I do not know if the (online reader copy) Coral’s Reef volume one by David Lumsdon and Shiei was originally a webcomic, but I know Castle Swimmer volume one by Wendy Martin was.
Why I say this is because the two books have some similarities and of course, differences. But they make me think of each other. I read Coral via an online reader copy as said, but read at least volume one on WebToons for Castle. However, it is now going to be in a book format later in October 2024. If you can’t wait, of course WebToons has you covered.
Both stories deal with merpeople, growing up and fitting in. However, Coral’s Reef is a lighter, romcom romp. It is goofy and sometimes well over the top. It has its moments, but overall if you like typical Manga/webtoon episodes that boil down into a teenage drama for the ages, this is for you. There are typical boy/girl and friendship issues, along with a side story that’s more supernatural. And all is set in the world of different creatures who are not magical, but are not “human” (sharks, sirens, on land and ocean people, etc. who present in humanoid formats). Some of the cast are into water-surfing, eating, dating, swimming, fire-surfing, fashion, others are radical nudists, and some are downright naive, and at least one is a typical annoying kid sister. Bubbly and colorful illustrations are there to mix the mood into always bright, even when things are “edgy.”
However, Castle Swimmer is much darker. Therefore, I find it odd they remind me of each other. Maybe because of the contrast actually is why I think of them together. First, we are dealing with more traditional merpeople, only instead of mermaids and men, we are dealing with them and a group of shark people. There is the “different people have more rights than others” and the “prophecies of each people” and other familiar story arcs. And then there is the one character we learn is the prophesied one. He is either going to be a great savior or the end of days, depending on who you ask. He will be either sacrificed, honored, or tortured as needed. But we cannot have a star-cross star without a little bit of star-crossed lovers added, not to mention witches, transgender shark-people and more. There are a lot of ins and outs/ups and downs. The GLBTQ are alive and well represented. We have fantasy adventure, and real life love. The art fits the tone and is busy and colorful as needed.
With Castle, I read via WebToons, but I realized it was book bound because of the online reader site I use. And I prefer an “in hand book” especially with a continuation story like Martin’s