When Fanbase Press sent out their last list of comics to review, the title, The Last Mermaid, intrigued me. Was this going to have a Disney or dystopian vibe? Turns out, it’s a bit of both.

In a desolate and parched world, a lone mechanized unit lifts itself out of the sand. A globe filled with water emerges embedded in a metal casing that can transform into a vehicle or a bipedal robot. But what’s inside the globe is what’s interesting: a mermaid. Her only company is an axolotl named Lottie, and they are in a desperate search for water as the toxicity level grows dangerously high. But the big question is: Will her perilous journey lead her to water or death?

With her waifish face and big eyes, the mermaid’s appearance falls on the Disney side of cute as does her adorable sidekick, Lottie. What is less Disney-esque is the world around them. Using the glaring oranges and yellow hues of the sand juxtapositioned against the cool blues of the water inside the mobile globe, we have no doubt this world is a harsh and unforgiving place. There’s little dialogue in this first issue which is a perfect introduction. Given that the artist/writer comes from animation, it’s not surprising that the art has a high-quality animation look to it – almost as if it’s ready to be picked up by Netflix. (Hint, hint.)

As you might have figured out, I like this comic, but I have so many questions besides the usual “how did the world end up like this?” I want to know how the merpeople developed their technology. Did humans know of their existence before the world went dry? And if yes, how were the politics managed between the earthbound and the waterbound? And why is she alone? Or is she simply a scout for her people looking for a safe haven? I can’t wait to find out.

I’ll learn a bit more next month when issue two is released.

Creative Team: Derek Kirk Kim (Writer/Artist)
Publisher: Image Comics
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