The following is an interview with Eisner-nominated artist Ariela Kristantina (Adora and the Distance) regarding the upcoming release of the YA graphic novel, The Girl Who Draws on Whales, through Comixology Originals. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Kristantina about her first foray into both writing and illustrating a graphic novel, what she hopes that readers may take away from the story’s themes, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Girl Who Draws on Whales! What can you share with us about this empowering YA journey?
Ariela Kristantina: It’s about two siblings who left their sea-village and ended up finding a whole world out there —flying warships, sea serpents, merfolk, other kids with whales like theirs. It’s not about “chosen ones.” It’s about trust, siblings, friendship, and stories—how those things can literally save your life.
BD: In balancing the writing and illustrative duties of the project, how would you describe your creative process in bringing the world and characters to life on the page?
AK: Drawing and writing fed each other—sometimes, the outline felt thin until the sketches fleshed it out. I always think visually from the start, because my mindset is always visual: “Is this scene something I want to ‘see’ in a comic book?” Compared to collaborations, I had total freedom—but also total responsibility and no one to blame when I got stuck. Other times, I’d sketch something and the script had to change to match. In the beginning, it started with a simple sketch of a little girl and a whale, then it developed to several different things.
BD: Likewise, your detailing of sea life throughout the story is breathtaking. What can you tell us about any research that may have been involved in the project to encapsulate this aspect of the story?
AK: I binge-watched Blue Planet, read documentaries and articles about whale migration, and revisited Indonesian sea myths and folklore. I wanted to create whales that felt both real and magical — as immortal guardians and as if they could survive a world-changing flood.
Whales are amazing creatures, but are often being hunted to the brink of extinction. In the 20th century, commercial whalers killed about 2.9 million whales, including fin and sperm whales. Despite the global ban, in places like Norway, Iceland, and Japan, whaling still happens. Meanwhile, in Lamalera, Flores, Indonesia, the locals still hunt large marine animals, such as whales, manta rays, and sometimes dolphins to sustain their diet and livelihood for the entire community; however, they do this using basic sailboats while respecting age-old customs, taboos, and traditions. As a result, the Lamalera whale hunts are excluded from the worldwide ban on whaling, due to the traditional techniques used and the fact that hunting these enormous sea animals supports the villagers in sustaining their subsistence economy.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Wangi and Banyu’s story may connect with and impact today’s readers, and what – if any – conversations do you hope that it may inspire?
AK: My first focus as a storyteller is to entertain. I don’t expect my work to spark debates or the audience to immediately jump to deeper conversations; however, there are larger discussions to be had about how our cultures intertwine with the natural world, and how those bonds matter far more than whether that fight sequence was cool or not. If readers are moved to reflect on or discuss the ideas and themes within my story, I will have achieved more than I ever hoped for. Additionally, I want kids to feel confident enough to share their own stories, even if no one listens at first. I hope they find that art and stories are lifelines, just as I did and still do, not just decorations. They have the power to ground, resist, heal, and connect us—especially when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
BD: What has made Comixology Originals the perfect publishing partner for your story?
AK: Honestly? They said yes—and that’s huge. It means the world to me. Beyond that, they have a platform that reaches exactly the kind of readers I want for this story, and they give creators ALL the freedom to tell it the way we envisioned.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
AK: I’m continuing Chain with Scott Snyder, more on that soon. Not a YA story, FYI.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Girl Who Draws on Whales and your other work?
AK: People can reach me on Instagram, Threads, and Cara—all under the handle @arielakris. I’m not very active on X at the moment, though my account is still up. I took nearly a year off from IG to focus on finishing The Girl Who Draws on Whales, but now that the book is out, I’m planning to get back to posting about it.
