The Mercenary Sea, Vol. 1: Top Hat, White Lies, and Tales

The Mercenary Sea (TPBs) #1

by Kel Symons, Mathew Reynolds (Illustrations), Pat Brosseau (Lettering and Design)

Action and adventure set in 1938! The South Seas. Japan has invaded China. War in Europe is imminent. Ex-bootlegger Jack Harper captains the Venture, a refitted German U-Boat, with a crew of expats, mercenaries, and treasure hunters. They do whatever it takes to stay afloat, often running up against pirates, headhunters, and spies. Jack is always one step away from the greatest score of their lives: finding the legendary lost island of Koji Ra. This trade paperback collects issues #1-6 of the critically acclaimed series, as Jack and the crew of the submarine Venture take a job offered by a shady American operative: rescue a British agent trapped behind enemy lines who has valuable information about the Japanese war effort.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Action, Graphic Novels Comics

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2014

Reviews

[Jan Philipzig · Rating 2 out of 5]

World War II, the South Seas, mercenaries, expats, a submarine, secret agents, soldiers, pirates, cutthroats, treasure... Old-school pulpy adventure, nothing you haven't seen before but competently executed by everyone involved.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I’m reviewing a book I’m usually thinking of different scenes, visuals and dialogue that stood out for me; when I think about The Mercenary Sea I just want to take a nap!

This is one of the most boring comics Image have ever released, certainly in the last few years. Set in the late 1930s, our Han Solo-wannabe main character, Captain Jack (does every nautical character have to be named Captain Jack!?), is floating around the Pacific in his sub with his crew. They’re looking for treasure or something cliched and, this being the lead up to WW2, they get involved in the Chinese/Japanese… zzz...

Jack is a total flatliner as a main character. He doesn’t sleep with his crew and he likes King Kong, and that’s about it for his personality. He’s action man most of the time, as is his crew who’re all otherwise completely empty shells. The book is packed with gunfights, night raids, ship and sub fights, but because everything about the comic has been seen before and is trotted out with no imagination or variation, it’s utterly boring to… zzz...

Then one of the characters mentioned there was a British spy that needed rescuing or something and I went into a coma. The villain has a moustache and a Van Dyke and… zzz…

The art makes all the characters look the same. I honestly thought Jack got knifed in the throat in one panel but it turned out to be a Japanese guard and Jack was elsewhere in the scene - terrible character designs! The colours are very bright though so there’s that to keep you… zzz…

Maybe if you’re 10 and into generic boy’s own adventure type crap (think Hardy Boys-bland), you’ll like… zzz…

If you pick up The Mercenary Sea, crack the spine, throw the book away and settle in for a snooze because doing that or reading this straight through comes to the same… zzz....

… zzzthat cheesecake’s mine, Sean Connery… zzz...

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! It's an action adventure book set in Southeast Asia in the 1930's. It has a very strong Johnny Quest / Indiana Jones vibe. The story follows a group of scalliwags who commandeered a German U-Boat from the Chinese and now make their living however they can on the high seas.

Matthew Reynolds art was fantastic. It has a lot of animation influences with this unique use of silhouettes I've not seen in comics before.

[Caz (littlebookowl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Mercenary Sea Vol. 1 is a promising start to what I hope turns out to be a really thrilling and exciting series. While overall I enjoyed this first volume, I feel like it has the potential to be so much more.

I didn’t quite find myself wholly invested in the story and the characters. Some of the scenes seem a bit rushed, and I would have liked to spend more time getting to know the characters. This does of course need to happen over time especially as we see each character develop and grow, but I didn’t find myself connecting with any of them until the last few pages of the volume. I would have liked to learn more earlier on as I often found myself forgetting who was who and whether they were allies or enemies.

That being said, I did enjoy the amount of action that came along with being thrust right into the story without the setup slowing down the pace. I loved how the combat scenes were executed - they were quite gripping in how fast paced they were, but also visually they were stunning and explosive.

