Comic books are no strangers to zombie apocalypses, with many series like Marvel Zombies and The Walking Dead demonstrating the continuing appeal of them. For a first attempt at a comic book story it makes sense for a writer to use this genre and tread over familiar ground; safe in the knowledge that readers will slip easily into the pages.
Carlos Yacolca chooses to do exactly that in Before We Sail but creates anything but a safe read, showcasing a maturity that belies this being his debut story. Working with artist Michelle Lino, Yacolca has written a deeply human story, that is relatable to such a point that it starts to become unsettling.
‘The genre of the story is a classic one. As it’s my first shot, I wanted to start with some simple clay to see how I could it to express my ideas with.’
Carlos Yacolca
The story follows Jonathan and Kath who are navigating not only the collapse of society, but their relationship and their future. Set in Yacolca’s and Lino’s home country of Peru, Kath and Jonathan are beset by dangers from the hordes of zombies, as well as other survivors. Perhaps their salvation may lie away from Lima and out at sea?
What is interesting is how the zombies become almost set dressing; used as a framework to tell Yacolca’s story. There are hints in Chapter 2 of how this might be a story with a social commentary on the politics and history of Peru, however it soon becomes apparent that Before We Sail has a focus on mental health. If everything is taken away from you, how would you cope? Would you see a future for yourself? How would you motivate yourself to continue?
Throughout the seven chapters, scraps of journals accompany the story. In other media, such things would be used as a device to flesh out the world, but here Yacola uses them to show how the protagonists are feeling. In conversations with others, a character might appear one way, but the journals reveal more than is at the surface.
This is a comic that likely would have been quite different if it had been written before the pandemic. Despite the moments of action, loneliness and depression are two of the themes that are prominent in this story; emotions that were on the rise during the pandemic. Thankfully, Yacolca manages to add a message of hope at the end, but we will not spoil that here.
This is a surprisingly mature and confident comic from Yacolca. No doubt Yacolca benefitted from editing from Alberto Rayo, who has been published by Heavy Metal Magazine and Ascend Comics, but his identity still shines through. Again, experience from Michelle Lino and letterer Diego Relevo was surely invaluable, but this should not take away anything from what is a very strong opener in what is hopefully a long and successful career.
Before We Sail is availble to purchase from Aces Weekly. Aces Weekly is a digital art magazine of serials and short stories, founded by David Lloyd and Bambos Georgiou. Before We Sail can be found in Aces Weekly 75, alongside 6 other stories from around the globe, and can be purchased here (I do not earn a commission for this link).
Follow the creative team behind Before We Sail on socials:
- Carlos Yacolca – Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook
- Michelle Lino – Instagram
- Diego Relevo (El Hollen) – Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook
- Alberto Rayo – Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook
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