Chad Burdette
Mad Cave Studios’ all-ages imprint Papercutz proudly presents ARCHIPELAGO VOL. 1, a timely middle-grade graphic novel set in a near-future world transformed by rising seas, written by Basque authors Martin and Xabier Etxeberria (Buyan, Broken Eye), with art by Alex San Vicente Sanvi and colors by Sergio Román Sedyas.
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Archipelago blends environmental adventure with high-stakes intrigue and cinematic worldbuilding that young readers won’t want to miss!
Authors Martin and Xabier Etxeberria said about the project:
“When we wrote the original audio series for Basque TV five years ago, we imagined a dystopian future because we’ve always loved sci-fi stories. But given everything that’s happening in the world today, we wonder if Archipelago isn’t, after all, a real prediction of our near future… Beneath the Three Waves, readers will find a story of adventure, fantasy, and romance.”
Artist Alex San Vicente added:
“I’ve always loved classic newspaper comics (Captain Easy, Buzz Sawyer, Johnny Hazard; just to name a few) where adventure, drama, and comedy built the stories. Add to the mix certain fantastical manga vibes (Miyazaki, the master of it all) and voila! I hope we can get a little closer to that kind of story and that readers will join us on the journey.”
Colorist Sergio Román Sedyas said about his inspiration:
“The idea behind the colors in Archipelago was to help immerse you in the story, with special attention to the passage of time during the day and night.
The main inspiration was Future Boy Conan by Hayao Miyazaki. I hope the color palettes contribute to the immersive experience of the adventure.”
Archipelago Vol. 1
Earth 2103—A large part of the world is underwater. Global warming and the sudden acceleration of the melting of the poles have caused a sharp rise in sea level, in the form of Three Great Waves which arrived unexpectedly.
These tsunamis not only flooded entire countries, but also wiped out telecommunications, agriculture, and energy production. Those who managed to survive must operate in a new and fragmented society of scarce resources — a dark age in which new powers emerge, such as the North African League, ready to conquer the part of Europe left on the water.
It is there that Jare, a young woman with hidden powers who lives in the Basque Archipelago, will find herself unexpectedly plunged into a world of dangerous intrigue that seeks to disrupt old balances and create new alliance
Archipelago Vol. 1 goes on sale June 16, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545826744) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545826751) formats, and is available for preorder wherever books and comics are sold. Readers can also buy directly from Papercutz.com.
