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Space Boy #8
Space Boy Volume 8
A sci-fi drama of a high school aged girl who belongs in a different time, a boy possessed by emptiness as deep as space, an alien artifact, mysterious murder, and a love that crosses light years.
In the wake of the excitement leading to the school dance everyone's flavors seem subdued, but once Amy discovers a startling secret about Oliver, a burst of flavor is brought back into her life!
Amy's suspicions over Oliver are put on hold when she goes to the homecoming dance with Cassie, but once there she takes an unexpected detour alone, and discovers the secret she has been looking for may have been in plain view all along. However, this new secret brings new dangers, confusion, and excitement along with it!
In the wake of the excitement leading to the school dance everyone's flavors seem subdued, but once Amy discovers a startling secret about Oliver, a burst of flavor is brought back into her life!
Amy's suspicions over Oliver are put on hold when she goes to the homecoming dance with Cassie, but once there she takes an unexpected detour alone, and discovers the secret she has been looking for may have been in plain view all along. However, this new secret brings new dangers, confusion, and excitement along with it!
232 pages, Paperback
Published November 3, 2020
About the author
Stephen McCranie
41 books311 followersStephen McCranie has been drawing comics since before he could read or write. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Fine Arts and currently lives and works out of a small apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
December 6, 2020
Twiiiiillllliiiiiiiiiight in spaaaaaaaaaaaaace!
I am so indoctrinated in the slow pacing of this series, that even when gun-blazing action happens it seems like nothing much has occurred except the girl swooning ever so sweetly over the boy who swoons right back in his detached way. That's not to say it is boring or unpleasant; I'm in it for the long haul. And yet I wouldn't be displeased if it wrapped up in the next couple volumes or at least moved onto a new story arc.
p.s., And I'm still trying to work out the symbolism of the feet. At first it seems all female characters had pointing dainty feet as seen on the cover of this volume, and all male characters had big flat feet. But there are several instances this time of females who usually have dainty feet, having the big flat feet, and it seems to be tied to wearing pants maybe, which is perhaps a male thing in the author's mind? All the military females have flat feet all the time. But, no, the cover girl is wearing pants. It's not consistent with standing or sitting either. I will break this code someday!!!!
I am so indoctrinated in the slow pacing of this series, that even when gun-blazing action happens it seems like nothing much has occurred except the girl swooning ever so sweetly over the boy who swoons right back in his detached way. That's not to say it is boring or unpleasant; I'm in it for the long haul. And yet I wouldn't be displeased if it wrapped up in the next couple volumes or at least moved onto a new story arc.
p.s., And I'm still trying to work out the symbolism of the feet. At first it seems all female characters had pointing dainty feet as seen on the cover of this volume, and all male characters had big flat feet. But there are several instances this time of females who usually have dainty feet, having the big flat feet, and it seems to be tied to wearing pants maybe, which is perhaps a male thing in the author's mind? All the military females have flat feet all the time. But, no, the cover girl is wearing pants. It's not consistent with standing or sitting either. I will break this code someday!!!!
December 31, 2020
Love these characters and books!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
November 27, 2020
Unlike many ongoing graphic novel series, this story is moving, and moving fast. In this volume Amy finally figures out many of the missing pieces she has been trying to figure out about Oliver, why he doesn't have the proper scent, where he came from, what happened to his family.
We also get to see the bad guys, so to speak, and they are very bad too.
Hard to wait for each volume. But so, so good.
We also get to see the bad guys, so to speak, and they are very bad too.
Hard to wait for each volume. But so, so good.
November 30, 2020
Popsugar 2020-A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI Character. (About 8 of them. :))
March 3, 2021
This volume revealed something big and I am in shock!!! So much action...
September 7, 2022
wwwwwhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaattttt??!!!
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...
...
*sits in a state of mild shock*
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...
...
*sits in a state of mild shock*
February 11, 2021
These just keep getting better and better. I love the balance of emotional drama and danger. Lots of fun reveals and more coming! Can't wait for the next one!
