Close Menu

    First Look: Ariela Kristantina’s The Girl Who Draws on Whales From Comixology Originals

    Book cover for "The Girl Who Draws on Whales" features an artistic underwater scene with whales, sea plants, and bold red and white text.

    Back in June of 2021, we had the pleasure of previewing a wonderful graphic novel entitled Adora and the Distance from Comixology Originals. It was an eye-opening tale from writer Marc Bernardi and artist Ariela Kristantina that celebrated a father’s love for his autistic daughter. On September 23rd, artist Ariela Kristantina, along with colorist Sara Stern and letterer Bernando Brice, will release her first individual book, The Girl Who Draws on Whales.

    In The Girl Who Draws on Whales, Kristantina takes readers on a powerful and atmospheric journey through a lush island environment inspired by her homeland of Indonesia. With soft and inspiring colors by Sarah Stern, letters by Bernardo Brice, and edits by Will Dennis, “The Girl Who Draws on Whales” is a captivating and visually stunning story of exploration and discovery. This epic YA adventure marks the first-ever graphic novel that Kristantina has both written and illustrated.

    Blending Southeast Asian folklore with themes of colonization and the unshakable power of art and storytelling, “The Girl Who Draws on Whales” is a coming-of-age story about resistance, siblinghood, and believing in your voice—even when no one else does.

    In advance of its digital release, courtesy of Comixology Originals, the talented Miss Kristantina, and her whole creative team, we present these exclusive pages from this upcoming enchanted tale.

    Illustrated book cover shows a large blue whale swimming underwater with a girl drawing on its side. Title reads "The Girl Who Draws on Whales." Author and illustrator names are listed. A stylized cover with the text "The Girl Who Draws on Whales" in bold letters against a light blue sky with clouds and small birds. Line drawing of a giant whale partially submerged in water, with a small person standing on its head, against a blue background with clouds. Credits page listing the story and art by Ariela Kristantina, color by Sarah Stern, and other contributors, on a blue illustrated background. A comic book page shows a woman with white hair speaking, a large whale underwater, a rural village, and a woman riding the whale, with narrative text boxes throughout. A woman with red hair wakes up confused on a boat, asks questions, and sees another woman in a different boat nearby. The scene is misty and set on the water. A person with green hair studies maps and navigational tools at a cluttered desk, then holds a small object, preparing to attach it to a model ship. A green-haired person shows a map to two others on a ship; they discuss coordinates and teamwork as they plan their next move.

    ‘The Girl Who Draws on Whales,’ by Ariela Kristantina, arrives digitally on September 23, 2025, from Comixology Originals, Amazon’s exclusive digital content line, and in print from Dark Horse Books on March 31, 2026.

    Subscribe
    Notify of
    guest
    0 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest Most Voted
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments

    Hot Topics