Across the Widest Sea is a young adult graphic novel that portrays the transition from adolescence to adulthood metaphorically as a journey across an unpredictable sea in search of land. Leonie is forced into the stormy sea alone by her parents in a decrepit boat. To survive, she has to find a safe place to land. On her journey she rescues Balthazar, a boy with a worse boat than hers. They meet Agatha, a scavenger of the seas, and the trio embarks on a search for solid ground. They face storms, sharks, competing adventurers, ferocious raiders, and the corrupt rich, seemingly in an endless party.
Across the Widest Sea is written and illustrated by Belgian comic artist and writer Jean Cremers. Originally published in French, it’s translated into English by Joe Johnston and published by Maverick. The book explores several themes that concern young people as they transition to an adult world.
One of the major themes that the book addresses is companionship between strangers. When everyone around the protagonist is competing with her using their advantages, she finds people with whom she can forge relationships and work toward a common goal. All three of the main characters are flawed in their own ways, but together they manage to survive.
The plot presents a world reminiscent of the movie Waterworld, where strangers compete with one another and indulge in destructive activities. It’s a world of moral compromise and ambiguity. But Leonie and her team move on with hope and perseverance towards their end goal despite several elements working against them.
The book is well suited for its target readership—young adults. The plot doesn’t provide any clear exposition about the world it’s set in, and the reader has to figure everything out with the protagonist. This element of discovery makes it intriguing. Even though the plot is metaphorical, it’s uncomplicated enough for young readers to grasp what the book tries to tell them. To readers who are more experienced, the metaphor may seem a bit too obvious.
The art, by Cremers himself, closely complements the writing. It is vivid and expressive enough to hold the imagination of young readers. It becomes dynamic when the plot gathers speed and maintains a meditative quality otherwise. The changing moods of the seascape are depicted breathtakingly in several frames throughout the book, making it an integral character of the story.
The colour palette is bright and eye-catching. Multiple shades of blue, reflecting the sea and sky, adorn the background of most of the frames. It enhances the atmosphere and provides a feeling of vastness and serenity. The lettering by Taylor Esposito is clear, balanced, and supports the tone of the novel. It never competes with the art but rather goes along with its painterly nature.
Across the Widest Sea is primarily an adventure story for young adult readers that takes them on a metaphorical journey through the challenges ahead of them while trying to find their place in the world. Older readers who may find the plot too obvious are likely to find much to appreciate in the art and the atmosphere Cremers creates with it.
Jean Cremers (W/A), Taylor Esposito (L), Joe Johnston (T) • Mad Cave Studios/Maverick, $19.99
Review by Harish. P. I