Continuing on with the visual aspects of The Mercenary Sea, I absolutely adored the illustration style. In the absence of outlines, bold and contrasting colours created detail. The panels I found the most stunning were those with silhouettes - different shades were used in order to portray depth of field, but often these muted palettes were contrasted against a gradient of vibrant colours in the background. I couldn’t help but stop and admire them.

I’m really excited to see more of the story and the characters. It has such an intriguing premise, and with the dynamic between some of the characters, I’m sure there will be some amusing, awkward and/or hilarious scenes to come.

[Koen Claeys · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this first volume is shit (and has nothing to do with what happens in the book). Now for the positive : this is a great, old fashioned adventure story. Kel Symons imagination has given us a lovable crew of mercenaries. It's like Firefly but set around W.W. II and the space ship has been replaced by a submarine. Reynolds' artwork looks too artificial at first glance, like stills from an animation movie, but he delivers his own unique style onto the pages, his use of silhouettes is unseen in comic books. I'm looking forward to the next volume.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read. Story follows a ragtag crew of mercenaries onboard a stolen Japanese submarine, as they make their way around the South Seas, looking for treasure and taking on a variety of jobs to keep themselves in diesel fuel and supplies. The artwork is very interesting--lots of shadows and layered compositions. The characters look like they stepped out of Jonny Quest or something. In fact, much of the time, reading this book is like looking at animation stills. This is one of the few collections I've read that probably looks better on an iPad than it did in its original form. The colors are bright and really pop. I also enjoyed the story a lot, too. Set in 1938, before World War II really got going, in an environment where Japan and China are skirmishing, this is just the right mix of Indiana Jones-type adventure and war story. The primary arc follows the crew as they agree to pick-up a spy with vital intelligence about the Japanese war machine, from an area near the Hong Kong shore. There are also hints at a larger, ongoing treasure hunt, for a group of French treasure ships that went off course, before supposedly finding a "lost" island and never being heard from again. I'd actually like to know more about this aspect of the story and hopefully this will developed in future volumes. Highly recommended, this is a nice change from superheroes and space battles.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Mercenary Sea Volume 1' is the kind of pulp adventure tale that reeks of old movies, Jonny Quest, Indiana Jones and even Allan Quartermain. The stylized art makes in cinematic and seems like it could be a grown up cartoon series.

Captain Jack Harper and his ragtag crew run a modified U-Boat in the South Pacific in the 1930s. They pick up jobs along the way to survive and even befriend a group of cannibals who look forward to Jack bringing movies like 'Duck Soup' and popcorn for them to watch. Jack is also in search of a mythical treasure. When the crew falls on hard times, they take on a job involving British spies embedded in the growing conflict with Japan. Things take a tricky turn when Jack's old enemies surface and want to eliminate him.

The crew is interesting and capable. They make do with what they've got, which isn't much. I loved a bartering scene early in the book when the crew is in port. The details of the book feel spot on, and I really enjoyed it. Kel Symons writes a great story and Mathew Reynolds art has a cinematic quality that makes the movie spool in your mind like an old serial. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more adventures with Captain Jack and crew.

I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this adventurous graphic novel.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent adventure tale of a submarine boat captained by a mercenary in the South China sea in the days leading up to WW2. There's a hint of fantasy, as the ship's captain tells tales of a hidden city full of fantastic animals and treasure galore. Along the way, though, he gets hired to rescue a British secret agent who has key plans of Japanese military readiness. The crew also has to figure out how to avoid the Japanese Imperial Navy. The ending was a bit predictable, unfortunately, and the writing is at times a bit opaque, but overall it's serviceable.

The art by Matthew Reynolds is outstanding. He's also the colorist, and each panel is very nice to look at. Some of the characters look alike, though, especially in scenes taking place in shadow or nighttime. Reynolds uses some pretty terrific effects to focus in and out on various scenes, which is a nice touch. A lot of reviewers are comparing this to Jonny Quest, which is cool because Reynolds sneaks in a cameo of Race Bannon and Dr Quest in one panel.

