Haven’t we all wished we could take a glimpse of what life is like under the sea? Pepe Reyes’ ShortBox Comics Fair debut Aquatic Lives is an intricate imagining of what surviving underwater might look like for our fishy friends. In three short stories, Reyes takes the reader on an aquatic journey through the lives of various sea creatures; the plankton, a starfish and an arowana (dragonfish). Their musings on life, hope, pain and trials will resonate with you more than you might think.
The cover alone is a work of art, and hints at the intricacies the reader will discover within – Reyes has outdone himself in the amount of detail on show. Showcasing an elaborate mosaic-style border with gorgeous bright colours, Reyes effortlessly paints waves crashing, fish swimming and seaweed wiggling in such a surreal manner that it almost appears to be moving. Reyes has that unique, stand-out kind of art style that makes you stop, pore over the images, and inwardly gasp at its beauty.
The stunning artwork continues inside, as we begin to learn more about sea creatures. The beginning of each of the three chapters gave a short description about the aquatic creature, accompanied by a beautiful illustration. For those interested in biology, Aquatic Lives is not only a visual pleasure, but an excellent teaching resource. Reyes smoothly take the reader through the life cycle of each creature, but also exhibits their anatomy, diet and temperament in scintillating detail.
Something about Aquatic Lives that took me by surprise was how profoundly sad it could be, as well as having humorous and hopeful moments. The plankton planula we first meet describes the coral life cycle as hell, shouting into the void how unfair it is that he will become “a colony of mouths… wanting to scream but without a voice”. Why do all the other sea creatures get to grow up and swim freely, yet he is left without a choice? Dark though it may be, it is through these musings that Reyes showcases his versatile storytelling ability; nothing in this life is completely fair. We can only do what we can with the resources we have given to us. Whilst a small plankton may be limited in its freedom to explore, it also gets to witness all kinds of amazing things by being a pillar of the ocean floor and working towards the greater purpose of allowing the ocean to thrive.
Each story is illustrated in a slightly different style; the plankton’s is wispy, intricate and detailed, whilst the starfish’s story is more of a comic, paper-cut-out style. The Arowana’s narrative is completely wordless and focuses on the traditionally painted beauty of the pages. The full-page spreads of the illuminated ocean are particularly fascinating. A rainbow of tropical fish, jellyfish, stingrays and more create a cacophony of colour, shades and depths.
Each of the three short stories in Aquatic Lives has this message; of there being pain, and trials, and a barrage of bad things that can happen. But at the end of it all, there is still hope, and this is the feeling that this short comic will leave you with. This is Reyes’s longest work to date, and his first time exhibiting at the ShortBox comics fair, so show him some love by picking up a copy of Aquatic Lives, available now!
Pepe Reyes (W/A) • ShortBox Comics Fair, £12.00
Review by Lydia Turner
