Planet Hockey: First Star of the Game

The graphic novel Planet Hockey: First Star of the Game, the first book in a new series, follows Isaac, a boy who vows never to play hockey again after breaking his arm on the ice and costing his team the game. Wanting to keep Isaac’s interest in the game alive, his parents gift him the game Shot (Super Hockey Online Tournament) with which he quickly becomes obsessed, climbing to the top of the game’s online player rankings while refusing to get back on the ice in real life. Through a cosmic mixup, Isaac is recruited by the Zeazide Pods, a hockey team from the planet Galaxia who are underdogs in their own league and desperate for a victory (to avoid the hockey-obsessed Emperor Maroon’s “hockey taxes”). Along with his new friend and star goalie Lily, Isaac is able to overcome his fears and help coach and play alongside the Pods, leading them to victory over the entire Galaxian Hockey League. Throughout Isaac’s adventure and with support from Lily (who encourages embracing new opportunities, particularly “once in a lifetime”, intergalactic ones), Isaac is able to overcome his fears of failure and understand that being too scared to try is the true failure.

The book succeeds in exploring the psychological fallout of an accident (in this case a sports injury) on a child; the shame Isaac feels letting down his team and his fear and anxiety surrounding returning to the ice where he may embarrass or hurt himself again. Parents with screen-obsessed children will also recognize Isaac’s increasing dependence on and comfort in the world of anonymous virtual gaming where he does not have to face the consequences of failure as he would in real life. Without demeaning the genuine strategic planning skills Isaac utilizes in the virtual world, the narrative encourages forging real-world friendships, overcoming one’s fears and being a team player, acknowledging that not everyone has the same skills or talents and that teams are better for it. That being said, the story is not weighed down by its message and remains exciting throughout, with humorous commentary surrounding the Pods and nail-biting game moments.

For adult readers, the universe of Planet Hockey may be reminiscent of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, complete with a self-obsessed, incompetent ruler (Emperor Maroon), useless bumbling robots, absurd bureaucracy (losing hockey teams must pay increased “hockey” taxes) and unlikely everyman heroes from the planet we call Earth. Characters like Maroon don’t quite escape their prescribed role as disposable joke villains, but the majority of characters remain grounded and believable despite their alien appearances.

The artwork is eye-catching with a good use of colour while keeping the out-of-this-world characters and environment realistic and grounded. Two-page spreads are occasionally used and give a wider, more dynamic look into the Galaxian universe and the action of the sport. Overall, the illustrations work in tandem with the writing style to create a realistic narrative in an outlandish setting.

Children who enjoy science fiction space adventures will find the story appealing and entertaining, but its simple and engaging story make it both accessible and enjoyable to kids coming to the genre for the first time. Fans of earth hockey will similarly be rewarded with Easter egg references to real hockey players with several alien counterparts (“Grootzy” and “Crowsby”), but knowledge of the sport is not by any means necessary to enjoy Planet Hockey: First Star of the Game.