Ned Wenlock: Tsunami

"Tsunami" is a new graphic novel by Ned Wenlock. And here is my review.

Tsunami

Ned Wenlock

Earth’s End Publishing

Tsunami is the first full-length graphic novel from the wonderful Earth’s End Publishing since 2019. That was the amazing Rufus Marigold (which I adored – and I wasn’t alone) and though there’s really nothing to link Tsunami to Rufus (beyond publisher) I feel like this is a book that will also be taken to heart, adored, handed around, mentioned a lot over the next year.

It's a tough read. An important book. It is both brutal and beautiful. An examination of bullying, a bullseye description of the New Zealand that never quite makes it to the brochure, but is far more indicative of the country we are than any of the marketing would ever allow to slip out.

Ned Wenlock’s pared back style works terrifically here – I particularly love the way the drawings replicate (without full mimic) the vibe of Roblox-styled avatars; always running. LEGO is another callback I guess. But it’s the perfect visual metaphor. Troubled, bullied teens, are always running, even as they stand there ground. Where are they running to? Where can they go? Sometimes none of us know. Sadly. Not least the child impacted.

There is humour and heart in both the words and illustrations here. There is huge presence in the world – even as it’s presented as a deceptively simple space. This is the grey walls of high school. This is the inner cage of adolescence. This is the heartbreaking, mind-numbing beige-ness of it all. The world is tough. And not always fun. And yet there can be some humour within the pathos.

I felt a lot of things when reading this. But mostly I recognised the feelings. I felt it very deeply. I saw my pre-teen son, as well as myself, and people I knew, people I’m glad I no longer know, and of course people I wish I still knew.

The deep, dark, strange and brutal feelings of your teen years hang there forever. It’s amazing how books like this can be a portal.

I feel like Tsunami – so many metaphors, its title, its artwork style – is going to live on for many years as a type of alternative textbook. Parents: buy this book for your kids. Read it after them. Don’t even discuss it with them. Let them read it. And you read it too. Let it live in the house. You can nod to each other like members of Fight Club down the hallway on your way to work and school.