Roughly 378000 years after the Big Bang, protons and electrons first became bound, forming neutral hydrogen atoms in a process called recombination. The subsequent decrease in density of the universal plasma allowed photons to escape, creating what we now see as the cosmic microwave background. This is the farthest back that we can see. It is known as the surface of last scattering, or when the universe became transparent.

The visual material in this book comes from a wide range of comic books, with primary sources including Jack Kirby’s adaptation of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland, Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Archie, Space Family Robinson, mid-century romance titles and Martin Vaughn-James’ The Cage.

The text was written by deconstructing the (text of) Cosmos (by Carl Sagan) and rebuilding it piece by piece.

4-color Risograph on gray 70lb text
Physical dimensions: 10.25” x 6.5”
Edition: 150
Pages: 40