Laika

Laika / by Nick Abadzis ; color by Hilary Sycamore.— New York : First Second,2007.

205p. : col. Ill, ; 22 cm.

ISBN: 978-1-569643-101-0

1. Animal experimentation – Comic books, strips, etc. 2. Dogs – Comic books, strips, etc. 3. Edícia Sputnik – Comic books, strips, etc. 4. Graphic novels. 5. Historical fiction. 6. Laika (dog) – Comic books, strips, etc. 7. Russia – History – 20th century – Comic books, strips, etc. 8.Space race – Comic books, strips, etc.

741.5942

A dog story set in the early days of the cold war space race, ending sadly, as many dog stories do with the demise of the main character and the grief of his human companions. Pressured for another spectacular launch to add to the propaganda success of Sputnik I, soviet scientists launch a dog into orbit with no plan for her return.

In this well researched piece of historical fiction author and illustrator Abadzis adds an imagined early life for the dog Laika. This deepens the emotional impact of his graphic novel and forces the reader to consider the ethics of such animal experimentation.