The Aquanaut: A Graphic Novel

“We did what we thought was right.”

Paul’s crew members were sullen and distraught as the three of them sat together on the boat, lamenting Michel’s death. The crew pulled Paul out of the boat as it was sinking, believing that Paul had no chance of saving his brother. The result of this is that Paul has spent years feeling guilty and obligated to pursue Michel’s last project.

“Don’t forget about the science fair on Friday. Mrs. Wexler says you’ll have to totally ace the fair to pass the class.”

In this phone call from a friend, Santat initially characterizes Sophia’s character as someone who is easily distracted and not doing well in school. It initially shows that Sophia may have other things preoccupying her mind and energy, like grieving her father’s death and attempting to navigate the world without much adult support. Sophia’s desperation to “ace the fair” and “pass the class” leads her to take drastic measures and bring the aquanaut to school, having them pose as her father.

“Excuse me! Your diving suit looks pretty old, and I need to make sure it’s up to regulation.”

When the aquanaut emerges from the ocean for the first time, a nosy lifeguard insists on inspecting the diving suit to ensure “it’s up to regulation.” The suit is very clearly antique, evidenced by the fact that it “looks pretty old.” The lifeguard is unaware of what exists within the suit, which creates dramatic irony.

“It’s just like it said in Dr. Revoy’s journal. A place to keep all sea creatures safe. It’ll be our safe haven. We’re almost home!”

The animals are unaware of what lies before them and approach Aqualand under the assumption that it will be the place Michel intended it to be. Years have passed, and Aqualand has devolved into a tourist attraction that uses animals for profit. The animals discover this fact quickly, which foreshadows the heroic acts they will carry out to ensure The Right of All Creatures to Live Freely.

“Seventy-five percent of our planet is covered in water. Our oceans are an essential source of life and a delicate part of our ecosystem.”

When the aquanaut enters Aqualand, its language makes claims toward ocean conservation. However, it has a clear focus on profit and amusement. It is not what they expected, and it takes a moment for them to register what they are witnessing. The ocean’s importance is one of the novel’s underlying messages, and statistics and matter-of-fact phrases like oceans being “an essential source of life and a delicate part of our ecosystem” make this clear.

“WE NEED TO CALM HER DOWN! LICK HER FACE!”

The aquanaut is unaware of human customs at first, and their initial encounter with a dog confuses them. Meeting Sophia is an awkward experience because Carlos tries to lick her to let her know he is harmless, but it has the opposite effect. The fact that Sophia remains curious and willing to understand the aquanaut after this initial incident highlights her kind character.

“There’s no money in saving endangered sea life, Dr. Revoy.”

Mr. Lula’s antagonism manifests in constantly pressuring Paul to build more attractions and use more interesting sea animals in his exhibits. Paul was never interested in making huge profits. However, he feels obligated to continue Michel’s project and is stuck working for someone with whom he morally disagrees. This fuels the park’s degradation and Paul’s moral conflict.

“Just forget it. I knew you wouldn’t help. You’re always too busy for me.”

Sophia and Paul have become distant since Paul puts all his time and focus into his work. He wants to honor his brother’s legacy but has lost sight of Sophia, who is still alive and needs his support. Sophia vocalizes her sense of abandonment and frustration through her blunt expression of disappointment. This conflict continues for several months until Paul decides to close Aqualand and spend his time with Sophia instead.

“Orcas are highly intelligent creatures. But when she doesn’t behave, we ignore her until she cooperates!”

With a huge smile on his face, the announcer introduces the orca to the audience. Underneath his smile, however, is an undertone of something sinister, as he suggests that the trainers abuse the orca until she obeys their orders. The audience seems unaware of what this means, but the aquanaut understands completely and can see fear in the orca’s eyes.

“My dad never would have agreed to any of this. It’s Mr. Lula. My uncle does anything he says as long as he pays for his research.”

Sophia tries to explain why Aqualand is so corrupted and calm down the aquanaut, juxtaposing her father’s moral compass with Mr. Lula’s corruption, which her uncle compromisingly accepts. Seeing all the animals held captive and robbed of their freedom sparks a change in Sodapop. He finds The Courage to Face Fears through the need to help other animals escape Aqualand.

“Imagine a place where no water is around you. That’s why it’s called space. It’s filled with all sorts of amazing creatures and plants.”

In a flashback, Sodapop’s father explains the part of Earth called land by referring to it as “space” because it is above the ocean. Sodapop’s father imbues his story with excitement, highlighting “all sorts of amazing creatures and plants.” This is part of what inspires Sodapop to go to land and learn what it is like living there.

