The Jellyfish
| The Jellyfish (La méduse) | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2022 |
| Publisher | Pow Pow Press |
| Creative team | |
| Creator | Boum |
| Original publication | |
| Language | French |
| Translators | Robin Lang and Helge Dascher |
The Jellyfish is a graphic novel by Boum. Originally published in 2022 in French under the title La méduse, it was translated into English by Robin Lang and Helge Dascher in 2024.
Plot
Odette, a young adult living on their own in Montreal who prides themself for their independence, has their vision blocked by black floaters they call "jellyfish", represented in the book as floating jellyfish that obscure the art. Unsure of what to tell their friends, family, and girlfriend Naina, they keep the jellyfish a secret, but when the jellyfish grow in size and number and Odette goes to the eye doctor, they must assess their relationship with independence and the people around them.[1][2][3][4][5][a]
Development
The book was inspired by Boum’s own experiences; she lost the use of her right eye in 2021 after having had vision issues since 2007.[6][7]
Reception
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, praising Boum's use of jellyfish obscuring the artwork to represent Odette's vision problems as a "near perfect symbiosis between narrative and art", and concluding that the book is a "deeply moving meditation on disability, diversity, and joy".[1]
It was also positively reviewed by Publishers Weekly[2] and Zack Quaintance of Comics Beat.[8]
| Year | Award/Honor | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table’s Best Graphic Novels for Adults | Top Ten | [9] |
| Sophie Castille Award | Won | [10] | |
| Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material | Won | [11] |
References
- 1 2 THE JELLYFISH | Kirkus Reviews.
- 1 2 "The Jellyfish by Boum". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
- ↑ "You Should Be Taking Graphic Novels Seriously". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- ↑ Luke, Beirne (2026-01-26). "For Boum, her own vision loss was key to her graphic novel". CBC News.
- ↑ Reid, Calvin. "Panel Mania: 'The Jellyfish' by Boum". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ Vigneault, François (2024-05-01). ""I Feel Like 'The Jellyfish' is the Most Personal Book I've Ever Made" — An Interview with Boum on Her Pow Pow Press Graphic Medicine Story". Broken Frontier. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
- ↑ Velentzas, Irene (2024-11-20). "'I just wanted to incorporate parts of my story that felt important': Boum on vision loss in The Jellyfish". The Comics Journal. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
- ↑ Quaintance, Zack (2024-05-31). "Graphic Novel Review: What happens when THE JELLYFISH gets in your eyes?". The Beat. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ "2024 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List | Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table". www.ala.org. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ Johnston, Rich (2025-09-27). "Robin Lang & Helge Dascher Win Sophie Castille Comic Translation Award". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
- ↑ "Canadians Mariko Tamaki and Boum among Eisner Award winners, recognizing the year's best comics". CBC News.
Notes
- ↑ Odette is referred to they/them pronouns in the English release, and the feminine elle/elles in the original French text