Laika

This is a book that everyone needs to read and should enjoy. Based on the true story of the Soviet space dog, Laika is undoubtedly a heartbreaking yet powerful story of unnecessary suffering and sacrifice. With the addition of fictional characters as well as a wonderfully developed plot, it really induces an even more emotional impact and emphasizes the tragedy of the story that you would not really be able to grasp in any other form. Not only that, but the graphic illustrations give you an even more in-depth experience to the text that you would not get just reading this story as a regular novel. I know some adults might be turned away from this book based on the fact that this is a graphic novel. But this is a book that is suitable for people of all ages. It has many adult themes to it, as well as underlying details in the graphics that emphasize the importance of parts of the book. I was assigned to read this book for an English class, however, this is most definitely something I would have read on my own for my own enjoyment. One of the most interesting parts about this book was the choice of art style, and the details pertaining to it. Some of them I did not even catch the first time I read it. In certain parts of the book, especially parts of great significance, the novel's typical boxed pictures, white background, with a dark and grainy feel, changes significantly. One good example of this is on pages 51 through 55, showing the dream sequences of both the daughter and Laika. These few pages are full of bright colors, squiggly lines, no borders and full of art. These few pages and every time dreams and imagination are expressed in the book, show openness and freedom away from all the struggles and that Laika endures in real life. It really makes you realize how in sleep, it was the only place for her to feel real peace and joy. Another example of how the art emphasizes the text is in the beginning of the book on pages 4 through 7. When we see the Chief Designer escape the Gulag, the background of the pages starts at a dark grey and gradually fades to white. All the graphics on these pages have dark mellow colors. Then when it suddenly jumps to eighteen years in the future after the success of the Sputnik launch, the page's graphics are bright and red. I think this is a great example of how the art style really emphasized the major changes, the suffering endured, and the inner deep meanings of the characters' thoughts and emotions. Lastly, the most important aspect of this book is how we get to see Laika’s internal thoughts, or at least a perceived version of them. Laika is a dog, and obviously cannot speak for herself, but the author did an outstanding job of using the other characters, such as Yelena, to give Laika a voice. Towards the end of the book on pages 154 and 155, Yelena converses with Laika, and questions how much Laika really understands right before the launch. “I wonder...how much do you really understand? Anything at all...? Is it just the tone of my voice you respond to . . .? How do you seem to know? And she responds to her “what is this place?” Conversations between them like this really exemplifies just how unknowing Laika was to her fate. It shows just how much she was exploited; an innocent creature being used after already suffering so much in her life. Overall, this book and the way the author illustrated it as well as how he gave a voice to Laika who could not be heard, in the end made the tragedy of the story so much more impactful.

Old Yellow, Where the Red Fern Grows, Shiloh, Because of Winn-Dixie... each generation needs a good tearjerker featuring a dog.Based on the true story of an abandoned puppy who becomes the first space traveler, Laika by Nick Abadzis is a graphic novel for people of all ages. Blending fact and fiction, the attractive visuals and readable text are well balanced.It was fun to go back and read about the early days of the space program. There are lots of great historical photos featuring Laika and other space animals. The book is a wonderful tribute to all of the animals who gave their lives for the space program.

Beautiful and tragic. I don't know if I have the heart to read this book again.Nick Abadzis’ LAIKA is a fictionalized account of the short life and sad death of Laika, the Soviet space dog. Be forewarned: it’s a three-handkerchief, bucket-of-tears kind of novel.Laika’s story is one of loyalty and trust repaid with callous abandonment and deception, and the injustice of this tale resonates deeply. “Do not worry,” Laika is told, again and again. “Trust me.” Meanwhile, death waits for her, implacable.Reading Abadzis’ graphic novel, I found myself saying “It’s not fair! It’s just not fair!” A very childlike reaction, one that I’m usually too jaded, or too adult, to voice so vehemently.But the pointless suffering of an innocent animal tends to trigger that kind of vehemence. We want to the world to be less cruel, and when we see a devoted animal suffering and dying precisely because she’s so devoted, then the rationalizations we’re usually able to make as adults don’t work so well anymore.Abadzis isn’t the first artist to engage with Laika’s tragic history. One of my favorite films is Lasse Hallstrom’s My Life as a Dog, available from the Criterion Collection. It’s the story of Ingemar, a young Swedish boy growing up in the fifties and struggling with feelings of abandonment and betrayal. Ingemar’s father is gone, his mother is desperately ill, and no one wants to tell him that his dog isn’t coming back. Sent away to live with relatives, Ingemar sits and looks at the stars and thinks of Laika, who got sent into space without any food, left there to die. “You have to compare,” he tells himself. “You always have to compare.” His grief at being sent away is sustainable, if only because he identifies with Laika, who had it so much worse.

This graphic novel flows very cinematically. The scenery drawings are beautiful. The back stories of both dogs and humans are captivating, and the story is told with humor, sadness, and heart. The historic elements are well researched, and the fictional elements are creative and believable.

Don't let the art style of this graphic novel fool you, it is defiantly an adult novel, with the politics of the Cold War Space Race at the front. Nick Abadzis has mixed what is unknown about Laika and what is known about her into a story that is very believable. This graphic novel conveys the truth accurately, and holds no punches back. Has a History lover I love this book. I applaud Nick for keeping the record straight. He could have very easily morphed the truth about Laika into a happy ending story. Nick opted to stick the historical truth and for that I applaud him. He got more details right than wrong based on what I know about Laika and the Sputnik II program. Dog lovers beware, this book will leave you in tears, Reading about Laika in historical documents made me cry. If you are looking to memorialize Laika and share her story, then this book is for you. Putting emotion into history is the best way to share it, and this book is a great stepping stone to learning about Laika. If you are a dog lover looking for a tear jerker, this book I guarantee you will leave you in tears.

El libro tiene una excelente condición para ser de segunda mano, pero la Librería saturó el ejemplar de calcomanias indicando que era usado. Necesite despegar con mucha paciencia y usar un solvente ligero para quitar tanto pegamento.

I was really moved by how the story was told and the drawings are very good too. A keeper!

Beautiful graphics..great plot...the story of Laika will leave you spellbound..many unknown facts are revealed in this book...

This is one of the best and most moving stories I've ever read. It sums up the relationship with trainer and dog really we'll, it's beautifully illustrated and I could not put it down. Like the previous reviewer I have to admit to crying like a baby :)

この作品はたまたま購入した「1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die」に掲載されていた作品です。ライカ犬自体は日本でも宇宙好きな人には広く知られていますが、この犬自体を取り扱った作品は少ないと思います。（ましてや漫画なんて・・・）もともとライカ犬の話は、犬の名前自体「ライカ」なのか「クドリャフカ」なのか？すらちゃんとわかっていないので、ある程度脚色があると思われる本作品ですが、ライカの生い立ちやその周りの人間たちをうまく表現されていると思います。また、もともとTeen向けの作品ですので英語の表現もやさしいので、普段洋書を読まない人にもお勧めです。