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Castle Swimmer: Volume 1

Part of Castle Swimmer

Author Wendy Martin

Hardcover (Paper-over-Board, no jacket)

$24.99 US

Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed | Ten Speed Graphic

7.3"W x 9.31"H x 0.82"D | 30 oz | 12 per carton

On sale Oct 22, 2024 | 272 Pages | 9780593835814

FOC Sep 23, 2024 | Catalog August 2024

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In the gorgeous first installment of the hit Webtoon series Castle Swimmer, two young mermen reject their destinies and embark on an epic adventure full of romance and danger, featuring exclusive bonus material.

“Castle Swimmer hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go. It’s devastatingly charming with a hint of sweetly heartbreaking.”—Katie Cook, author of Nothing Special

From the moment Kappa tumbles into existence on the ocean floor, his life’s purpose is already decided for him: He is the Beacon, a light to all sea creatures, and destined to fulfill their many prophesies. In high demand and under immense pressure, Kappa quickly realizes that fame and glory are small compensation for a life of predetermined self-sacrifice.

Unable to resist the call of destiny due to a magical yellow cord that appears from his chest and pulls him inexorably to any sea creatures he swims by, Kappa ultimately finds himself drawn to the Shark kingdom, where he is immediately imprisoned. The Sharks’ prophecy states that the curse maiming their people will only be lifted once their prince, Siren, kills the Beacon. But when Prince Siren decides to defy fate and help Kappa escape, Kappa realizes that there might be more to life than fulfilling endless prophesies, leading to a raucous adventure as big and unpredictable as the ocean itself—and a romance that nobody could have predicted.

Episodes 1-19 of Webtoon's Castle Swimmer Season 1 is collected in this stunning graphic novel, which also includes a never-before-seen bonus chapter featuring Kappa and Siren.

Wendy Martin was born in the Midwest and grew up in Iowa. She spent her childhood raising animals, but she spent even more time drawing them. As she grew older, she dedicated more time to the arts and creating fantasy comics and stories, particularly ones that involved characters who were half human and half animal. After graduating high school, she worked as a waitress and continued making comics on the side until Castle Swimmer, a story about two mermen, was picked up by Ten Speed Graphic and allowed her to draw comics full time. Castle Swimmer is her first series. View titles by Wendy Martin

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“The world building throughout the volume is its most remarkable feature, effectively transporting readers to this magical underwater world . . . Castle Swimmer: Volume 1 offers an incredible LGBTQ+ fantasy and romance for fans to dive into.”—Comic Book Resources

“Castle Swimmer hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go. It’s devastatingly charming with a hint of sweetly heartbreaking. Kappa and Siren really are a beacon of light and a joy to read.”—Katie Cook, author of Nothing Special

“An immersive read! Castle Swimmer’s endearing protagonists are snugly woven into a juicy undersea world that reels in the reader and leaves them hungry for more.”—Danie Stirling, author of Crumbs

“Castle Swimmer is an immediate classic. Wendy has crafted a rich world with beautifully expressive art and amazingly thought-out characters all packed with personality. She plays every emotion to the perfect note from humor to dread to guilt to sweet budding romance! Volume 1 is an excellent start to a very exciting journey and I can’t wait to see how the rest of that journey looks in print!”—Miranda Mundt, creator of Muted

“Wendy Martin’s Castle Swimmer is a beautifully illustrated and intensely sincere tale of expectation, duty, and love that will leave you nostalgic for a time that has yet to pass.”—Graveweaver, creator of I’m the Grim Reaper

“Dive into the world of Castle Swimmer, filled with endearing characters and a heartwarming story that will leave you eager for more.”—Curryuku, creator of Not So Shoujo Love Story

“In an underwater world full of curses and prophecies, an unlikely—and HILARIOUS—love story unfolds!! Wendy Martin’s talent for balancing out dark moments with bright humor shines through as Prince Siren gets stuck between his duties to his people and the cute sparkly goldfish boy he’s supposed to kill!”—Deya Muniz, author of The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

“Martin illustrates a compelling story—about two ‘chosen one’ heroes defying their destinies and finding each other—with her charming art and unique worldbuilding. Castle Swimmer is a much-needed, heartwarming boys' love story filled with humor, romance, and mermaids.”—LySandra Vuong, creator of Covenant

“This print publication of the popular Webtoon has been gracefully transferred to a new format . . . It retains the quality of the charming art and the deliberate pace of the story . . . Between the vast waterscape to explore, evolving lore, balance in life-defining moments, and the lovable characters, every panel draws readers in deeper.”—Library Journal

About

Creators

Available for sale exclusive:

• Afghanistan

• Aland Islands

• Albania

• Algeria

• Andorra

• Angola

• Anguilla

• Antarctica

• Antigua/Barbuda

• Argentina

• Armenia

• Aruba

• Australia

• Austria

• Azerbaijan

• Bahamas

• Bahrain

• Bangladesh

• Barbados

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Belize

• Benin

• Bermuda

• Bhutan

• Bolivia

• Bonaire, Saba

• Bosnia Herzeg.

• Botswana

• Bouvet Island

• Brazil

• Brit.Ind.Oc.Ter

• Brit.Virgin Is.

• Brunei

• Bulgaria

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cambodia

• Cameroon

• Canada

• Cape Verde

• Cayman Islands

• Centr.Afr.Rep.

• Chad

• Chile

• China

• Christmas Islnd

• Cocos Islands

• Colombia

• Comoro Is.

