Review by C.J. Bunce

Writer-artist Wendy Martin creates a sequel equal to the original in her second volume of Castle Swimmer, collecting Episodes 20-41 of the Webtoon comic into graphic novel/storybook form, available now here at Amazon.  Readers will be reunited with Merman Kappa, left in jail and awaiting his dire fate–to die at the hands of the Sharks to fulfill a prophecy that proclaimed him as an undersea Chosen One or Golden Child.  But Prince Siren stands in the way as he grows closer to Kappa, known to all creatures as “The Beacon.”

But all is not as it has been foretold.

The story picks up with the arrival of two Queens, bringing gifts and eager to get a tour of the castle.  But what are they really up to?  Siren will do anything to ignore the wishes of his mother and help Kappa escape.

But it’s difficult to be the only voice of reason when everyone around you is blindly following the rest of the herd, or in this case, the school.

Usually a second installment of a story will introduce new themes.  This doesn’t do that–the themes of sacrifice, empathy, and speaking out are still the cornerstone of this tale.  It is even more of Martin combining the Ancient Greek myth of sacrifice found in Iphigenia at Aulis with the common man leader of Shakespeare’s Henry V.  What should you do, and what would you do, when those you trust tell you you must do something that you believe is against everything you stand for?

But this part of the story adds more humor and drama.  The humor is from the school of The Princess Bride.  Zany characters with a heart help the hero(es) forge ahead.  But the concern each hero has for the other is also more poignant.

This attractive hardcover storybook adds another 300 pages of colorful fantasy storytelling.  Its audience could be young readers and adults alike.  Martin includes commentary at the end about her inspiration for characters, along with a bonus mini-chapter, and insight into layout artist Jem Milton’s adaptation of the Webtoon to book format.

This is a continuation of a great fantasy world you won’t want to miss.  Just out for summer reading from Ten Speed Graphic, order Castle Swimmer, the second volume, here at Amazon.  Pick up the first volume, reviewed here at borg, available here.