Robin is a spaceship mechanic in a futuristic intergalactic Military space station. The galaxy is temporarily at peace due to the intervention of an unknown Benefactor, yet battalions still train in preparation for another colossal battle. Robin is a dedicated to his boss, Mac, who happens to be a gorilla, and to the all-woman squadron they support: The Barabarians, led, of course, by Barbara. As silly as this graphic novel may sound, it explores deep issues, including themes of racial equity and scientific ethics (why did the gorillas choose to receive the intelligence acceleration and the dolphins not?). And like all teens, Robin’s coming of age includes separation from his father, and hard lessons about true friendship and loyalty. Dian Fossey makes an appearance, as does “Russ Lipbalm,” and clever readers will find allusions to other contemporary issues and people. Told in short episodes or chapters, Eldred combines elements of almost every genre, including science fiction, comedy, romance, and adventure. (Age 12 and older)

Caught in the crossfire of an interstellar war, our Earth was bombed to flinders--and then repaired. The mysterious alien Benefactors who healed the planet also offered "uplift" to our dolphins and gorillas. The dolphins turned them down. The gorillas said yes. As a result, we're now sharing our world with language-using, tool-making simians. Tensions are inevitable, in both directions, but it's gradually working out.

Decades later, teenage cadet Robin Plotnik has been assigned to Fist of Earth, a defense station high above Earth, keeping watch against further attacks by the interstellar Horde. Robin's a spacecraft mechanic-in-training, apprenticed to Chief "Mac" Gimbensky, a cranky but basically benign gorilla with issues of his own.

Fist of Earth is a challenging place to grow up. Robin and Mac maintain fighter craft for the all-woman "Barbarian Squadron", which constantly competes for prestige with the other squadrons based on Fist of Earth. Robin's trying to romance a young librarian, and he's far from sure he knows what he's doing. Most of all, he's constantly struggling to figure out his moody, mercurial boss.

Then he and his best friend become entangled in a burgeoning scandal over betting on the squadrons' standings. And just when things look like they've hit rock bottom, the worst thing imaginable arrives at Fist of Earth: an efficiency expert from Earth, determined to reorganize Robin's hard-won life, and the whole squadron system, out of existence.

Fresh and engaging, crammed with likeable characters and science-fictional inventiveness, Grease Monkey is like a classic "Heinlein juvenile" in sequential-art mode.

Introduction by Kurt Busiek, author of Astro City