Cover of Volume 1
The premise of the Astronaut Dad is fairly simple: Jimmy Norton recollect memories of his father Stan during the early 1960s . At first, Jimmy doesn't think much of his father's occupation as a reserve astronaut, but when he and Vanessa, his love interest, stumbles onto his father's journal, he views his father in a much more positive manner.
This series has a lot of heart. The three NASA families showcase in the series are trying to make sense of life during the space race and the threat of nuclear annihilation. Writer David Hopkins captures the spirit of the 1960s - mothers smoking cigarettes in front of their kids, people having bomb shelter in the backyard, and kids running to watch the launch of the space shuttle. Reading the story, I feel as though I was transported back to a simpler time - a time of innocence.
Artist Brent Shoonover's retro art style accentuates David Hopkins' strong writing which makes for a truly enjoyable, pocket-size comic.
The end of volume 1 hints at a possible tragedy and so I'm looking forward to volume 2 and the fate of the reserve astronauts' families.
Fans of AMC's critically acclaim show Mad Men, which is due in parts to its historical authenticity and visual style, should check out this comic.
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