits bookstores everywhere on August 20, 2024 and local comic shops on August 21 from Top Shelf / IDW Publishing.
