School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Everyone knows Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, but how many people can reliably name Apollo 11's third man, the one who is most known for not getting to walk on the moon? Irvine and Bishop look to increase that number by focusing on the experiences of Michael Collins while telling the story of the moon landing in graphic format. Collins was the first person to walk in space twice and the first to orbit the moon. The pace of this title is fairly slow, as the narrative meanders between a straightforward account of the events of and leading up to the Apollo 11 mission and flashbacks to the Gemini 10 mission. Technical illustrations of spacesuits and rocket stages are included, and Irvine covers the daily tasks Collins was responsible for to keep the command module functioning. Bishop's illustrations stick to a limited palette (black, white, and purple) but are versatile, showing great contrast among the technical drawings, scenes taking place on Earth, and those in the vastness of space. One of the standout sequences is the cinematic spread of the launch, with a sketchy close-up of Collins in the second panel that effectively brings to life this momentous occasion. VERDICT Readers looking for an exciting graphic novel adventure may be disappointed, but true space enthusiasts will appreciate the details that shed light on the reality of being part of the lunar mission. For larger collections seeking additional materials on space.-Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are household names, "the only thing most people know about Michael Collins is that he didn't get to walk on the moon." Irvine and Bishop aim to remedy that with this graphic biography, which traces Collins's upbringing and NASA career through his selection for the Apollo 11 mission and his life afterward. Bishop works in a rough, schematic style, and his liberal use of swaths of black, accented with violet, makes the vastness of space felt in nearly every panel. Unfortunately, Irvine's writing tends to be flat and halting, as well as repetitive ("They were about to try to do something that no one in the history of the human race had ever done"; "Collins and Armstrong had just pulled off a flight maneuver that no one in history had ever done before"). Direct quotations from Collins appear occasionally, though their sourcing isn't always clear. Bishop's spec-like images of equipment and rocket trajectories aid substantially in understanding the challenges these astronauts faced. Ages 8-12. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.