Thirsty Mermaids

December 1, 2020
In this rollicking graphic novel, three fun-loving mermaids go in search of booze and--with a bit of magic and one another's support--try their luck as landlubbers. "Merfolk" Pearl, Tooth, and Eez are best friends, swimming the deep and salvaging ancient alcohol from shipwrecks to fuel their frivolity. But when their last bottle runs dry, Eez calls upon her powers as a sea witch to trade in their aquatic bodies for human forms so they can get another round straight from the source: dry land. The trio struggle with their transition to a life with legs (and the need for clothes and employment), but a kindhearted bartender shows them the ropes--and introduces them to earthly delights like omelets. The cast is wonderfully diverse, depicting a variety of races, genders, sexualities, and body types, and even the three mermaids are distinct--Pearl with a classically fishy tail, Tooth with the flukes and horn of a narwhal, and Eez with the long, flowing tail of an eel. Leyh neatly marries the book's themes of friendship, acceptance, and diversity of experience with fantastical elements (like deep-sea deities) and boisterous humor (plenty of belching and use of the b-word). The kinetic, manga-influenced art style (popping with outsized emotions and slapstick) particularly delivers on the comedy and fun. The book breezes along, grounded by the characters' kindness and affection for one another. A bright, bold shot of fun with a chaser of feels.

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Starred review from January 11, 2021
Leyh (Snapdragon) unleashes another smart, heartfelt, and hilarious fantasy adventure in her first adult-oriented original graphic novel. After drunkenly transforming themselves into humans to party on dry land, three merfolk wake up to discover they’re trapped when they can’t undo the magic, and are forced to adapt while looking for a way to break the spell. While brash, scrappy Tooth and gregarious Pearl find odd jobs to pay the rent, their podmate Eez—a sea witch—toils in vain searching for both a solution to their dilemma and relief from the intense dysmorphia of being in a two-legged body. Leyh aptly uses this setup to explore themes of social alienation and queer “found family” as the trio bond with their new roommate Vivi, a trans woman of color, who teaches them about movies, breakfast food, and the horrors of capitalism. Each page vibrates with glowing colors, lending energy to Leyh’s already raucous (and bodily diverse) character designs; even the lettering feels full of life. This modern myth-bending escapade from a rising comics star serves up humor and light. Agent: Charlie Olsen, InkWell Management.

Starred review from January 1, 2021
Thirsty Mermaids is a simple story, delightfully told. The eponymous merfolk, Tooth, Pearl, and Eez, decide the best way to obtain more human alcohol is to use a spell to swap tails for legs. Classic "fish out of water" misunderstandings and wacky high jinks ensue as they navigate dress codes, amusingly named cocktails, and hangovers. Vivi, the bartender they tip generously early on, helps them acclimate to writing r�sum�s and not eating her pet goldfish. But it's not all fun and games, as their misadventures also lead to explanations of capitalism, finding help in unlikely places, bonding over bar brawls, body dysmorphia, near-death experiences, and the power of friendship. The trio discover both how much they mean to each other and how much their new friends mean to them as they try to avert a disaster inadvertently of their own making. Minor characters like Ada, Vivi's sibling-in-law and an oceanographer, or Spud and Jim, treasure hunters and day drinkers, flesh out the world and story. Leyh's (Snapdragon, 2020) art is the perfect complement to the raucous nature of our protagonists, with bold, vibrant colors and designs leaping off the page. A splash image near the end is a gorgeous framing of fabulous mermaids and Vivi against a tropical sunset. Recommended for grown fans of My Little Pony, buddy comedies, and sea witches.

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