Maker Comics: Fix a Car!

The Science Comics series of graphic novels has been one of my favorites, and certainly one of the easiest ones for me to recommend to STEM teachers. Their publisher, First Second, has recently branched off into another series with a similar bent, Maker Comics, that encourage readers to bake, create comics, make robots, and do other practical tasks. I can see lots of connections with these books and the "special" subject areas, like family and consumer science, art, and in the case of the book I am looking at here, either auto shop or driver's education.

Fix a Car! follows a group of teenagers and their weekly car club, as they learn about how to care for their vehicles. The teens in this book are all very onto cars and constitute a motley but relatable crew. Some of them have driver's licenses; some are into tricking out their rides with fancy details, and others are into restoring older cars. Over the course of this book, under the guidance of their teacher/advisor Ms. Gritt, they learn how to assemble a tool kit, do routine maintenance, and perform roadside actions like fixing a flat tire or jump-starting an engine. 

Like the Science Comics books, this one has lots of details about how the various systems and parts in a car. It tells about how an engine, transmission, and climate system works. It shows how to change windshield wipers, adjust a drive belt, and switch out a burnt-out tail-light. It also shows how to take care of a battery, maintain proper fluid levels, and properly wash the exterior without ruining the paint job. And what is more, it emphasizes auto safety and delivers all of this information in a very engaging way that does not overwhelm while also maintaining a sense of humor.

This balance between informing and engaging was struck by Chris Schweizer, a comics Renaissance man who has created a few series like the Crogan's Adventures and The Creeps. He has a bent toward historical works, including The Roanoke Colony, one of the inaugural books from the new History Comics series, which (spoiler) I'll be reviewing in the near future. He sheds some insight into his work on Fix a Car! in this interview.

I was not able to find many reviews of this book, but the ones I have seen have been very positive. Sharona Ginsberg wrote that it provided "a more accessible way to approach learning a new skill than advanced technical documentation, textbooks, or manuals" and suggested it "for older readers—beginning around high school—especially as teenagers who may have their licenses and even own cars will find the information more helpful and relevant." Tony Dillard called it "A must for anyone who wants to share the experience of working on cars with a special youngster in their life!"

Fix a Car! was published by First Second, and they offer a preview and more information about it here.