A tale of a meteorite who was too magnetic - using comics to simplify complex ideas

Somewhere in the vast landscape of the Sahara desert, a man stumbles upon an unusual kind of rock. After being passed around from dealers to collectors, the rock finds itself in a research laboratory. The rock is confused and does not remember where it comes from. The researcher invites the rock to a space journey, leading it back to its origins, the planet Mars. This is the story of an unusual friendship between a scientist and a meteorite, brought alive in the pages of a comic book. The book itself was born through the friendship between two planetary scientists who share a passion for planetary magnetic fields and a desire to communicate their passion to the public and inspire the next generation of planetary scientists.

Meteors and meteorites have always fascinated people, but a particular aspect of these space rocks remains enigmatic to the general public: their magnetic records. This comic book aims at communicating complex scientific concepts and laboratory protocols through illustrations infused with a touch of humor. Intended for teenagers and adults, the comic explores how planetary magnetic fields are generated, how rocks record them and how the magnetic record of rocks helps scientists decipher how planets form and evolve over time. Importantly, the comic also aims at spreading the following message: meteorites should not be exposed to magnets. Doing so comes at the risk of erasing billion years old of geological history. 

Though initially conceived for the web, the next stage of this project is to have the comic book printed and distributed at scientific outreach events, schools, and comics festivals. Ultimately, we hope that this comic book will find its place at the bookshelves of public libraries and teenage bedrooms.