In 7 chapters, writer Carlos Yacolca delivers a poignant story of revenge and purpose, set inside a zombie-infested world stripped of sanity.
Set in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-ridden world, Before We Sail follows duo Jonathan and Kath as they flee Lima and head for the sea. Blending survival with a sprinkle of piracy, it explores themes of depression, purpose, and the search for meaning in a world ripped apart and torn of order. This review is spoiler-free.
Before We Sail is a triumphant debut in comics for Carlos Yacolca. He had a pretty stellar team working alongside him, too. The gorgeous, cinematic artwork is from Michelle Lino, with a variety of unique lettering by Diego Revelo and design from David Escobedo. Also involved as editors were comics legend David Lloyd (V for Vendetta) and Alberto Rayo.
The comic, coming in at just over 40 pages, tells a complete story across 7 chapters. While it achieves this, it packs a ton of content into its panels and pages, which feels convoluted at times. It could’ve benefited from being longer. Even so, it manages to tell a narrative that’s incredibly heartfelt, from the perspectives of its two main characters: Jonathan and Kath.
Page layouts, too, are cinematic and diverse. Action scenes are fast-paced, while there’s entire sections dedicated to diary entries; the latter, I found particularly poignant and personal.
I particularly loved the internal monologues, rife throughout the comic. In a number of diary entries, predominantly from Jonathan, we explore his mental state and psyche. It’s a deep exploration of mindset in a destroyed world — there’s a mix of dread and, occasionally, profound wisdom.
The story itself ticks all the boxes of what’s needed from a zombie story. It’s emotional, brutal, and has plenty of genre hallmarks: oppressive communities, power struggles, and cannibalism. But what sets it apart from the saturated crowd of zombie tales is the focus on sentiment and feeling; a style that perfectly encapsulates why the comics medium is ideal for stories like this.
Great Review! Thank you! 🤘