Suvudu Universe

Cleopatra in Space: Target Practice

Cleopatra in Space started as a webcomic, but when it was picked up for print publication, author Mike Maihack created a new story that explains the title heroine’s origin.

His design, as you can see from the characters on the cover, is cute and snappy, punctuated by Egyptian-themed futurism, and his work is full of action and movement, as though it was animated. Cleo is the historical going-to-be-queen of Egypt, but she chafes at her coming responsibilities and so welcomes being transported to the future.

A talking cat named Khensu helps her adjust to the academy where she’s sent to study. She’s prophesied to save the galaxy from a generic villain, but in the meantime, she’s a teen girl in school. She has trouble paying attention in all her classes except for the target practice one, because she loves action. She doesn’t want to sit and learn. She’s determined and spontaneous, with no fear of jumping into adventure.

There’s not a lot of substantial story in this volume. Instead, pages are filled with typical space-war background info dumps and good cartooning as we get to know the characters, including Cleo’s roommate and a techie fellow student. They’re fun to spend time with, and kids should love the light-hearted adventure.

A preview is available at the author’s website. A second book, The Thief and the Sword, will be out next spring. (The publisher provided a review copy.)