Cosmic Comics

For a long time, comics have captured our imaginations and have taken us to a wonderland in which we live vicariously through each character. And so why should that model not be taken into account for science education? Well, it has!

In Japan, where manga and anime is a main part of the culture, science comics are the way to go. For all my Japanese friends who are space geeks, many of them describe their initial interest comes from anime and manga, like Robotech, Astroboy, and Gundam. Growing up with images of robots, spacefaring societies and interplanetary travel, the Japanese are cultivated with these futuristic dreams. Their culture and society supports a space future, unlike the US.

Hayanon, a Japanese artist illustrated a series of space science comic books to teach students about auroras, global warming, and cosmic rays. This is a great way to reach out to students in a form that is easily accessible and engaging to them.

Knowing the power that comics have in communicating with younger people, there have been several initiatives on this front. For example: Cindi in Space. This is the story of the android spacegirl Cindi and her two dogs who explain the purpose of the CINDI instrument as part of the C/NOFS mission and the science involved. It is aimed specifically at students in grades 6 to 9, but hope that readers of all ages will find it fun and informative. It is a 24-page booklet that can be downloaded as a pdf.

NPR has documented the joining of scientists and artists via comics. Spiderman has inspired the nerdy superhero to join the arts and sciences. Jay Hosler is a biologist and a comic book artist who creates and illustrates stories via comics to communicate the wonders of science. Here he makes an inmate out of an asteroid. Space can use a sci+art collaboration like a Jay Hosler Astroboy.