December 28, 2023
Big reveals!!! And Tammie, you are amazing. Cassie, you are growing.
January 16, 2022
Age: 13+
Genre: sci-fi, ya
Content: mild depictions of violence
Language: none
Review: This was such a suspenseful volume! There are some great developments but it also takes a pretty sharp dark turn. It was such a cliffhanger after such a huge buildup! That's all I can say without spoilers!
Genre: sci-fi, ya
Content: mild depictions of violence
Language: none
Review: This was such a suspenseful volume! There are some great developments but it also takes a pretty sharp dark turn. It was such a cliffhanger after such a huge buildup! That's all I can say without spoilers!
December 24, 2020
What? Using legitimate psychology for trauma reactions?
Giving side characters legitimate personalities?
MAGIC.
Giving side characters legitimate personalities?
MAGIC.
December 16, 2020
i was crying,,,, i don’t know why but i’m so attached to these characters and it’s so cute
April 26, 2021
Ok! Some answers and a bunch more questions!
Some character developments from this Vol:
Oliver:
Commander Saito: She's obviously going to be a dangerous rogue opp in the next volumes. She thinks Amy is a spy. And is now MIA, possibly to go & "clean up" her mess after attacking Oliver.
Amy: I didn't love the kinda "insta-love" she & Oliver seem to have now. Yes, it's "grown" over the last few volumes, but it's still technically "insta" because they really don't know each other.
Kinda annoying.
Cassie & David: They speak at the dance (Cassie wears the thrifted dress, yay! Visual character growth!), and Cassie apologizes fully to David. She really seems to understand herself here, which is nice to read about such full-bodied side characters.
It's a super real call out to how much we are affected by our relationships, even the "short" ones.
Cassie: "This guy-- we only dated for six months but it was enough to leave a mark. I don't think I realized it at the time-- how much he took from me. I think I'm still figuring that out."
Tammie: Wow, things with Saito escalated so quickly! . Poor Tammie. Poor Schafer.
Anxious for the next volume!
Some character developments from this Vol:
Oliver:
Commander Saito: She's obviously going to be a dangerous rogue opp in the next volumes. She thinks Amy is a spy. And is now MIA, possibly to go & "clean up" her mess after attacking Oliver.
Amy: I didn't love the kinda "insta-love" she & Oliver seem to have now. Yes, it's "grown" over the last few volumes, but it's still technically "insta" because they really don't know each other.
Kinda annoying.
Amy: "You're an artist, Oliver. It's your goal to be understood."
Oliver: "My goal as an artist is to seek the truth."
Amy: "Yes-- but you also put yourself into your work-- and then you put your work into the world and you hope someone will see it because you want someone to see you."
Cassie & David: They speak at the dance (Cassie wears the thrifted dress, yay! Visual character growth!), and Cassie apologizes fully to David. She really seems to understand herself here, which is nice to read about such full-bodied side characters.
It's a super real call out to how much we are affected by our relationships, even the "short" ones.
Cassie: "This guy-- we only dated for six months but it was enough to leave a mark. I don't think I realized it at the time-- how much he took from me. I think I'm still figuring that out."
Tammie: Wow, things with Saito escalated so quickly! . Poor Tammie. Poor Schafer.
Anxious for the next volume!
May 27, 2021
Talk about a complete 180 for Space Boy. After seven-ish volumes of wondering who the heck Oliver is, we finally know - and we also know he can withstand a barrage of bullets from robot assassins! The eighth volume in this perpetually slow-burning series abruptly brings the action, even for Amy, who tackles a robot assassin on her own.
Oh yeah, also the homecoming dance happens and the girl who used to be David's girlfriend has like, a breakthrough about why she hates men. Whatever! I'm here for the big picture stuff, which is like, unexpectedly big. Like, now the government is involved, as well as some deep space program. And I totally forgot aliens were introduced in the previous volume, so I guess I'll throw that in this review, but man oh man did Space Boy get interesting suddenly.
