The Little Trashmaid, Vol. 1

The little Trashmaid #1

by s0s2

Seashell Bras are hard to find, but plastic bags offer plenty of choice!
At the tender age of twelve, a naive little Trashmaid has no problem adapting to her garbage-filled environment. Though, it might be quite unhealthy in the long run.

Find out what a mermaid faces in the modern world and dive with Tidy into this ocean of… waste! Have fun with her misadventures (and remember not to pollute)!
A bittersweet comic for all ages!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Webcomic, LGBT, German Literature, Picture Books

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Steff Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll write a full review for this series one day, but for now all you need to know is that this is one of the cleverest comic series that I've ever read. Quite frankly, if you're not reading it, you are missing out. I will forever be an advocate for how utterly fantastic The Little Trashmaid is. Also, proceeds from the comic series are donated to saving the oceans and creatures who live within it.

Go and read this series. Now. You won't regret it.

[❃A.J❃ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super funny and wholesome! Some moments will just melt your heart and some will break it.❤️💔
The author is on a great mission to spread information about the pollution in the oceans and how it harms aquatic life through a very creative way.
This totally deserves 5 Stars!✨

[Fatima difarko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in webtoon and omg. It’s sooooo cute 😭😭😭😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹✨✨✨✨

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short comic series of strips of a mermaid in the modern days swimming through all the trash dropped by humans.

[Perfektionaise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is cutevastating - cute and devastating.
Littering has never been so funny, which is sad.
The characters are amazing, not one word is spoken but the artstyle is so expressive that I bawled my eyes out.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super freaking adorable and also incredibly sad. I love the creativity of this artist/author with references to garbage produced by companies like 7/11. The satire is very good. Excited for the series to continue on Webtoon and so happy that it will be published in a physical format!

[Aily · Rating 5 out of 5]

NON POTETE CAPIRE QUANTO È BELLO AVERLO FINALMENTE CARTACEO. LO SEGUO SU WEBTOON DA QUANDO C'ERANO SOLO 3 CAPITOLI, HO INCONTRATO L'AUTRICE E MI HA ANCHE FATTO UN DISEGNO DI TIDY SULLA MIA COPIA CEH VERAMENTE GIORNO PIÙ BELLO✨️✨️✨️

[Annina Seiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein Comic, der zeigt, wie viel Bilder uns sagen und vermitteln können - ohne Erklärungen in Form von Worten und Dialogen. Eine Meerjungfrau, die unbekümmert ihr Leben im Meer lebt, Plastiktüten statt Muscheln trägt und sich des prekären Zustandes ihres Lebensraumes nicht bewusst ist. Eine Geschichte, die ein so wichtiges Thema humorvoll und sensibel umsetzt. Lesenswert!

[Gulney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super süßes Buch, mit dem Thema Unweltverschmutzung im Bezug auf die Meereslebewesen.

Es bringt uns mit Ihren schönen illustrationen zum Nachdenken.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This webtoon was one of the first I ever read when getting into reading online comics, and I must say it’s one of my favorites. It gives a look into a slightly more realistic version of what mermaids would be in real life, and it kind of unfantasizes mermaids in general. The story is mainly episodic, but there is a semi over arching plot. All of the characters are well designed, and the author somehow makes them all unique, even with no dialogue. It’s funnier than it deserves to be, and is a very light read for anyone wanting a break from heavier novels, or for those suffering from book burnout. Neat is definitely one of my favorite characters, he is just too precious for this world. All in all, I really enjoyed reading this, and would recommend if you’re looking for a comedy, or something that doesn’t revolve around romance.

[✨ Flo ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The little Trashmaid is incredibly sweet, while making you smirk and laugh it will show you how important it is to keep our earth as clean as possible and stop polluting it.

Lovely art, super sweet characters and an important message.

[Rikke Sørensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loooove tidy🤩🤩🤩🤩

[cieplekakao · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO CUTE 🥹🥹🥹

[Marcy (๑´ㅂ`๑) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veramente carino.

[★ Dreamfyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

5✨

This story is so freaking adorable while also silently discussing the important things. I hope they reach all of their goals!! 🖤😭

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute 💕💕💕

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhhh
AMO
Todo es tan tiernoooo
Es que no puedo
Es precioso TuT

[Lena_that_me · Rating 4 out of 5]

this little maiden is in a battle to survive the plastic ridden ocean 🪸

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so beatiful
It also made me sad and with every page I didn't know to laugh or cry

[achliw · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5⭐️] Está muy bonito y obviamente tiene un muy buen mensaje 🥺

[Jooly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very first comics I read on Webtoon, I can't I can finally hold it in my hands. The way this has made me laugh, cry, think about our world as a whole.

My absolute favourite comic.

[Miss Pageturner · Rating 5 out of 5]

🇬🇧 English review below ⬇
........................................................................................

Ich bin schon seit geraumer Weile ein großer Fan der kleinen Trashmaid und verfolge ihre regelmäßigen Comics bei Webtoons bez. Instagram. Daher hat es mich sehr gefreut, als Stephanie Hermes ankündigte, dass es die Comics der Trashmaid nun auch in Buchform geben wird und bestelle es gleich vor. Und nun möchte ich euch heute erzählen, warum Tidy mein Herz erobert hat.

Eine kleine Meerjungfrau inmitten von Müll
In The little Trashmaid begleiten wir in mehreren kurzen Comicstripes die Meerjungfrau Tidy und ihre Menschenfreunde Ricky und Spencer. Doch weil unsere Meere leider aktuell alles andere als in einem guten Zustand sind, entspricht Tidy nicht ganz dem, was wir uns bisher unter einer Meerjungfrau vorgestellt haben. Doch obwohl ihr Zuhause aus mehr Müll, als alles andere besteht, ist Tidy fröhlich, neugierig und herzensgut und erkundetet ihre Welt mit offenen Augen.

Wie bereits erwähnt besteht das Buch aus mehreren kurzen Comicstrips. Sind diese zunächst noch sehr episodisch und einzeln unabhängig, entwickeln sich im Verlauf des Buches immer mehr Zusammenhänge, sodass wir später quasi einzelne kleine Arcs aus mehreren Stripes haben. Ähnlich ist es mit den Figuren. Während wir in den ersten Stripes erstmal nur Tidy und ihr Leben im (verdreckten) Meer kennenlernen, kommen nach und nach immer mehr Figuren hinzu und das fiktive Trashmaid Universum wird immer größer. Dieser Prozess ist schön gemacht, bietet er doch dem/die Leser/in zunächst Zeit Tidy kennenzulernen, um dann mit ihr zusammen ihre Umwelt zu entdecken. So erfährt man Stück für Stück immer mehr über Tidys , ihre Welt und ihre Freunde.

Umweltbewusstsein auf die humorvolle Art
Wie ihr aus meiner bisherigen Rezension und dem Cover sicher schon herauslesen konntet, geht es in The little Trashmaid viel um das Problem der Müllverschmutzung der Meere. Was Stephanie Hermes Comic so einzgigartig macht ist die hohe Kunst der Autorin das Thema omnipräsent zu halten und die Comics trotzdem sehr lustig zu gestalten. Es ist oft natürlich ein ziemlich schwarzer Humor, aber ich liebe es. The Little Trashmaid ist somit nicht nur ein Comic, sondern auch ein Medium, das uns zum Umdenken anregt und uns dazu ermutigt, aktiv etwas für unseren Planeten zu tun. Gleichzeitig zeigt er uns, dass die Lösung der Umweltprobleme auch mit einer positiven Einstellung angegangen werden kann und auch schon kleine Dinge zählen, insbesondere wenn man sie mit mehreren Menschen (oder Meerjungfrauen 😉) zusammen macht. Generell spielt das Miteinander neben dem Umweltaspekt eine zentrale Rolle. Immer wieder zeigt Stephanie Hermes wie wertvoll Unterstützung, Hilfsbereitschaft und Freundlichkeit ist. Der Comic ist ein richtiger Wohlfühlcomic, in dem praktisch alle Charaktere Cinnamon Rolls sind, die man lieb haben muss. Die Geschichte ist so liebevoll gestaltet und mit so vielen herzlichen Momenten durchzogen, dass es von mir offiziell als Medikament gegen schlechte Tage empfohlen wird.

Ganz ohne Worte
Ein bemerkenswertes Merkmal des Comics ist, dass er komplett ohne Worte und Dialoge auskommt. Bis auf wenige Ausnahmen, in denen wir Sprechblasen mit Symbolen haben, läuft sämtliche Kommunikation über die Mimik und Gestik und diese überzeugend darzustellen ist ein großes Talent der Autorin. Allein anhand von Gesichtsausdrücken kann man förmlich die Gedanken der Figuren lesen. Es ist wirklich ganz große Kunst so viele, teils auch subtile Emotionen allein durch die Bilder zu transportieren, ein großes Lob dafür.

Ihr seht also schon, ich bin ein Riesenfan von Tidy und ihren Freunden. Das einzige, was ich vielleicht als kleinen Kritikpunkt zu diesem Buch anmerken könnte, wäre, dass ich es schön gefunden hätte, wenn in dem Buch noch irgendwas gewesen wäre, was man nicht schon von Webtoons her kennt. Ein paar Bonuscomics, eine detaillierte Charaktervorstellung, ein paar Illustrationen, sowas in der Art, eben etwas, was ganz exklusiv nur in diesem Buch zu finden ist. Das wäre mein einziger Verbesserungsvorschlag für Volume 2, das hoffentlich auch kommen wird.

Fazit:
Das Buch bietet für eingefleischte Tidy Fans zwar wenig Neues, trotzdem lege ich jedem ans Herz es zu kaufen, um die tolle Arbeit von Stephanie Hermes zu unterstützen. Und wer die Trashmaid noch nicht kennt, sollte sowieso zugreifen, denn die herzallerliebsten und lustigen Comics, die gleichzeitig das Umweltbewusstsein schärfen sind, einfach nur wunderbar.

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❗ Important note: English is not my first language. So that English-speaking community members can still read my review, my review has been translated with the help of a translation program (since I don't have the time to translate it myself every time). I therefore apologize for any mistakes and strange phrasing.

I've been a big fan of the little Trashmaid for a while now and follow her regular comics on webtoons and Instagram. So I was very pleased when Stephanie Hermes announced that the Trashmaid comics will now also be available in book form and I pre-ordered it right away. And now I want to tell you today why Tidy has captured my heart.

A little mermaid in the midst of trash
In The Little Trashmaid we follow the mermaid Tidy and her human friends Ricky and Spencer in several short comic strips. But because our oceans are unfortunately anything but in a good state at the moment, Tidy does not quite correspond to what we have imagined a mermaid to be up to now. But although her home consists of more rubbish than anything else, Tidy is cheerful, curious and kind-hearted and explores her world with open eyes.

As already mentioned, the book consists of several short comic strips. While these are initially still very episodic and individually independent, more and more connections develop in the course of the book, so that later we have basically individual small arcs made up of several strips. It is similar with the characters. While in the first strips we only get to know Tidy and her life in the (filthy) sea, gradually more and more characters are added and the fictional Trashmaid universe becomes bigger and bigger. This process is beautifully done, as it gives the reader time to get to know Tidy first, and then to discover her world together with her. Little by little, you learn more and more about Tidy, her world and her friends.

Environmental awareness in a humorous way
As you might have guessed from my previous review and the cover, The Little Trashmaid is very much about the problem of marine litter. What makes Stephanie Herme's comic so unique is the great skill of the author to keep the topic omnipresent and still make the comics very funny. It's often quite black humour, of course, but I love it. The Little Trashmaid is thus not only a comic, but also a medium that makes us think differently and encourages us to actively do something for our planet. At the same time, it shows us that solving environmental problems can also be approached with a positive attitude and that even small things count, especially if you do them together with several people (or mermaids 😉 ). In general, togetherness plays a central role alongside the environmental aspect. Again and again Stephanie Hermes shows how valuable support, helpfulness and kindness are. The comic is a real feel-good comic in which practically all the characters are Cinnamon Rolls that you have to love. The story is so lovingly crafted and infused with so many heartfelt moments that it's officially recommended by me as a bad-day medication.