I'll be checking out the next volume.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a good old fashioned pulp story in a graphic novel. Set in 1938, this deals with the political tensions in the lead up to WW 2. Don't expect everything to be accurate, it is story itself rather then the details that are going to pull you in. I enjoyed this yarn for what it was.

[Des Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mercenary Sea is an all grown up Hanna-Barbera action cartoon, just as much fun to read as it is to look at. The design heavy art sets a unique tone, perfectly up to the challenge of instilling readers with the comic sense of Saturday morning, all while brewing up espionage plots, and bombarding once sea-worthy vessels with torpedoes. A treasure hunting crew of likable multinational mercs parade around 1930s international waters, in search of work and sunken loot. The first tale is one of British intelligence stranded in Japan occupied China, in anticipation of WWII. What follows is a blast of easy to follow fun, and story-beats highlighted by delicately crafted backdrops and expressive characters.

Nothing else on the market quite looks or reads like The Mercenary Sea does, and anyone with childhood full of Johnny Quest episodes or a bookshelf full of Ian Fleming novels needs to check it out.

[Cynthia Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure if i was a fan of the art in here at first. It has a sort of digital diorama look to it with layouts that are monotone throughout. But after reading it, I can see how to art really lends itself to the story.
I received this trade from Comic Bento. This is something that i would never pick out for myself because I am not really a historical fiction or war book buff. But I found myself intrigued with the story and characters quickly after starting. I could even see myself wanting to pick up the next trade at some point.
My only gripe is that some of the white male characters looked very similar (especially up close) and it was difficult to tell them apart sometimes. Also, in the bonus materials in the back of the book the author had a "deleted scene" with the dog Friday in it. He mentioned that many of the edits and cuts they made to the comic were scenes with her. I think that was a mistake. I would have loved to see more Friday throughout the book.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you dig pre-WWII adventure stories in the vein of Indiana Jones, you might enjoy this. Espionage, high seas adventure, an international crew of competent rogues... it's just fun.

I am uncertain about the portrayal of the natives. They did not seem insulting to me, but I'd have to hear what someone more knowledgeable would say.

Personally, I loved the art. It felt like stills taken from an animated movie. Soft focus at times really added clarity to certain moments. And I loved the lack of outlines.

But again, I understand that this is not everyone's shot of bourbon. If you can imagine Malcolm Reynolds of the long lamented show Firefly in command of a submarine in 1938, you might get the flavor of this story. And if that appeals to you, then maybe this book is up your alley.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe closer to three and a half stars, the book covers the first six issues of a series about a sub captain/pirate in the south seas in 1938. His sub was stolen from the Chinese navy, so he has enemies there, and there's a Japanese naval officer also out to get him, and World War II looms large. A breezy action story, something like a more mature Hanna-Barbara action cartoon (Dr. Quest and Race Bannon appear in the background of one panel), it's fun and enjoyable, though I don't know that I would need or want to read any more of it.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun tale of pulp adventure in the Pacific. We have a ragtag crew in board a pirate submarine, tangling with the Imperial Japanese navy, with all kinds of intrigue mixed in. The problem is Matthew Reynolds’ art, which stunned folks when he did a series of silhouette-driven pieces depicting Indiana Jones. Here, his diorama-style of illustration works about 10% of the time. It’s great for set pieces, but not for illustrating a graphic novel, and the result is The Mercenary Sea, despite the great energy it possesses, often feels like a clip art comic.

[Phil Bova · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first volume was terrific! Sadly, after reading I found it the book was cancelled. Which is sad really, considering the story line ended pretty much without telling the whole arc. Man, that sucks.

[Vladimír · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zábavná, akčno-dobrodružná záležitosť zo zaujímavou "priestorovou" kresbou. Logika škrípe, ale akcia baví. Čiže ako jednohubka funguje skvele, ale nič viac od toho netreba čakať. Motív akéhosí mýtického ostrova, ktorý sa rozvýja v pozadí je skôr otravný, ako obohacujúci.

[Brannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. The writing was fun and clever and the art had it’s very own style. It had a very modern pulp vibe to it. I just wish the creators could have stuck with it. The first volume is a self contained story so I would recommend it.

[Sam Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read these issues when they first came out & this is my first time reading them since. I remember loving the series, & going through it again I still love the art, but not a lot happens within it & the writing is ok. I really like the idea s& wish they got a chance to tell the whole story

[Russio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tremendous art, with lovely depth of field signalled by shifts in colour tone, and superb framing. The plot zips along but the attitudes of the characters - and by extension writer - are distinctly historical.

[Jack Stubblefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope that the creators find the time to go back to this series and give us more adventures. Good Stuff, Maynard!

[Phoenix Scholz-Krishna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit much shooting and violence for my taste, but I liked the islanders' movie show, and also being reminded that seriously all of Space Opera (one of my favourite genres to read) is really just boats in space. :)

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Mercenary Sea Volume 1 collects the first 6 issues of this pre-world war II action/adventure story recounting a time when men were men and dames were dangerous. Clean, animation cell type artwork combined with a straightforward, sweetly old fashioned story make for an engaging mix - especially at a time when pulp era comics/novels are making a resurgence in the comic industry. Those who enjoyed Indiana Jones will find this a warm diversion.

Story: Jack Harper is seeking a legendary treasure in the South China Sea. But he is doing so in 1938 - a time before the world was mapped out and when Japan had begun imperialistic conquests in China. He'll do what it takes to keep his refitted WW1 U-boat running - until he can chase down the clues that lead to his treasure. Even if it means becoming embroiled in British spy efforts and cannibalistic jungle tribes.

At first, I was a bit surprised at the artwork - it felt very 'digital' and modern for such a grand old fashioned story. But I soon recognized that it felt more like parts of an animated show - brilliant colors with simple but interesting backgrounds. In effect, a straightforward style for a straightforward action/adventure yarn. As I delved further into the volume, I began to fall in love with the lush color schemes and square jawed heroes. There was even something beautiful about the simple lines of the women. If I had one quibble, it's that the Japanese and Chinese looked Caucasian rather than Asian (the main Japanese antagonist sporting a full modern goatee was rather off putting, to be honest).

The story bounces around a bit between issues - starting with tribes in lush tropical jungles and moving to besieged Chinese villages and war ships of the Japanese navy. Oddly enough, it all works, creating a story that moves and is interesting. Those that like old fashioned macho heroes and femme fatales will appreciate the stereotypes and cliches. For others preferring more realistic stories, then a tale about a treasure hunter with a U-boat in 1938 is probably not the best place to start looking for cinema verite.

The Mercenary Sea did feel very cinematic to me - I was almost wishing I was watching it as a movie. But I will eagerly await the next volume to see how Jack Harper's adventure continues. Reviewed from an ARC.