• Congo

• Cook Islands

• Costa Rica

• Croatia

• Cuba

• Curacao

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Dem. Rep. Congo

• Denmark

• Djibouti

• Dominica

• Dominican Rep.

• Ecuador

• Egypt

• El Salvador

• Equatorial Gui.

• Eritrea

• Estonia

• Ethiopia

• Falkland Islnds

• Faroe Islands

• Fiji

• Finland

• France

• Fren.Polynesia

• French Guinea

• Gabon

• Gambia

• Georgia

• Germany

• Ghana

• Gibraltar

• Greece

• Greenland

• Grenada

• Guadeloupe

• Guam

• Guatemala

• Guernsey

• Guinea Republic

• Guinea-Bissau

• Guyana

• Haiti

• Heard/McDon.Isl

• Honduras

• Hong Kong

• Hungary

• Iceland

• India

• Indonesia

• Iran

• Iraq

• Ireland

• Isle of Man

• Israel

• Italy

• Ivory Coast

• Jamaica

• Japan

• Jersey

• Jordan

• Kazakhstan

• Kenya

• Kiribati

• Kuwait

• Kyrgyzstan

• Laos

• Latvia

• Lebanon

• Lesotho

• Liberia

• Libya

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Macau

• Macedonia

• Madagascar

• Malawi

• Malaysia

• Maldives

• Mali

• Malta

• Marshall island

• Martinique

• Mauritania

• Mauritius

• Mayotte

• Mexico

• Micronesia

• Minor Outl.Ins.

• Moldavia

• Monaco

• Mongolia

• Montenegro

• Montserrat

• Morocco

• Mozambique

• Myanmar

• Namibia

• Nauru

• Nepal

• Netherlands

• New Caledonia

• New Zealand

• Nicaragua

• Niger

• Nigeria

• Niue

• Norfolk Island

• North Korea

• North Mariana

• Norway

• Oman

• Pakistan

• Palau

• Palestinian Ter

• Panama

• PapuaNewGuinea

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Philippines

• Pitcairn Islnds

• Poland

• Portugal

• Puerto Rico

• Qatar

• Reunion Island

• Romania

• Russian Fed.

• Rwanda

• S. Sandwich Ins

• Saint Martin

• Samoa,American

• San Marino

• SaoTome Princip

• Saudi Arabia

• Senegal

• Serbia

• Seychelles

• Sierra Leone

• Singapore

• Sint Maarten

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Solomon Islands

• Somalia

• South Africa

• South Korea

• South Sudan

• Spain

• Sri Lanka

• St Barthelemy

• St. Helena

• St. Lucia

• St. Vincent

• St.Chr.,Nevis

• St.Pier,Miquel.

• Sth Terr. Franc

• Sudan

• Suriname

• Svalbard

• Swaziland

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Syria

• Tadschikistan

• Taiwan

• Tanzania

• Thailand

• Timor-Leste

• Togo

• Tokelau Islands

• Tonga

• Trinidad,Tobago

• Tunisia

• Turkey

• Turkmenistan

• Turks&Caicos Is

• Tuvalu

• US Virgin Is.

• USA

• Uganda

• Ukraine

• Unit.Arab Emir.

• United Kingdom

• Uruguay

• Uzbekistan

• Vanuatu

• Vatican City

• Venezuela

• Vietnam

• Wallis,Futuna

• West Saharan

• Western Samoa

• Yemen

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe

Photos

Praise

Additional formats

Added to Pull List Removed from Pull List

Castle Swimmer: Volume 1

Author: Wendy Martin

9780593835821

$18.99 US | $25.99 CAN

Paperback

Ten Speed Graphic

On sale Oct 22, 2024

FOC Sep 23, 2024

Added to Pull List Removed from Pull List

Castle Swimmer: Volume 1

Author: Wendy Martin

9780593835821

$18.99 US | $25.99 CAN

Paperback

Ten Speed Graphic

On sale Oct 22, 2024

FOC Sep 23, 2024

Other books in this series

Added to Pull List Removed from Pull List

Castle Swimmer: Volume 2

Author: Wendy Martin

9780593835845

$24.99 US | $33.99 CAN

Hardcover

Ten Speed Graphic

On sale Jun 03, 2025

Added to Pull List Removed from Pull List

Castle Swimmer: Volume 2

Author: Wendy Martin

9780593835845

$24.99 US | $33.99 CAN

Hardcover

Ten Speed Graphic

On sale Jun 03, 2025

Graphic Novels

September 16 2024

Early Praise for CASTLE SWIMMER by Wendy Martin

Ten Speed Graphic is bringing Webtoons to the Direct Market this fall with a number of highly anticipated print adaptations! Earlier this year they released Nothing Special, Volume One and The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn, Volume 1. The next volume of Nothing Special goes on FOC very soon, 9/30, and Suitor Armor, Volume 1

Early Praise for CASTLE SWIMMER by Wendy Martin

Graphic Novels

September 16 2024

Graphic Novels

June 26 2024

Explore the Ten Speed Graphic 2024 Catalog

Check out the Ten Speed Graphic 2024 Catalog at the below link, outlining their 2024 releases and backlist! Ten Speed Graphic 2024 Catalog Ten Speed Graphic is proud to publish distinctive, high quality graphic books from the industry’s top creators, focusing on history, biography, memoir, original fiction, print editions of top webcomics, literary and