Cleopatra in Space - GN Book Four - The Golden Lion

Mike Maihack returns with the fourth volume of the adventures of young Cleopatra, before she became the famous queen, yet so many centuries after she was queen - confused? Don't be! Maihack's fun-filled romp through time and space continues as Cleopatra, who has been pulled from the past into a distant future, where she is meant to fulfill the prophecy and save the galaxy from the tyrannical rule of one dastardly villain, Octavian, is sent on a new journey to retrieve the fabled Golden Lion - a piece of a star that is said to hold immeasurable power, which, if fallen into the wrong hands, could spell disaster for everyone!

 

Picking up after the events of the last graphic novel, The Golden Lion finds Cleo training hard and pushing herself even harder to be the best at everything. One of her friends is dead, another has lost her arm, and her teacher and mentor's secrets have been revealed.  But when Cleo and her best friend, Akila, are called to appear in front of the Council, they expect it is because of something Cleo has done - instead, it turns out that the Council is aware of the location of the Golden Lion, and there is an urgency to get to it before Octavian does.  Cleo, though, is grounded because of her actions in the previous book, and she was only made aware of the mission to keep her from going off half-cocked.  (Of course, anyone who knows Cleo by now knows that she does not like being left behind!)  Fortunately, for her, there are some members of the Council who believe fully in the prophecy and want Cleo to find the star piece first.

With the help of a new weapon and new technology that will enable her to travel across the galaxy faster than the search party (Brian truly is a tech-genius!), Cleo soon finds herself on the freezing planet of Cada'duun.  Cold.  Alone.  And with no idea how to track down the Golden Lion, if it even exists at all!  Maihack presents readers with another wild adventure, introduces readers to Akila's (Ki Ki's) parents, and brings back that ever-lovable thief, Antony, who just so happens to be hunting the same thing as Cleo.  They join forces to escape the dangers of the planet (and I'm not just talking about the cold) and unwittingly discover a tropical paradise hidden inside the frosty shell of a planet!  Maihack's story moves at a quick pace, but no so fast that characterization and subplots get lost in the shuffle.  Cleo has to face the things that she has done and learn from them; Khensu must take ownership of the lies he told to do what he thought was best for Cleo; Akila's parents must come to terms with the fact that their daughter is growing up; the Council must ultimately decide whether to trust Cleo to fulfill the prophecy that they have been counting on for so many generations; and for one of the characters, they must decide whether they are going to betray the ones who trust them or choose to follow the right path.

Oh, and along the way, Cleo makes a new friend in Mihos!  I won't spoil the surprise, but let's just say that Mihos is absolutely adorable (and hopefully will still be around in the next two books!).

Maihack's art continues to mesmerize, and the change of setting allows him to expand his talents with the polar opposite climates of a sub-zero, frozen terrain to a tropical paradise.  And the climactic fight sequence between Cleo and Ophois is enough to get you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how it's going to end!  And without giving anything away, I will say that this book ends with not only a surprise reveal, but an explosive cliffhanger that will certainly have repercussions in the coming story.

I know this is only a 6-book series, and with four books now behind me, that only leaves two left.  I hate the idea of Cleo's adventures in space in the future ending, but I guess sooner or later she will have to return to Egypt to grow up and fulfill her destiny there.  And judging from what I've seen so far, I have no doubt the last two books will be some of Maihack's best work yet!

RATING:  10 zutupple fruits out of 10 for expanding Cleo's universe and taking readers on a fun-filled romp through space in the process!

Cleopatra in Space - GN Book Three - Secret of the Time Tablets

The time-traveling future Egyptian queen of the past (and if that doesn’t confuse you, I don’t know what will!) is back in her third adventure. Writer/artist Mike Maihack continues the tale of young Cleopatra (“Cleo”) and her friends, Akila, Brian, Zaid, and Khensu, are on their way to a distant planet of thieves in the hopes of finding the mysterious time tablets that could give Cleo a clue as to her fate and why she was really brought into the future.  But, as with any good space saga, things don’t go quite as planned.  Octavian is hot on their tail, and Cleo, Akila, and Brian end up getting separated from Khensu and Zaid.  Stranded on a dangerous planet of thieves, they sneak into the city, and come face to face with the thief that stole the sword from them in the previous book – and ultimately team up with the thief in order to fight their way out of a spectacular bar brawl.  Meanwhile, Khensu and Zaid find themselves on the same planet, and Khensu leads Zaid to a secret facility where his old mentor, Harkhebi, is trying to protect younglings from being drawn into the war Octavian is creating.  As their paths draw closer together, so does that of Octavian, who arrives in search of not only the time tablets, but Cleopatra as well …

Maihack moves the story forward at a pretty hectic pace, but not so fast that it loses any of its cinematic experience.  Reading panel after panel, page after page, it really is like watching a big screen movie.  The action, the emotional moments, the character building, the quiet moments right before the storm, and the tragedy – there is no doubt that Maihack knows how to perfectly meld the story and art to create an experience well worth the read.  While the art in the first chapter does not feel quite as refined as the rest of the book, it in no way detracts from the overall enjoyment of the tale.

And the title, Secret of the Time Tablets, is definitely apt, as quite a few secrets are revealed in this book.  The secret behind Cleo’s time travel … the secret about that thief of the sword … the secret that Khensu has been keeping from Cleo … and the biggest secret of all, Octavian’s real identity and his connection to Cleo – by the end of this book, the reader is left with his jaw dropped to the floor, wondering how Maihack can possibly top this one.  (Plus, Maihak throws a few more tidbits of romance into the mix – Brian and Akila, as well as Cleo and a certain thief.)

