Lumberjanes co-author Kat Leyh maroons three mermaids on land with messy, hilarious results in her graphic novel Thirsty Mermaids.
Eez, Tooth and Pearl just want to drink some human liquor they found in a sunken ship, but that proves difficult under the sea, so they decide on a whim to let Eez turn them all into humans temporarily. After stumbling around like a day-drunk Little Mermaid, they steal some clothes and a credit card and achieve their goal at an aptly named bar--the Thirsty Mermaid.
The next morning brings a whole new meaning to dehydration as the friends discover the horrors of hangovers and realize that Eez doesn't know how to turn them back into mermaids. Luckily, they're rescued by their bartender from the previous night, Vivi. Though baffled by their inability to act like normal humans, she takes them in. It's not until her sister reminds Vivi of her tendency to let people walk all over her that Vivi tells the three mermaids they need to earn their keep, a mandate that sets off a new series of misadventures.
The graphic novel is broken roughly into five parts, with headings like "The Hangover" and "Y'all Need Jobs," but it's one smooth narrative, even if the characters wreak near-constant havoc. Early on, they decide that Tooth and Pearl will look for jobs while Eez spends her time trying to find the right magic. Buff Tooth is always ready for a brawl, and Pearl just wants to have fun, but sea-witch Eez becomes increasingly despondent the longer she's kept from the sea.
Leyh balances fart jokes with satire about human constructs like money and modesty. Not completely separate from the world of humans--they've got human trash and magazines--Pearl, Tooth and Eez are nevertheless naïve and find human life to be unnecessarily complicated. Take Pearl's advice at the beginning of the story, for example:
"Now, once we get on land, just remember--if anyone gets suspicious or says anything, say--I AM NOT FROM AROUND HERE--And they'll leave you alone."
Thirsty Mermaids is full of profanity, bawdy jokes and commentary on capitalism, but it's also a very queer story about the power of acceptance and finding family, however that may happen. A diverse LGBTQ+ cast, a distinctive art style and a bighearted message make this book a standout. --Suzanne Krohn, editor, Love in Panels
Shelf Talker: Kat Leyh's hilarious graphic novel Thirsty Mermaids follows three mermaids stuck on land after their quest for booze goes awry.