A Graphic Novel from the Jurassic Coast
A satirical space adventure with an environmental message and a reflection on human—and alien—nature
For readers aged 8+
Cela comes from a planet renowned as one of the most generous providers of humanitarian aid in the entire cosmos.
When an old plastic bottle drifts in from deep space carrying three pebbles painted with the letters SOS, Cela is immediately sent on her very first real mission.
She soon discovers that this is the furthest anyone from her planet has ever travelled. If she succeeds, her home world will become the most altruistic in the universe. The announcement of the Big Interstellar Kindness Award is fast approaching, and they have to win it to secure their place at the top.
But as Cela explores this strange coastal world, she encounters more and more disturbingly self-centred creatures who, frankly, have no interest in being helped. Her sarcastic “friends” on the SpaceLOOP social network aren’t much use either. And her protocol-obsessed hologram nanny is nothing but embarrassing. This rescue mission is starting to look impossible.
As the mission unravels, Cela begins to question herself, her values, and everything she has been taught. Who—or what—should she stay true to?
Work-in-Progress Artwork
What Inspired Us
The idea was born during an unusually hot, dry summer on England’s Jurassic Coast. Our daughter, Mirabel, was just a year old, and we were living in a caravan on the clifftops, spending our days exploring the beaches in search of inspiration.
Before long, the subject found us: the plastic waste scattered along the shoreline. We let our imaginations run free, and the story of fantastical creatures made from rubbish washed ashore began to take shape.
Our first step was to create a stop-motion animated film. While working on it, I realised the story would also make a graphic novel, so I began developing it visually. Simon soon joined me, and together we expanded the original idea into a full-length graphic novel.