Even the art has improved in the seventh and eighth volumes, I'd argue. Maybe the slow burn worked: it got me just interested enough in the characters and setting that when the actual plot arrived, I was fully on board.
Oh yeah, also the homecoming dance happens and the girl who used to be David's girlfriend has like, a breakthrough about why she hates men. Whatever! I'm here for the big picture stuff, which is like, unexpectedly big. Like, now the government is involved, as well as some deep space program. And I totally forgot aliens were introduced in the previous volume, so I guess I'll throw that in this review, but man oh man did Space Boy get interesting suddenly.
Even the art has improved in the seventh and eighth volumes, I'd argue. Maybe the slow burn worked: it got me just interested enough in the characters and setting that when the actual plot arrived, I was fully on board.
August 16, 2021
Well this volume could have definitely used a few trigger warnings. 😒
I got some Princess Protection Program vibes from this one, though.
I got some Princess Protection Program vibes from this one, though.
January 25, 2021
How is this series so consistently good???
This volume finally delivers the big reveal about Oliver and I did NOT see that coming! Holy crap. While delivering on the main plot, McCranie is true to form and also simultaneously continues to advance his side stories- successfully mixing the chaotic and quiet elements of his universe. I am just perpetually thrilled and satisfied by this work and can’t wait for the next installment.
This volume finally delivers the big reveal about Oliver and I did NOT see that coming! Holy crap. While delivering on the main plot, McCranie is true to form and also simultaneously continues to advance his side stories- successfully mixing the chaotic and quiet elements of his universe. I am just perpetually thrilled and satisfied by this work and can’t wait for the next installment.
May 16, 2021
After inching along ever...so...slowly for the past 7 books, the 8th volume really stepped on the gas. It covers only a few hours but in that time Amy (somewhat unbelievably) looks at a painting Oliver did and just KNOWS everything there is to know about him. Saito, the head of the group chasing Amy, shows her cards and her issues. And we move a blip closer to understanding the bigger picture.
November 20, 2022
I am still utterly absorbed in this serie. It is very much sweet and simple with a dash of high tech secrets. I love the duality of Amy's normal life with the wild ride she is on while learning about Oliver. Finally in this volume we start to learn what the heck is going on!
November 5, 2024
The series is not only pivoting in the storyline, but might start to pivot in my ratings … from 4 stars (enjoyed and recommended) to 5 stars (want to own)! Really enjoying the depth that is growing in this sci fi space drama with some slice of life elements …
March 7, 2021
Well, junk finally gets real!
3.5
3.5
August 26, 2023
Now things are definitely moving, although I did find the process by which Amy figured things out a little goofy.
February 24, 2024
Hands off Tammie!!!
November 16, 2021
I can’t believe between Amy going to earth, meeting Oliver and the whole government conspiracy thing, and among other spoilery storylines all took place in the span of 16 weeks
March 1, 2023
3.5 stars
May 28, 2021
Oooo this one was good!!! And some really beautiful art like wow
March 1, 2022
truly the kind of book that makes you exclaim "now THAT is good sci fi"
December 12, 2020
This is such a fun series. It's cute and handles difficult subjects, it's inclusive, and the artwork is amazing. I highly recommend it to everyone, and you can probably read all 8 in a couple of days.
Now I anxiously await volume 9!
Now I anxiously await volume 9!
Read
July 19, 2023On my review for the previous volume, I said it was too predictable. This volume proved it was not as predictable as I thought.
December 5, 2020
The plot of this series is awesome, I've never seen a book like it. But the characters are just so stereotypical and shallow. Mostly Amy. I'll keep reading the series, but the characters always get on my nerves on how stereotypical they are. Also, they are in the 34th century- WHY do they still have cars and things like that? It would make more sense if the year was 2100, or somewhere near that time.
October 23, 2020
Continues to be one of the best series I've ever read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews