Jake and his mom have lived alone in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico as long as he can remember. Far away from the ocean, somehow the water still calls to him. His mother regularly reminds him to play it safe and that his father died from drowning. With this best friend Maria, Jake the two plan for life after high school. The problem is Maria wants to be more than friends, and Jake is a closeted gay teenager unsure of how to tell his best friend who he really is. Jake falls head first into a relationship with Kenny Liu, Captain of the swim team and out and proud. In an act of defiance, Jake applies to Miami University. After Kenny finds out about Jake’s sexuality, and the strange fact the blue marks on Jake’s skin glow when in water, the two strike out to find out where Jake came from and how they fit into the world.
We’ve all seen the trope of the good female friend being heartbroken when she finds out her best friend is gay, but there’s something smart about how author Alex Sanchez writes this story. The character act like real people, rather than tropes. While Maria is heartbroken, she shows her hurt but still is the best friend she can be. I will say that for most of this graphic novel, I was waiting to figure out how Jake connected to the DC universe. The reveal is fascinating, so I won’t ruin it for you here. I will say, pay attention to what’s going on in the background. Julie Maroh’s artwork is beautiful and she does great backgrounds.
Alex Sanchez does a great job of writing a believable LGBTQ+ relationship, even within the bounds of a sort of super hero story. Maria is not just a trope, and Jake and Kenny interact in a way that feels like a solid relationship.
You Brought Me the Ocean is available from DC Comics.
