Synopses & Reviews
The world's oceans represent the last wild frontier on Earth. While our understanding of life in the ocean is relatively basic, our actions are putting hundreds of species in danger. In this graphic anthology, Matt Dembicki, editor and artist of the award-winning Trickster and District Comics, explores the adventures of twelve iconic endangered sea animals: hawksbill turtle, bluefin tuna, hammerhead shark, giant clam, manatee, blue whale, coral, albatross, whale shark, monk seal, manta ray, and seahorse. Produced in cooperation with the non-profit PangeaSeed, these gripping stories instill a passion to conserve our magnificent sea creatures.
PangeaSeed's mission is to contribute to the protection of sharks and the preservation of our oceans by taking responsible action, increasing public awareness, and providing education that encourages environmental activism and sustainable consumption choices.
Review
Wild Ocean is a work of fiction about a non-fictional topic, which makes it an ideal way to introduce readers to a subject without throwing reams of data at them. It takes an entertaining approach to the subject matter and encourages further study. You can't beat a non-fiction book that pulls off that particular feat. and#151; Mike Hall, The Comics Book Librarian Blog
This anthology offers a quick overview of twelve different oceanic species, each with a different scope of interactions with humans and within the ocean itself. Plots range from seriousand#151;capturing illegal fishermen who are doing it to surviveand#151;to lightheartedand#151;a kid playing with a blue whale toy while his dad goes to a conference. Overall, the stories end happily, but the long-term prognosis for our oceans is grim, and that isnand#8217;t left out. Given that the point is to raise awareness, thereand#8217;s no reason why it should be. and#151; Write Lies Blog
Gr 7 Upand#150; A dozen veteran and first-time comic-book writers and graphic novelists appear in this collaboration. Separate chapters introduce readers to wonders of the ocean under threat from overfishing, global warming, and other man-made dangers. From seahorses made into keychains to monk seals losing their birthing and pup-rearing grounds, kids encounter beautiful creatures that need humans to undo the damage they have caused to the environment. Each story opens with a textual explanation of the sectionand#8217;s topic. The graphic styles vary widely, with some, like the story of the manatee, looking like traditional Sunday comics, while others, like the description of the coral reefs of the Maldives, appearing much more realistic. Some of the entries include allusions to ocean-focused mythology, while others are practically wordless and let the illustrated panels speak for themselves. Back matter includes not always age-appropriate further reading, but also very informative websites for in-depth research. Passionate students would enjoy this colorful, informative look into different aspects of sea life, and teachers could use the book to introduce marine biology or ecology units, making this a wise purchase for middle school libraries and beyond.and#151; School Library Journal
Nominated as as a Best Young Adult Graphic Novel by the Cybils Awards (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards)
One of Publisher's Weekly's "14 Best Environmental Comics."
and#147;The goal is to show the value of comics in the education process. It doesnand#8217;t matter what tool you use to help students learnand#151;podcasts, iPad, textbooks, comics, etc.and#151;the point is to find what helps students make a connection with content.and#8221;and#151; Michael Cavna, The Washington Post
Synopsis
The first graphic anthology about endangered sea creatures.
Synopsis
The world's oceans represent the last wild frontier on Earth. In this graphic novel collection, Matt Dembicki, editor and artist of the award-winning Trickster, pulls together stories of twelve iconic endangered sea animals. Produced in cooperation with the non-profit PangeaSeed, these compelling scientific vignettes also educate and foster a passion to conserve the oceans' resources.
About the Author
Brooke Allen is a human and comic creator living in Washington, DC. When she's not drawing comics, she's on a quest for national treasure.
Jason E. Axtell is an educator and graphic illustrator from Virginia whose work combines elements from sequential art, graphic design, and the fine arts. His work includes the Family Guy comic book, coloring for the acclaimed graphic novel Mr. Big, and Strays 'N Gates, a collection of comic strips.
Michael Cowgill studied creative writing at the University of Evansville and George Mason University. He writes fiction, comics, and the occasional song in Falls Church, Virginia, and is a member of the D.C. Conspiracy. His comics work has appeared in District Comics and Magic Bullet. He hopes to one day meet a MantaBot.
Matt Dembicki previously edited and contributed to the Eisner-nominated and Aesop Prize-winning Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. He also served at the helm of District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, D.C., an Harvey Award-nominated anthology that was named as one of the best books of 2012 by the Washington Post.
David Allan Duncan (who goes by Duncan) has been teaching drawing, sequential art, and comics history since 2003. He lives in a brown house in Georgia with his wife and son. He can be found at conventions and conferences around the country doing comics workshops, giving academic papers, and hocking his mini-comics.
Dove is a freelance artist/writer working in the comics industry from his home in Savannah, Georgia. He spends the rest of his time as a faculty member at the Savannah College of Art and Design, in the Sequential Art Department.
JF Frankel creates an eclectic bunch of comics and illustrations from his home in Berkeley, California. His previous marine biology comics include the Water Column trilogy, Seafood, Trilobite, and Twilight of the Sea Cow.
Paulina Ganucheau is a freelance artist and designer working out of New Orleans. She can usually be found curled in a ball under her desk. She also writes a weekly webcomic, Zodiac Starforce with writer Kevin Panetta.
Pierce Hargan grew up in Los Angeles. He graduated from college in 2012 and is pursuing his passion in Brooklyn, New York. This is his first short story.
Jay Hosler is a biology professor at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He studies insect behavior and neurobiology and has written and drawn comics about honey bees, Darwin, the eye, and evolution. When he isnand#8217;t doing that stuff, he can be found goofing around with his sons Max and Jack and flirting shamelessly with his wife, Lisa.
Andy K is an illustrator and underground comic book artist based outside of Washington, D.C. His work is largely defined by his unique line-work, characters and vibrant colors. He has produced images for magazines, posters, album art, skate decks, comics, and much more.
Pat N. Lewis is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Pittsburgh. His work has appeared in anthologies from BOOM! Studios, Top Shelf Comics, Graphic Classics, and McGraw-Hill. His first solo book, The Claws Come Out, was published by IDW Publishing. Currently, Pat is serializing his Reuben-nominated webcomic Muscles Diablo in: Where Terror Lurks! on his Tumblr site.
Steve Loya has been teaching and making his own art for over a decade in northern Virginia. His work has been exhibited both locally and internationally, and can be found in numerous digital and printed publications.
Kevin Panetta is a comic book writer and comic store employee. He is currently living in Washington, DC, but is considering moving to a volcano if this writing thing doesnand#8217;t work out.
Steven Russell Black is a painter with an obsessive compulsion to champion the odd, fringe, or otherwise unappreciated. His art appears on the cover of Wild Ocean.
Tammy Stellanova is an illustrator, jewelry maker, and comic artist with a background in biology.
Tom Williams lives and plays in Columbus, Ohio. He's done work for Dark Horse, Image, IDW and Oni Press.