THOUGHT BUBBLE MONTH 2025! One of the titles I’m most excited to see debut this year at Thought Bubble is The Corus Wave, published by Avery Hill. It’s a geological treasure-hunting adventure about a lost scientific theory and a very peculiar fossil, packed with riddles, puzzles, and that irresistible sense of mystery that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
At its heart, The Corus Wave follows Lorelei, a master’s student determined to complete her thesis on a rare, star-shaped fossil known as palindenite (which, by the way, is beautifully rendered on the comic’s blue-hued endpapers). But when her research keeps hitting dead ends, she’s pulled into a sprawling scavenger hunt that soon becomes much more than an academic quest… the kind that makes you wonder whether her fossil might just hold the secrets of the universe…
Lorelei’s research leads her deep into the forgotten work of 19th-century polymath Havius Corus and his mysterious theory of “The Corus Wave.” With the help of her housemate Eddie and her cat Raisin, she begins to unpick the fragments of Corus’s lost research through his architecture, maps and riddles. There’s only one issue – it certainly seems like someone went to great lengths to hide it. What they uncover links science, myth, and obsession in ways none of them could have imagined.
One of my favourite things about this comic is the sheer attention to scientific detail. The fossil lore feels so lovingly researched, from descriptions of the textures and colours of different minerals to the scientific theories about how strange formations might have come to be. It’s the kind of worldbuilding that feels grounded, even as the story edges more into the fantastical as it goes along.
Visually, the comic is stunning. Drawn in soft greyscale with minimalist, manga-inspired lines and delicate screentones, it combines precision and calm with a quiet sense of mystery; perfectly matching its themes of lost histories, forgotten voices, and discovery.
The Corus Wave is a beautifully crafted adventure that blends science, history, and mystery into a captivating, page-turning experience. With detailed worldbuilding, clever puzzles, and evocative artwork, this is a perfect read for anyone who loves a thoughtful, thrilling journey into the unknown.
Karenza Sparks (W/A) • Avery Hill Publishing, £12.99
Review by Lydia Turner
Karenza Sparks is at Table D35b in the Redshirt Hall at Thought Bubble. Avery Hill Publishing are at Table C8 in the Comixology Hall.
Thought Bubble 2025 runs from November 1oth-16th with the convention weekend taking place on the 15th-16th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2025 coverage so far in one place here.
Poster by Ng Yin Shian