“We’re safe here. We’re okay. We’re safe.”

In a moment of irony, Sodapop’s father reassures him that they are protected from the squid, repeating “safe” and using “okay” to denote safety. Moments later, he goes up to the window to check if it is gone, and the squid instantly swipes him away while Sodapop watches. This becomes a defining moment in Sodapop’s life, as he develops a fear of squids and the ocean itself.

“They’ve been more of a family to me than you have lately.”

Sophia learns that Finding Home in Family can come in unconventional forms, like forming a bond with the sea creatures who operate her dad’s old diving suit. Being around them makes her feel like she has a part of her father back, and it connects her to the ocean and her memories. Sophia feels that Paul has been neglecting her, which contrasts with the aquanaut, who acts like family more than her uncle.

“I’m a friend. I’m here to free you.”

Sodapop’s first opportunity to demonstrate courage is when he decides to free the orca along with his fellow animals. Sodapop has a fear of large sea creatures, but he approaches the orca with caution and explains that he is there to help, classifying himself as “a friend.” The phrase “I’m here to free you” further depicts the orca’s trapped state.

“You saved my life, and I am forever grateful.”

The orca expresses her gratitude for being allowed to live freely again. This solidifies Sodapop’s suspicions that he and the others should return to the ocean. While they thought that coming to land would keep them safe, it turned out to be a place where humans exploit animals. Now, they know that it is not where they belong.

“After all these years together, we’re like a family, and like the Revoys say…Family comes first.”

Although the others are often skeptical of Sodapop’s impulsive plans, they always go along with them because the aquanaut is not four individual creatures but a unit operating together and “like a family.” It is from these creatures that Sophia and Paul are reminded of the power of finding home in family and supporting one another.

“You can’t take them! They’re not puppets for you to make money off of!”

When the sea creatures expose who they are to Mr. Lula, he is instantly intrigued and knows he can make a fortune off them as a future attraction at Aqualand. Paul panics, knowing that Mr. Lula will exploit them and won’t care for them properly. He employs metaphor, comparing the animals at Aqualand to puppets because they are manipulated and controlled like objects of profit rather than seen as living, feeling beings.

“It’s unsettling to see this suit walking around. It was all we could afford at the time. It’s like I’m talking to a ghost.”

The aquanaut’s helmet reflects the world and the people around them, forcing them to look inward and reflect on themselves. When Paul stares into the helmet, he sees himself and the image of his brother, who used to wear the suit. His use of the simile “It’s like I’m talking to a ghost” underscores how he struggles to be reminded of Michel in this tangible way.

“Today he is revealing what is anticipated as the biggest scientific discovery of the century. A suit manned by sea creatures!”

Mr. Lula introduces Paul and the aquanaut as a major discovery because the sea creatures can maneuver a machine inside a diving suit and use it to live on land. It is a feat that nobody thought possible and one from which Mr. Lula is eager to profit. Paul, however, is one step ahead and already figured out a way to let the aquanaut escape.

“You’re worth a lot to me!! And you’re not getting away!!”

When Mr. Lula figures out that the aquanaut is “getting away,” he screams at them. This reveals the full extent of his greed and his perception of the animals as nothing more than sources of income. Mr. Lula doesn’t care about the right of all creatures to live freely or their well-being. Rather, he is solely focused on the financial impact of their escape, which is why he shouts about their “worth” to him.

“We’re sitting ducks out here, Sodapop! What do we do?!”

In the novel’s climax, the aquanaut dives into the tank with the giant squid, and Sodapop finds courage that he never knew he had. The diving suit floats submerged in the water, staring straight into the squid’s massive eyes. While Sodapop finally comes to understand the squid in ways he didn’t before, the other creatures of the aquanaut feel vulnerable and exposed. The idiom “We’re sitting ducks out here” describes how they feel like easy targets and like they are in danger.

“You did it, Sodapop. We’re free.”

The animals originally wanted safety and security but are now grateful for their freedom. They learned that exchanging their freedom for captivity was not worth the cost and succeeded in finding their way back to where they belong. Sodapop, who is the aquanaut’s unofficial captain, is credited with being the one who made it all happen, evidenced by the phrase “You did it, Sodapop.” However, everyone played a role in the journey’s success.

“With the support of loved ones, you are never alone. They help you find the courage to move on in life.”

Paul learns a valuable lesson from losing the squid and closing down Aqualand. He realizes that Sophie is the family he needs to regain his strength and return to doing the work he loves. Paul had fears of moving on and letting go of his brother, but now, he has new ways to honor Michel’s legacy.