No words needed
A notable feature of the comic is that it is completely without words or dialogue. With a few exceptions where we have speech bubbles with symbols, all communication is through facial expressions and gestures and to portray these convincingly is a great talent of the author. From facial expressions alone, you can literally read the thoughts of the characters. It really is a great art to convey so many, sometimes subtle, emotions through the pictures alone, and I have great praise for that.

As you can see, I am a huge fan of Tidy and her friends. The only small criticism I might have about this book is that I would have liked it if there had been something else in the book that you don't already know from webtoons. A few bonus comics, a detailed character introduction, a few illustrations, something like that, something that is exclusive to this book. That would be my only suggestion for improvement for Volume 2, which I hope will come.

Conclusion:
The book offers little new for die-hard Tidy fans, but I still recommend everyone to buy it to support the great work of Stephanie Hermes. And if you don't know the Trashmaid yet, you should get it anyway, because the adorable and funny comics, which at the same time raise environmental awareness, are just wonderful.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Summary:

The Little Trashmaid is a clever adaptation of the classic tale, the Little Mermaid, incorporating the theme of pollution. The protagonist, Tidy, affectionately referred to as the trashmaid, embarks on a series of enchanting and occasionally poignant escapades alongside her two human companions. With its lively and predominantly nonverbal storytelling, this comic offers an accessible reading experience for everyone.

This captivating series delves into significant issues such as pollution, conservation, and the importance of clean water. If you are interested in these topics, you'll find the thought-provoking commentary within these comics enjoyable.

My Review:

I don't think I'll ever grow tired of The Little Trashmaid. I've read the webcomic series a few times now (and am subbed on both Tapas and Patreon for the newest comics), and it never gets old. So when I saw the opportunity to back The Little Trashmaid Vol. 1, I knew I had to do it.

The Little Trashmaid Vol. 1 collects some of the earliest comics from the series, introducing us to Tidy, Ricky, Spencer, and a few other characters. Somehow the series manages to be oddly wholesome, despite the heavier undertones.

That isn't to say that your heart won't break while reading. Personally, I was (and always will be) devastated by Neat's side arc. It's the epitome of bittersweet and goes a long way in showing how quickly you can become invested in these characters.

The playful art style helps keep the powerful points of the narrative from becoming too jarring. Yes, they're still present, but they're also much more approachable. I'm hoping that this series helps to change the minds of every reader it finds.

Highlights:
Webcomic turned graphic novel
My Little Mermaid meets Environmentalism
Largely non-verbal comics
Endearing Characters

Trigger Warnings:
Pollution
Animal/Mermaid Injuries

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[Falter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nachdem ich die Preview auf Tapas.io immer wieder herbeisehne, konnte ich die Geschichte der Meerjungfrau Tidy, ihres Bruders Neat sowie den beiden Menschenjungs Ricky und Spencer endlich auf Papier lesen.
Tidy, eine naive und muntere Meerjungfrau, lebt in einem Meer, das realistisch ist. Statt bunter Vielfalt an Fischen und Korallen wird dieser Ozean von Plastikmüll geprägt, verheddern sich Comicfiguren in Geisternetzen und Angelschnüren, müssen niesen und ziehen sich Strohhalme aus der Nase. Alle haben Narben von Plastik, das sich in die Haut eingegraben hat, aber auch warzig aussehende Seepocken auf der Haut. Lustige Szenen kippen ein Panel später und man weiß nicht, ob man weinen oder würgen soll, wenn Tidys Vater einen gangränös verfärbten Fischschwanz hat oder ihr Bruder nicht essen kann, weil seinen Hals eine Metallschlinge umklammert.
Ich hoffe inbrünstig, dass dieser Comic viele Leserinnen und Leser findet, denen klar wird, dass das, worunter Tidy und ihre Freunde leiden, den realen Bewohner*innen des Meeres in Wirklichkeit geschieht, ohne dass Ricky und Spencer kommen, um ihnen im Rahmen ihrer Möglichkeiten etwas Hilfe angedeihen zu lassen.
Tragikomisch und sehr, sehr lesenswert!