[Riley A · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Mercenary Sea is a strong contender for the title of worst comic that I have ever read. The story is incredibly bland, the characters are flatter than paper (both in appearance and personality), the plot is a mix of overused elements, and the art is pure shit.
When I saw the book’s cover I thought, “Well the cover art looks like crap but I bet they had a different art style for the actual comic.” Holy fuck was I wrong. Upon opening the book I was met with a poorly structured page with terrible artwork and an excessive amount of boring dialogue (I’m not saying that dialogue is boring but when there’s that much on a page and not a single word of it is intriguing…). I immediately wanted to throw the book out. But I pushed through hoping that it would get better. Nope. That shit just got shittier as I went on and never once did I think, “Hey, that’s an interesting panel/page.” The art is flat and awkward to look at because almost everything appears as if it is composed entirely of straight lines. On top of that there’s poor use of shading and horribly stark colors that somehow seem to clash against one another on the page.
I honestly cannot recommend it enough that you stay the hell away from The Mercenary Sea. Y’know unless you just feel the incredible need to waste your time and money. But in all seriousness if you’re considering buying this, do yourself a favor and buy an actual well-written, well-drawn comic instead.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't, whatever you do, judge this book by the cover, which seems to promise adventures on the high cheese and nothing else. Inside the artwork is still far too modern for the subject matter, yet actually managed to work for me – lots of digital colouring, bold outlines and silhouettes and backgrounds thrown out of focus to emphasise the action. If some of the gunfights could have been a bit clearer (a fault perhaps of basic character design and other factors) the look would count as excellent. And as for those gunfights, there are a lot of them – never does this book go from the frying pan into the fire and be done with it. No, there are no end of handicaps for our heroes to overcome as they try and earn a living as bandits with a stolen submarine, in the seas off China in the days building up to WWII. Again the script isn't great – inviting us to meet new characters off the boat at random and not with any clarity, but it's getting there, and the plot is a meaty self-contained episode that bodes very well for a great deal more in the future, working both back and forwards from this story. I'd never baulk at being onboard for that.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure what this says about this first volume, but the majority of this rating comes from artwork, but the drawing style is so gorgeous that I couldn’t help it. Don’t get me wrong, the story is fun, too. Like Mal Reynolds from Firefly or Indiana Jones mixed with James Bond as the captain of this ragtag group of military or smuggling misfits pick up odd jobs, act like criminals, but deep down have a heart of gold and always do the right thing. It’s basically Firefly in the South Pacific. It’s a fun, rollicking adventure, but don’t expect any substance.
The art, though. Oh my God, it’s so pretty. It’s drawn in the style of Archer (and it does share some similarities with Archer, but really only in the sense of gun fights and a reckless protagonist who’s good with a gun), but without the thick black outlines. The colors, the style, the backgrounds… the aesthetic is just so pretty. Form over function in this case, and not that it’s a bad thing, I just don’t think this graphic novel/comic series will stand the test of time.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating historical fiction story about good-hearted? mercenaries just prior to the beginning of WWII. The narrative is somewhat sparse, relying on witty banter and wry observations.

The illustrations are the primary medium for conveying the exciting and dangerous plot that will really appeal to fans of action/adventure and espionage stories. I love that the story has a fictional basis, but it is set amidst a very historical setting.

This first volume of The Mercenary Sea Trade Paperbacks contains the first six issues of the story, published originally in single comic magazine form.

With this mission complete, the motley crew moves on toward their next exciting and suspenseful adventure. I look forward to reading more.

[Elle Markov · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes place in the high seas during the time of World War II in the mist of all this Capatin Jack Harper and his vessel the Venture. He sails with his crew in search for Koji Ra, a mysterious island, like the King Kong island, cool right. Because no story in the high seas can lack misadventures this crew sees a lot of action.

Jack is a very James Bond like character, has the ladies swooning left and right, but more importantly he has people that want his head on a silver platter. Very important that the hero is wanted dead or dead, brings more action to the story.

This series is great, the crew is likable and the hole mysterious island angle is awesome. If you're looking for a new series to get your hooks on this will be it.

Rating 4 out of 5
Read@Book

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in South Seas in 1938 before World War II had more than China and Japan fighting it out, The Mercenary Sea stars Jack Harper, a bootlegger turned mercenary submarine captain with the crew of The Venture (a stolen World War I German U-Boat) as they seek to make a profit running people and merchandise around the South Seas. Getting involved in a British intelligence agent retrieval turns dangerous and almost deadly. Plenty of ends left dangling for future issues to add to the ongoing story lines. An enjoyable read!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Massively entertaining old-fashioned adventure comic updated for the modern age. Set in 1938 it reads like an old Steve Canyon or Blackhawk comic minus the racism of the era. The twist is the very modern computer aided artwork, which gives it a look similar to that of animated cartoon. This is initially jarring and occasionally gives the book a cold, antiseptic feel, but I enjoyed the story so much I got used to it. A fun alternative to the many superhero and horror comics I've been reading. I will stick with this one.

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Harper and his motley crew reeks positively of Indiana Jones against a King Kong time frame with nasty Japanese types in the invasion of China before WWII , comfort women, spies, submarines etc. Great stuff.