Shadows of the Sea

by Cathy Malkasian

On the lonely road meet two outcasts — Doris, a small but spitfire woman and Stanwick, a shy and sensitive dog. Each of this unlikely pair harbors grief, and must decide whether to stay with the pain or run from it. On their journey, the two travel through lush forests, to the eerily abandoned town of echoes, clear to the “mudder” sea, where they finally confront the unbearable trauma of their pasts. Cartoonist Cathy Malkasian’s graphic novels are known to be crafted with layered, affecting allegory and metaphor, and Shadows of the Sea is no exception. In this story, shadows become characters themselves, weighed down with painful truth. They cannot be released until their owners acknowledge, reflect, and heal. Charged by the magic of the “mudder” sea, the shadows reveal the loss Doris and Stanwick have been carrying — a husband and a child — and sets them free at last.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Fiction

168 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Cathy Malkasian's alternative comics career began at age four, with the covert distribution of sketches to an unreceptive neighbor (“Keep your brat’s pamphlets off my porch!”). Hot on the heels of this and various kindergarten triumphs, she became overbearingly enthused, teaching herself to sketch and paint, pursuing music lessons, play auditions and somehow ending up with a degree in musicology. Her blend of goofiness, sarcasm, and rumination has carried her through the years.

In the early 1990s Malkasian began her career in animation, starting in design and storyboarding, then directing series episodes and pilots, and eventually co-directing the Wild Thornberrys Movie in 2002. Soon after she turned her efforts to novel and graphic novel storytelling, and returned to animation to direct many episodes of Curious George TV.

Reviews

[Ed Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure whether to call this a metaphor or an allegory. The back cover settles it: it is both. Also it is lovely, as all of her books.

[DUG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure about how I felt about this story until it made me cry at my desk at work. Good grief!

[Jonathan Hawpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cathy Malkasian has an inimitable storytelling style that uses warm cartooning, fantastical settings, and fable-like structures to embrace the reader and lighten the heavy blows of her painfully real, human themes. It's something like Dr. Seuss meets Dr. Zhivago. Shadows Of The Sea is one of her most subtle and touching books, where heartache and humor are like estranged siblings coming together after a long separation. 8/10

[Hannah Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange little read. The dog character is very sweet and has some seriously sad facial expressions. It took me longer to read it than usual because Doris's accent is written out, which adds some charm to her character. My favorite illustrations were the landscapes and images of the sea, which suited the style.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cathy Malkasian's Shadows of the Sea (2025) is from her yet another strange, quirky story set in a large and expansive landscape. She likes to draw big buildings, big places, lots of space. This one as always features a warm, largish woman, navigating a gloomy sort of dystopian world. This world is decidedly (again) gloomy because both the sort of slovenly, working-class woman, and a seemingly sharper-appearing dog, are dealing with grief.

We find this out in some specificity due to a shadow's fantasy-rendering of the past that shows each of them a set of filmed memories; the dog (why a dog soldier? The dogs of war?) has losses from the war, and the woman is missing her husband at sea. They travel together, and at one point through an abandoned city--the place seems timeless, or medeival, or apocalyptic. When they finally wander their way to the sea, where she is most grounded, she sees the memories the shadows play back for her and accepts finally that he is not coming back: The Shadows of the Sea!

Then, dust off your hands and go back to this abandoned city you passed through to get to the sea, and you plan a future together. Start over again. Why is the city abandoned? War? The apocalypse? We never know all the details about these worlds Malkasian creates, or the stories she tells. Kind of like wandering through dreams that are at times nightmares peopled by sometimes aggressive men.

I never know how to rate her books. I am drawn to her drawing! The stories seem vague and foreboding, with this warm woman. 2 star stories, 4 star art? Fantasy world where dogs are soldiers, and shadows show you your past. I can't say I ever "like" the vibe, but I just know the next Malkasian book I see on the shelf, I will pick it up. I don't know if I can recommend them or not. They are strange, and that can be a good thing sometimes.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadows of the Sea is a quick read that had sort of an ominous tone despite its narrative of healing. The empty landscapes and cities, menacing threats of violence, and memories of trauma gave it a heavy feeling that was only partially alleviated by the end. I appreciated the imaginative setting, strong characters, and sensitive emotional quality. A longer book would have allowed for more depth, but I still think it had plenty to offer. It would make a really good animated short.

[Michael Daines · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Shadows of the Sea” is set in a world where animals play the same roles in society, like a bomb-sniffing dog or a mule pulling a cart, but they walk on two legs, wear clothes, and speak like everyone else. The dog protagonist has been discharged from his duties and comes across a woman attacked for having bested the town bully at a public competition. As they travel together, they face their individual traumas.

This is a touching book, and the world is interesting and beautifully drawn. The primary warning I would give is that the woman, Doris, speaks in a heavy accent, which I had to sound out (in my head at least) to sometimes understand what she was saying; even near the end of the book, I struggled with her dialogue.

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little story about moving on with life after great loss or grief.

3.3🌟✨🌟✨

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadow of the Sea, Cathy Malkasian.
Heart-wrenching, heart-breaking, heart-warming. ***

[Kate Nachman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated allegory on the evils of bureacracy.

[Hailey Abel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at my local library. I enjoyed the shadow symbolism and how it carried both the characters grief. I feel like the illustrations added a melancholy tone to the story.

[Andy Cantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful metaphor for grief and the power of connection to overcome it