Before We Sail by Carlos Yacolca & Michelle Lino

with letters by Diego Revelo and design by David Escobedo.

This seven-part graphic novella that first appeared in David Lloyd’s Aces Weekly online comics art magazine has recently been nominated for a Ringo Award for Best Webcomic, no small feat for a first time author! As I type, the comic is only available at the link above, but do check it out for a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse, with a distinctly Peruvian point of view.

Kath and Jonathan are a mismatched pair on the run. After a mysterious plague took out most of humanity, society collapsed. Depressive Jonathan and angry Kath are gathering supplies and killing zombies as they make their way through Lima, hoping to find a boat that will take them to the safety of open waters. But zombies aren’t the only threat lurking in the city. Jonathan clings to the idea of a shared humanity with those still living, while Kath wants only revenge. Will their disparate viewpoints on survival help or hinder their journey to the sea?

Carlos Yacolca’s South American perspective injects fresh life into a trope that’s been done to undeath, as he highlights the struggles of ordinary Peruvians thrust into a global nightmare. Secrets and double-crosses abound. The zombies too seem like a cross between the usual flesh-eaters and the zombie-ant fungus, leading to several interestingly depicted panels in the narrative.

Michelle Lino’s art has highs and lows: her vision is often impressive, but I occasionally had trouble differentiating between characters, especially the supporting cast. I loved the way the character’s written thoughts were interspersed with the panels tho, especially when Kath started writing.

Perhaps most of all, I enjoyed the wry commentary on the way power shapes and reshapes itself even in the face of global catastrophe. Kath and Jonathan struggle over whether it’s even worth it to look forward to the future instead of choosing to remain in the past, but ultimately come to a decision that works really well for this story.

Before We Sail by Carlos Yacolca & Michelle Lino was published from July 7 to August 18 2025 and is available in its entirety at Aces Weekly.