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny little story to go with this funny little webtoon about a little mermaid:

I bought the hardback version of the first volume of 'The Little Trashmaid' on eBay... and it wasn't until I actually sat down to read it that I realised it wasn't in English. It was in German. But, because it contains no dialogue and some words in it are in English anyway, I could still read it, and laugh at its humour. It can be understood in any language.

Either way, it was a lucky find.

'The Little Trashmaid' is a funny satirical webcomic for all ages, about a kid mermaid who finds excitement in the rubbish that humans throw into the sea. She has fun with the trash she perceives as treasures, including making fashion trends out of them. And she befriends two human kids - boyfriends Ricky and Spencer - who show her more human stuff and concepts (plus food, mostly tomatoes). Hilarity ensues.

It sort of makes light of pollution, but it makes it clear how dangerous litter and waste are to living beings in the ocean, and how it is the humans' responsibility.

And the mermaid's name is probably Tidy, which is hilarious on so many levels and waves.

She has a nice, sweet relationship with her giant merman dad, as well. He wears a Burger King-type crown.

The comic also makes pop culture references, including 'Pokémon Go', 'Star Wars', and of course, Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'.

Love the LBGTQ+ inclusion in this children's comic.

Overall, it is peak cartoon physical comedy, with no real dialogue needed. It's like classic Looney Tunes, or like a silent early comedy manga in colour.

I don't appreciate the cigarettes and their light inclusion (pun unintended), however.

'The Little Trashmaid' - a funny mermaid comedy webcomic about pollution and the environment. And friendship and love. The first volume can be read in under ten minutes.

It is unlike any other mermaid comic I've read. It is far less serious than 'The Sea in You', 'Plain Jane and the Mermaid', and even 'Thirsty Mermaids', but its uniqueness and humour make it extra special.

Final Score: 3.5/5

[Катерина Майковська · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely hilarious comic book! It is a fun page-turner, but also provides a commentary on the environmental issues. Sometimes it is painful to read because of the way it depicts the trash in the ocean.

In a way, you can notice that in the first episodes the author did not plan it to turn into a book, but in a couple of chapters, the characters and story emerge and it is pretty good. Anyways, you read it not for the story, but for the creative visuals, amazing art style, and fun jokes.

Will keep reading if the new episodes drop :) Recycle your trash, please!

[KateJoanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need so much more of this, beautifully drawn and as equally adorable as it is meaningful. I love the characters, the story and the strive to protect our oceans. Can’t wait for a physical copy of the book and some awesome merch from the website! Brilliant artist that supports others as well as giving money to projects to clean and protect the sea. This is a really, really great comic I highly recommend

[Nelfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auf humorvolle s��ße Art, wird das sehr ernste Thema von Meeresverschmutzung dargestellt. Ich kann mir auch gut vorstellen, dass man das sehr gut mit Kindern anschauen und darüber reden kann. Hat viel Potenzial, da noch mehr in die Tiefe zu gehen, was beispielsweise Artensterben und Überfischung anbelangt.
Schade, dass der Titel nicht auch ins Deutsche übersetzt wurde, "die kleine Mülljungfrau" klänge sehr gut

[Elisa Legge Cose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tidy è una sirenetta che purtroppo vive in un mondo in cui gli umani non hanno cura dell'ambiente e degli oceani, ovvero il NOSTRO di mondo. Si veste con delle buste di plastica e tutto il suo mondo è invaso dalla plastica che noi abbandoniamo ovunque.
qualcuno l'ha definito cutevastating, cute e devastating e ha ragione

[Ann Reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que cosa tan lindaaaaaa
Tenía pendiente está lectura desde hace mucho, pero no me había dado el tiempo, y la amé.
Me hizo sentir muy mal, pero al final es una historia linda, creo que todos deberían leerla.
Te hace reflexionar de una manera divertida