Graphic Novel Review... Science: A Discovery In Comics

Science: A Discovery in Comics by Margaret de Heer, NBM

MARGERET DE Heer, along with her husband Yiri, act as on-panel hosts who educate, entertain and move along a historical journey of how science has developed in the hefty 192 page tome that is Science: A Discovery in Comics.

Taking on science as a concept and a practical tool that we can apply and the philosophies that have helped us develop a further understanding of it we also learn about those nutters who both stood in the way to prevent the advances of science and those who took us down some downright daft cul de sacs down the centuries. Famous faces are pulled from history, ideas put into the context of their time, the inherent dangers of abusing science outlined, but some friendly paced humour sits on the pages to raise a smile if not lift the heart.

Originally published in Dutch as Wetenschappen in Beld, this 192 page full hard cover book in English from NBM has Galileo, Einstein and all the big names appearing with the red carpet treatment, but often just as interesting are those folk of times gone by you may not have heard of before.

Previously having written a similar book on philosophy, its follows in the manner of Larry Gonnick's Cartoon History of the Universe and a more casual reader-friendly version of those Freud for Beginners style comic books. The book is presented in a modern basic cartoon manner, and initially I thought it may have originated as an online strip for the colouring is bright and the computer font lettering also applies colour that doesn't always work but it appears print is what it was always intended for, with hardcover editions available from NBM, although I'm reviewing a digital edition.

The two main characters' personalities come across well as they narrate and educate, often interacting with the historical folk or letting them take their particular stories and theories off in their own direction. A pleasant and good read and one that once read you're likely to dip into again for handy reference.

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