I have the immense pleasure of actually knowing the creator, Mike Maihack, having met him at a number of comic conventions over the years, and I know how enthusiastic he is about this series.  I was thrilled when it got picked up by Scholastic to be published and marketed in bookstores and other outlets, and it’s even more exciting to know that Cleo has her very own cartoon now (although I have yet to see it!).  This story, this character, this creator – they all deserve the limelight they are currently receiving, and even if I didn’t know Maihack personally, I would still be recommending this series.

RATING:  10 mugs of Osirian fire water out of 10 for expanding the world of Cleopatra and providing more depth to the characters and overarching story so as to leave readers wanting for more!

Cleopatra in Space - GN Book Two - The Thief and the Sword

Take a child intended to be a famed queen of the Nile, send her thousands of years into the future, place her under the tutelage of a talking cat, make her the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, and what do you get?  Why, nothing other than Cleopatra in Space, that's what!  Creator Mike Maihack's spunky little queen-to-be returns in the second volume of this funtastic little space opera, "The Thief and the Sword."

This graphic novel opens not with Cleo, but with an unnamed thief, who is proving himself to an unnamed benefactor in order to get a job. Meanwhile, Cleo is attending a party put together by her roommate and friend, Akila.  The students at P.Y.R.A.M.I.D. are all for having a good time, but Cleo just doesn't seem to fit in.  Nor does Zaid.  Or Brian.  But when the thief runs into Cleo (literally!), her latest adventures begins with a bang!

While book one gave readers a clear-cut origin story, showing how Cleopatra ends up in the future and gives hints as to her prophecy, with book two Maihack expounds upon the future universe and its characters. We learn more about Cleo's roommate and what motivates her; we learn more about that mysterious sword that Cleo recovered in the first graphic novel; we are given some more glimpses into this universe's big bad buys; and we are given a few more hints about the prophecy surrounding Cleo and what it will mean for her and her newfound friends.

Maihack is creating a well-rounded universe of characters here, while at the same time, building the story and giving readers plenty of outer-space adventure.  I am thoroughly enjoying the budding relationships among Cleo, Akila, Zaid, and Brian, and even more particularly, Khensu.  And "The Thief and the Sword" definitely has a very Empire Strikes Back feel to it, insomuch as it feels like the connecting story - there is adventure, characterization, and moving story points; however, it ends with a cliffhanger and definitely sets the stage for what's to come.

The art is consistent with Maihack's quality (I have to give the guy credit - he writes and draws this book, which has to take a lot of time and effort!), but there are some pages during the dance party chapter where the art feels a bit rushed and not quite as complete as the rest of the book.  Perhaps that was on purpose, to give the party a more casual feel, but it came across as merely rushed to me.

Otherwise, I continue to enjoy the series, and I'm definitely thrilled that Scholastic picked up the book (I remember Maihack at conventions before this became mainstream!), as I fully believe this deserves to be marketed and on the shelves for kids to find and read and enjoy as much as I do!

RATING:  9 ancient time tablets out of 10 for showing the world that the "fish out of water" story can be told in new and fun ways!

Cleopatra in Space - GN Book One - Target Practice

I first met comic creator Mike Maihack some years ago at a comic convention because a friend of mine loved his strip, Cow & Buffalo, and wanted me to get his autograph for him.  I started chatting with Mike, and I picked up a preview of his upcoming creation, Cleopatra in Space.  The art was unique and definitely cartoonish in a lot of ways, but it was appealing to the eye, and the story was just plain fun.

Fast forward to 2017 at MegaCon in Orlando, where I caught up with Mike again (although I had seen him a number of time at various conventions over the years), and while I was having him do some art in one of my sketch books, I started flipping through not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR volumes of his Cleopatra in Space series, which is now being published through Scholastic.  Definitely impressed at how far this "indy" creator had come through hard work and dedication, I picked up the first four volumes for me, and also a set for my good friend, Kevin (the one who asked me to get Mike's autograph all those years ago...)

"Target Practice" is the first volume in the series and provides a quick origin story and starts young Cleopatra down the path to becoming the savior of the Nile Galaxy.  But as with any good story, the more things change, the more they stay the same. In the past, young Cleopatra had her lovable cat, Kosey; in the future, she finds her mentor-of-sorts to be none other than Kosey's descendant, Khensu. In the past, she had her friend Gozi to have fun and get into trouble with; while, in the future, she makes new friends with Akila and Brian.  In the past, Cleopatra longs for action, something to take her away from the hum-drum boring life of a destined-to-be ruler; in the future, Cleopatra finally gets to realize that action for which she has been longing!

Taking a historical figure and throwing them into the future is not necessarily a new concept - the "fish out of water" tale has been done so many times. But Maihack takes the idea and fills it with lots of comic super-battles, an undercurrent of subplots, and a whole heck of a lot of fun with a lovable character who the reader can easily tell is going to lead her poor mentor into a world (or, in the future universe, worlds) of trouble! Not everyone is human, not everyone can be trusted, and not everyone is looking out for Cleopatra's best interests - but every page is enjoyable, and if this first story is any indication, every book is going to fun to read!

While "Target Practice" is a self-contained story, it has plenty of lead-in for future tales. Why is the council determined to test Cleopatra so much? Who is this tyrannical Xaius Octavian who is fighting to take over the galaxy? Will Cleopatra fulfill her destiny as the savior of the Nile Galaxy? And probably most important - just who does Brian really like - Akila or Cleopatra? (Oh, and there is that lingering question of whether Cleopatra will stay in the future or return to her own time, but we'll save that for another time...)

Maihack has a hit on his hands with Cleopatra in Space, and I'm overjoyed that his work is being taken mainstream by Scholastic - it deserves to be noticed!

9 death trap field trips out of 10 for a brand new space adventure with a diverse cast of lovable characters!