Wendy Martin (5)

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley.)

Wendy Martin's CASTLE SWIMMER is quickly becoming one of my comfort comics (like vegan mac & cheese for the soul!). HEARTSTOPPER meets SPLASH, now with a dash of, idk, AQUAMAN (to account for the competing underwater kingdoms, I guess?), CASTLE SWIMMER follows two young mermen who are prophesied to be at odds - but end up falling in love.

Kappa is a Beacon, a magical creature who ping-pongs around the sea to fulfill the show more prophecies of various underwater Kingdoms. Everyone is happy to see him ... until they're not. (Prophecies are tricky, slippery things that rarely play out as expected.) When Kappa is drawn into the Shark Kingdom, he comes face to face with Prince Siren - an unhappy and sheltered heir who must kill Kappa in order to save his people from a decades-old curse. Siren was already conflicted about the whole murder thing - and then he met Kappa. Beautiful, glowing Kappa, who seems to know exactly how he feels. Teenage angst to the nth degree, y'all.

At the end of Volume One, Siren was trying to devise an escape plan for the imprisoned Kappa. In Volume 2, this plot line continues to play out, but not how you'd expect. And, oh yeah, there is a plot twist of monumental proportions.

CASTLE SWIMMER continues to charm with its depiction of two queer sea creatures in love. I especially appreciate that absolutely zero percent of the conflict centers on Kappa or Siren's sexuality: some merpeople are straight, others are not, and that's a-okay. (It's got hints of SCHITT'S CREEK in that way.) The artwork is lovely, as is the storytelling, and I love that Siren picks up some (unexpected) allies along the way.

CASTLE SWIMMER got its start on Webtoon, where it just wrapped up Season 3. Volume 2 includes episodes 20-41, thus concluding Season 1. show less

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

Kappa is a Beacon - a magical creature who is blessed (cursed?) to play a role in the prophecies of various underwater kingdoms the world over. He even looks the part, with his beautiful, shimmering gold scales and aura of light. You'd think he'd love his life's purpose - after all, everyone is always thrilled to see him - yet it's a lonely, unfulfilling existence ... especially when the prophecy doesn't play out as show more expected. (And, given that prophecies are tricky things, they rarely do.)

Yet Kappa's "visit" (scare quotes because it's hardly voluntary) to the Shark Kingdom will present him with an entirely new threat, as this kingdom's prophecy involves his death. More specifically, Kappa must die at the hands of the kingdom's only un-scarred prince in order to break a decades-long curse that plagues the Shark merpeople.

For his part, Prince Siren has crumbled under the weight of his kingdom's prophecy. So that he may remain alive and intact, he'd had to watch his peers be sent to battle while he remains safe and sheltered in the castle ... reflecting on the morality of killing an innocent being to save his people. Things only become more twisted when Siren meets Kappa, and the two begin to fall in love. Can they find a way to thwart the prophecy, or will Siren be forced to choose between Kappa and his family?

CASTLE SWIMMER is absolutely lovely: sweet and life affirming, comfort food for the heart and soul. The artwork is enchanting: from the various merpeople to the sea creatures and, of course, Kappa and Siren, the nonhumans who populate CASTLE SWIMMER are freaking adorable. Pruney fingers aside, it's almost enough to make me want to live there, among the underwater caves and jellyfish. Kappa and Siren's budding romance is just [heart eyes] (think: HEARTSTOPPER underwater). It's such a beautiful story (and quick read) that I was sad to see Volume 1 come to an end. Luckily, the series is available on Webtoons, where Martin is already up to episode #186 (!). (Volume 1 is just episodes 1-19, with a few bonus stories at the end.) show less

*reviewed from uncorrected eARC via netgalley*

graphic fiction series from webcomic (middlegrade/teen friendly) - a mer beacon (Kappa) has hatched, and is expected to fulfill "all the prophecies" but he doesn't have a clue what to do while all the various merpeoples argue over who gets priority to get bestowed with riches first. Meanwhile a shark prince (Siren) is supposed to kill the beacon in order to save his people, but he'd really rather not kill anyone.

Beautiful full-color illustrations show more tell the story of a sweet friendship/romance between two young mer-boys who would really rather do without all the impossible expectations put upon them. You'll definitely want more by the time you've finished this first volume. To be continued! show less

Some twists in there I didn't see coming. I loved the build up,though, and all of the characters are so amazing.

I am curious as to where the story will go from here, especially when it comes to Siren and Kappa.