Ahoy there, mateys! Welcome to this week’s Webcomics Wednesday, an adventure on the high seas! This week we’re going sailing, and who knows what the sea has in store? Pirates? Mermaids? Ninjas? Take a look and find out!
For those of you new to Webcomics Wednesday, this is a weekly tradition where we choose five webcomics centered around a certain theme. They are chosen and presented in no particular order based on art, story and appeal. Enjoy, and beware the sea monsters!
Comic: 70-Seas
Creator: Nick Daniel
In his own words: Well into the second Age of Exploration and Warfare the Church is pushing the boundaries of nature and decency, the Vikings have resorted to legitimate commerce, and thanks to a tiny revolution in a country no one has ever heard of it is now possible to hire the services of something called a ‘ninja’. Fortunately for navigator Serra, child fugitive Nikol, and divine prophet Lewk you don’t need to know about any of that to be a privateer. You just need to know that port is heading northeast, the war is scheduled for Tuesday, and 43% of all (reported) profits are reserved for the coffers of the Republican Empire of Fra. Someone is probably going to get killed but whoever survives is going to hit it BIG!*
*before taxes
In our words: This is probably the only webcomic you’ll read that features a priest, a pirate, and a ninja sailing off into the sunset to have all sorts of brilliant adventures. 70-Seas is a colorful tale that takes place on a fantasy planet in the midst of all sorts of political and religious uprisings, with the unlikeliest of results. Be prepared for swordfights and swashbuckling action!
Comic: Sea Urchins
Creators: Scott Eckelaert and Jason Whitley
In their own words: Olie Unrun always wanted to live a life at sea. Instead, he worked at his dad’s fish-oil factory and began the life of a family man. One day something in Olie snapped and he built a ship on his land… then he relocated his house to the deck of the ship and christened the whole shebang “The Banana Moon.” All Olie had to do was wait for the right storm to lift his house to the sea. Now adrift, the Unruns piece together each day through a host of uncommon creatures and comic calamities.
In our words: Imagine the story of Swiss Family Robinson if they hadn’t found the island. What other adventures would they have come across? How would they have faced an uncertain adventure alone at sea? Sea Urchin is just that, a gripping story about a family who lives at sea. It’s fun, amusing, and everything you’ve ever liked about old-fashioned adventure tales. Constant action, quirky characters, and stylized artwork all add to this seamless saga of one family and their adventures at sea.
Comic: The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli
Creators: Charlie Parker and Argon Zark
In their own words: An unexpected treat. An engaging sci-fi adventure comic in the tradition of Johnny Quest, featuring high-tech submarines, flying mini-subs, time travel and lost civilizations. It’s a well-paced, coherent story carried by solid drawing mixed with imaginative 3-d modeling and a very effective use of color and special effects.
In our words: Young Capt’n Eli and his companions, parrot Jolly Roger and Barney the Sea Dog, are in for some exciting adventures in this webcomic! The story is rich in mystery and legend, making it exciting and fast-paced. It’s also inter-connected with other stories by the same author, leading to a universe of magic and wonder.
Comic: Sailor Twain, or The Mermaid on The Hudson
Creator: Mark Seigel
In our words: Sailor Twain is much more than a webcomic. It’s a whole graphic novel, being released in serial fashion to match the Victorian era that the comic takes place in. The story, which takes place aboard a steamboat called the Lorelei, is very well put together and has been gathering a sizeable audience in its journey to publication as an actual book. In the meantime, Sailor Twain is a classy but amusing story, filled with all the flair of 1887 along with many pleasant surprises.
Comic: I Am Otter
Creators: Otter and company
In their own words: Otter is a [naïve] little domestic otter that lives with her otter keeper in London. Her best friend is Teddy and the comic is basically about her adventures and the sweet and innocent way in which she views the world.
In our words: This is by far the cutest comic in this week’s selection. I Am Otter has recently signed a contract with HarperCollins and will be coming out with a book, but in the meantime many delightful stories and musings can be found on the site. Though the sea appears nowhere in the comic, the main character is a loveable otter who lives with the all-knowing Otter Keeper and their friend, Teddy. The website itself is full of fun treats for anyone who explores it, and it’s a loveable series for people of all ages and interests.
Laaaand ho! As our seafaring adventures come to an end, I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s selection of webcomics. The sea is full of all sorts of surprises and swashbuckling adventures, and this is a mere sample of what is in store. If there is something we left out or a favorite webcomic you’d like to see featured in the future, please comment! We’re always trying to keep up with the latest and greatest, and brilliant new discoveries make our day.
