Want to get a tween interested in science? Hand them one of the Oliver’s Great Big Universe comics, which smuggle an education in astrophysics, geology, and other weighty subjects into their pages via the shenanigans and wisecracks of the titular 11-year-old. The series is the brainchild of Jorge Cham, who has a Ph.D. in robotics from Stanford but also happens to be a skilled comics artist—and a funny guy. The second volume, Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot! (Amulet/Abrams, Sept. 17), is out now and made our list of the best middle-grade books of 2024. Cham replied to some questions by email.

Introduce us to Oliver, and tell us what inspired you to create him.

Oliver is a fun 11-year-old who tells hilarious stories that have happened to him while also explaining fascinating science topics in kid-relatable ways. For example, that one time the cafeteria was really crowded and then somebody yelled “Fart!”? That’s just like what happened in the Big Bang. Volcanoes? Well, that’s the Earth barfing. (And it barfs a lot—there are 20 volcanoes erupting on Earth at any given time!)

The character is inspired by my son Oliver, who came home one day and announced at dinner that he wanted to be an astrophysicist. When we asked him if he knew what an astrophysicist does, he confidently answered, “No.” I thought that was really funny. All kids find science fascinating, but very few of them are engaged by traditional science books. What if a funny kid like my son explained it to them and used relatable situations and jokes to make the concepts fun and easier to understand? That’s how the series was born.

What kind of science student were you as a kid? What captured you about the field?

As a kid, I was a lot like my son (and the Oliver in the books): concerned with playing with toys and video games. I wasn’t a typical “science kid,” which is what makes me good at explaining it to other people, I think. I mostly went to graduate school so I could keep playing with robots. But while I was there, I became fascinated with research and the idea of exploring the unknown—there’s so much of the world and ourselves we have yet to understand. I think if we focus more on that, and not just facts, then science will become more relatable and more inviting for kids.

What inspired you during the writing of the book?

My biggest inspirations were my kids. It’s a privilege when you can make it your job to pay attention to them and spend time with them. I really wanted to capture what it’s like to be a kid right now and what they find interesting and fun. Often, we would turn our dinner table into a writers room, where I would pitch story ideas and jokes to them, and they would give me their (usually brutal) feedback and suggestions.

Where and when did you write the book?

If I’m in writing mode, it’s something I carry with me and think about all day. The actual doing of it happens mostly at night, after everyone’s fallen asleep. For the Oliver’s Great Big Universe books, I write everything in longhand, doodling as I go along. I’m usually sitting comfortably on a couch or standing at the kitchen counter. If I’m close to deadline, there’s a cup of tea involved (I call it “writing juice”), but only if I’m desperate.

What was most challenging about writing this book? And most rewarding?

The most challenging thing about these books is that they have to weave together a story, a full curriculum of science topics, and lots of funny moments and jokes. Most important, they have to be great reads for kids. I use every trick I’ve ever learned from a career writing comic strips, movies, television episodes, and science books.

I find it most rewarding that I was able to craft a story that feels relatable and fun and has a positive message for kids at the end.

Tom Beer is the editor-in-chief.