Thirsty Mermaids

by Kat Leyh

How can it be that it has taken me this long to discover Thirsty Mermaids, the graphic novel by Kat Leyh? This bawdy, body positive, inclusive story is my new favorite, and I’ve been reading a lot of mermaid stuff recently so that’s saying a LOT.

When mermaids Pearl, Tooth, and Eez decide to use magic to become human, they only plan to be human for long enough to get some booze. But once Eez turns everyone human, Eezy can’t turn them back again and they rely on Vivi, a human bartender, for help as they sort out legs, clothes, capitalism, and life in a small beachfront town. Their struggles are hilarious and, in Eez’s case, painful. The story allows the characters, especially Eez, a lot of depth (harrrr see what I did there) as we learn more about mermaid culture, why it is so important that these three mermaids and one human stick together, and why life on land is especially hard for Eez.

This book is jubilantly, exuberantly body positive, LGBTQIA+ positive, and just generally wildly joyful in every panel. A variety of hair colors and textures, skin colors, body types, gender identities, sexual orientations, races and ethnicities are represented. The supporting characters are warm and loveable, even (especially) Vivi’s protective sister who is appropriately concerned about three strangers moving into Vivi’s place and not paying rent. These are all people/mers/other who enjoy life and who enjoy and love each other.

The art is bright, bold, and blocky with a lot of sweeping brush and ink strokes that match the mers’ large personalities. Be aware that there is a lot of nudity and a fist fight, although the fight has a very funny ending. There is also a depiction of dysphoria and how other characters support the person experiencing it. While some serious issues are addressed, the characters are mutually supportive and resourceful in meeting them. This book made me happy from head to toe.

– Carrie S

Fresh out of shipwreck wine, three tipsy mermaids decide to magically masquerade as humans and sneak onto land to indulge in much more drinking and a whole lot of fun in the heart of a local seaside tourist trap. But the good times abruptly end the next morning as, through the haze of killer hangovers, the trio realizes they never actually learned how to break the spell, and are now stuck on land for the foreseeable future. Which means everything from: enlisting the aid of their I-know-we-just-met-can-we-crash-with-you bartender friend, struggling to make sense of the world around them, and even trying to get a job with no skill set…all while attempting to somehow return to the sea and making the most of their current situation with tenacity and camaraderie (especially if someone else is buying).

Graphic Novel, LGBTQIA, Science Fiction/Fantasy