Oracles

by Olivia Sullivan

When the everyday becomes overwhelming, our protagonist begins to travel through the world to find wonder and a true escape - and to discover more about themself. As they navigate through the forest, the ocean, the desert, and the mountains in a trip of peace, turmoil and reflection, the narrator encounters mushrooms, sage creatures, whirlpools and learns more about themselves in the process. With gorgeous art and lyrical, contemplative text, this graphic novel is a passage from uncertainty to joy and understanding.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

124 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2026

Reviews

[DALYN MILLER]

Olivia Sullivan’s Oracles presents a visually driven narrative that leans into atmosphere, interpretation, and artistic expression. As a graphic novel, it offers more than just a storyline it creates an experience shaped by both its visual elements and the tone it establishes throughout.

One of the most compelling aspects of Oracles is its ability to communicate meaning beyond dialogue. The artwork plays a central role in guiding the reader, allowing moments to unfold in a way that feels immersive and open to interpretation. This balance between imagery and narrative gives the work a distinct identity within the graphic novel space.

There is also a noticeable sense of intention in how the story is structured. Rather than rushing its progression, the book allows space for reflection, which encourages readers to engage more deeply with both the visuals and the underlying themes. This pacing contributes to a reading experience that feels deliberate and thoughtfully composed.

Overall, Oracles stands as a creative and expressive work that highlights Olivia Sullivan’s ability to merge storytelling with visual artistry. It offers readers something that is not only engaging but also interpretive, making it a noteworthy addition to the graphic novel genre.

[Matt Graupman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right off the bat, I'll confess that I don't typically like when a poetic writing style is used in comics, at least not to tell a story. I like reading poetry and I even like when poems are illustrated, but I'm not a fan of comics that use a free verse, stream-of-consciousness kind of narrative. I guess objectively there's very little difference but what can I say? I like what I like. I know I liked the art in Olivia Sullivan's "Oracles" quite a bit. It's simple and elegant and lyrical in its own way, particularly her drawings of natural phenomena; they reminded me of Anders Nilsen's work, actually. I'm not gonna pretend to know exactly what the story was about but it felt very personal and I definitely understood the tone, even if I didn't catch the specifics of the "plot," such as it is. "Oracles" is a hypnotic, inscrutable, but ultimately enjoyable graphic novel.

[Comic Book Yeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and rambling exploration of grief and the healing power of nature.

This is not your typical graphic novel. Words are more cryptic and poetic, meant to nudge your own inward journey as a reader so it won’t be for everybody but if you are willing to try something a little bit different and maintain an open mind, this is a stunning work.

[Raven Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

I heard the Beatnik standing on the coffee house stage. The slam poet gazed out into a darkened crowd. The spotlight shone brightly on the poet freeversing.

It was not for me, but if you enjoy a slightly abstracted writing style, free verse prose, and literary artistic endeavors, you will enjoy this. I read via an online reader, but a physical copy probably would have helped me

[David Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exquisitely drawn graphic poem about the setting off in the woods after losing a loved one. Not so much of a plot here, but the feeling of isolation that comes with grief and the healing that comes with being alone in nature. Hard to describe, but beautiful to observe Ms. Sullivan's gentle skill.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at grief and dealing with the loss of a parent. Having lost my Mother, I can understand the wandering through the desert theme, but overall, the story didn't stick with me. The artwork was stunning and parts of the story hit home, but overall, not my favorite.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/23/2026 Forgot that this got pushed back to late June. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

6/25/2026 I'm pretty sure that this is meant to be an illustrated poem, but that's not the only thing that baffles me about this purported graphic novel.

Leaving heartbreak behind, the protagonist pares down their physical existence and decides to go on a long hike in the woods. Things get weird very quickly, as the narrator starts hallucinating, presumably from having consumed something foraged that they shouldn't have. Soon, they're on a trippy mental journey (yes, Terence McKenna is name checked here and yes, I rolled my eyes hard) as they try to process their fresh grief over their breakup, their lingering grief over their mother's death some time earlier, and their desire to turn their back on modern life and live in the woods a la Richard Proenneke (which I did not roll my eyes at. There is value in living a minimalist lifestyle even if it isn't for me.)

But oh man, the romanticization of that "simple life" just made this so hard for me to care. McCandless Camping -- a reference to the guy who essentially starved himself to death in the Alaskan wilderness -- is presented as something aspirational, and y'all, I cannot. It's not romantic to die because you're a dumbass. Mr Proenneke knew what he was doing; Mr McCandless very much did not. I get that this was written in the throes of self-abnegation but honestly, to what end? Who benefits when you starve yourself in isolation? Are you going to subsequently go out into the world and spread a message of doing good for others?

Perhaps this book is an attempt at doing just that but it left me weirdly cold, as admittedly many other Buddhist texts of detaching from the world in search of enlightenment do. I appreciate a good spiritual retreat as much as the next person -- deliberately forcing a separation from material inessentials in order to better understand your self and the universal needs of humanity is important work -- but don't believe that you can solve any problems, either the world's or your own, by running away from them and taking a bunch of recreational drugs. Perhaps Olivia Sullivan is trying to suggest a better way of engagement with the world by detailing her grief and coping mechanisms here, even as she acknowledges how poorly cut out she is for the self-sufficient life of which she dreams.

It doesn't help that the color scheme, while meant to evoke older and naturalist texts, lands firmly in a zeitgeist dominated by the Backrooms. Ms Sullivan's art is at least clear, with excellent layouts. The writing could definitely use a little work, tho perhaps people who enjoy Beat poetry more than I do would also appreciate this more than I did.

Oracles by Olivia Sullivan was published June 20 2026 by Avery Hill Publishing and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop.