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Title | Volume 1
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Author | Wendy Martin
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Illustrator | Wendy Martin
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Publisher | Ten Speed Graphic - 2024
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First Printing | Ten Speed Graphic - 2024
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Title | Volume 2
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Author | Wendy Martin
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Illustrator | Wendy Martin
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Publisher | Ten Speed Graphic - 2025
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First Printing | Ten Speed Graphic - 2025
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Title | Volume 3
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Author | Wendy Martin
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Illustrator | Wendy Martin
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | ---
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Category | Graphic Novel
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Main Characters | Kappa, Prince Siren
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Main Elements | Mermen
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Website | ---
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 Volume 1
In the gorgeous first installment of the hit Webtoon series Castle Swimmer, two young mermen reject their destinies and embark on an epic adventure full of romance and danger, featuring exclusive bonus material.
From the moment Kappa tumbles into existence on the ocean floor, his life’s purpose is already decided for him: He is the Beacon, a light to all sea creatures, and destined to fulfill their many prophesies. In high demand and under immense pressure, Kappa quickly realizes that fame and glory are small compensation for a life of predetermined self-sacrifice.
Unable to resist the call of destiny due to a magical yellow cord that appears from his chest and pulls him inexorably to any sea creatures he swims by, Kappa ultimately finds himself drawn to the Shark kingdom, where he is immediately imprisoned. The Sharks’ prophecy states that the curse maiming their people will only be lifted once their prince, Siren, kills the Beacon. But when Prince Siren decides to defy fate and help Kappa escape, Kappa realizes that there might be more to life than fulfilling endless prophesies, leading to a raucous adventure as big and unpredictable as the ocean itself—and a romance that nobody could have predicted.
Episodes 1-19 of Webtoon's Castle Swimmer Season 1 is collected in this stunning graphic novel, which also includes a never-before-seen bonus chapter featuring Kappa and Siren.
Volume 2
Two mermen reject their destinies and embark on a raucous adventure as big and unpredictable as the ocean itself—and a romance that nobody could have predicted—in the stunning second installment of the hit Webtoon series Castle Swimmer.
The sharks want Kappa dead, and time is running out for Prince Siren to save him. Queen Susca knows Siren doesn’t have the courage to kill Kappa, and for the sake of the kingdom, she’s willing to do the deed herself. As tensions run high, neighboring queens pay the sharks a visit to offer an alliance, and while they might just be the means of escape the two mermen have been looking for, it’s unclear if they can be trusted.
Siren will do anything to get Kappa to safety—even if it means never seeing him again, and even if all Kappa wants is to stay by his side. Yet escaping the queen’s spear will take all of Siren and Kappa’s courage and cunning, and there’s no guarantee they’ll both make it out alive.
This beautiful graphic novel collects episodes 20-41 of Webtoon’s Castle Swimmer and includes a never-before-seen bonus chapter featuring Kappa and Siren.
This series is pretty cute, just as I thought it would be which I why I wanted to read it. A cozy fantasy...even though Kappa is in a dungeon and Siren is supposed to kill him, you know that won't happen, that they will find some loophole. There's humour and action and some very kindhearted pretty merboys. But also some serious stuff, like living up to other people's expectations. Siren's people don't mind that he likes boys, but they will mind very much if he doesn't kill the Beacon and break a curse on their people.
The artwork is lovely too, Kappa's shining scales in particular. And I loved the creative choices for the merpeople, Kappa is pretty standard mer, and a shark is an easy next pick, but a jellyfish? What about a lobster relative? Very adorable.
In the second book there's finally a chance to get to know the secondary characters a lot more, even the ridiculous ones like Queen Nee who I kind of disliked in the first book but really grew on me in the second. Haha, and Siren gets naked! Ok, they are all kinda naked with just some adornments, Kappa doesn't even have that (his scales are shiny enough he doesn't need jewelry!) but technically Siren does take everything off for a few squares.
The story moves pretty slowly, which is totally fine since that means there will be more of it, but since the second book was only just published I now have to wait for the rest. Or maybe look it up on Webtoons. I'm curious to do so anyway since the artist talks about how the two formats are very different so the panels had to be adjusted, sometimes significantly, to be put into book form. After all they were designed originally to scroll on a phone. Would be interesting to see the original artwork and layout.
I can't wait for more.
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