Comic goes cosmic on a galactic mission

Gilda Kirkpatrick enlisted University of Auckland astrophysicists to help create a sci-fi comic book that is also educational. Photo / Nick Reed

Dressed in her black stiletto boots, loose flowing black tunic, neatly manicured nails and long elegant locks, Gilda Kirkpatrick is not your stereotypical image of a comic book artist.

But the Aucklander has always loved comics, confessing to being "obsessed" with the visual tales that line her library bookshelves. That interest has led to her latest creative project - a sci-fi comic book detailing the adventures of eight cosmic guardians protecting the galaxy's planets.

Monday will be a big day for the trained architect-turned-advertising director. Her new book, Astarons: Cosmic Guardians, hits the shelves - and her second son will be born.

The book offers an educational spin-off on traditional adventures as it incorporates scientific facts into the images and story. With specialists from the University of Auckland's department of Astrophysics, Dr John Eldridge and Dr Nicholas Rattenbury, illustrator Myles Lawford and 3D specialist Gareth Jensen, she created a simply written but scientifically inspired piece of comic literature.

Each guardian has taken on a physical or personality trait from their planet namesake, such as Reddo, from the red planet of Mars with the ability to create great storms of camouflaging dust, or Tunn from Neptune who could generate supersonic winds and deadly ice spikes.

As a child, growing up in Iran during the revolution, comics provided Ms Kirkpatrick refuge from the outside world within the colourful visual stories and their heroes.

A favourite was the Adventures of Tintin. "He took you to many countries, taught you about many cultures."

Even when travelling the world as an adult, she frequently found references to places that the Belgian comic star had visited.

However, in the many comics she's read, there has been one thing lacking. "The majority of them were very exciting, very interesting and expand the imagination, but they don't really offer anything factual."

But Ms Kirkpatrick felt comics could be an avenue of entertainment and education.

"It would be great not just to expand your imagination, but to teach you a great amount of knowledge."

With a toddler and a baby on the way, and two young nephews, Ms Kirkpatrick felt it was important to create a series of comic books that could do this.

"Kids become obsessed with the characters and the storylines to the point they can recite characters, their powers, dialogues or anything about them at the blink of an eye. The information is stored in their impressionable brains permanently."