Despite the fact that whaling is absolutely disgusting and sick, there was a time when it was a standard practice all over the world. When Estaban, a young native boy living somewhere in Chile, is orphaned after a brutal attack on his peaceful village by white men he decides to leave home and join a whaling crew. Since he's the youngest and least experience crew member, he gets picked on mercilessly, but the rough around the edges captain takes him under his wing, and the crew slowly starts to warm up to the young man.

The cold open massacre at the beginning was confusing as you're given no context who these people are or where they are at or even the time period. It gets better after that, once Esteban has to fend for himself. He talks his way on to a whaling ship and begins to learn the craft. It was interesting to see a comic about a subject I didn't know much about.

Part one of five, in a slightly unlikely-seeming historical fiction graphic novel. When some cavalry marauder types wipe out his community, Esteban is left with just the one hope – he had been told by his mother before then that the captain of the 'Leviathan', a whaling ship, would see him right. Reluctantly he's let on board, and lo and behold before the end he's being far too good at what he's supposed to be doing. So on the one hand we have what seems a realistic evocation of whaling from five-man row-boats, in the stormy seas off the southern tip of the Americas, but on the other a whopping and sudden change in fortune for the kid. Future volumes would appear to have him communing with penguins, which ties in with his having had a message from an auk about his dead dad, but shows that some of this might just be a bit too fanciful. The better thread to the rest of the story might be the hidden past of the skipper and his mother – but that might be straight from bodice-rippers, too. The jury, then, is still out, but this is an attractive read with which to dip your toes in the waters.

'Esteban 1. The Whaler' with words and art by Matthieu Bonhomme is the story of a young boy who joins a whaling crew.

The story begins with the death of Esteban's mother. He has to find a way in the world and that way leads the ship Leviathan. Apparently the captain knew his mother and takes Estaban onboard. Esteban really wants to be a harpooner, but he has a lot to learn. Life aboard ship is hard, but Esteban makes his way.

It's a good beginning to a coming of age story, and Esteban and other characters seem pretty well written. The art is good too, especially nice action scenes of men in boats against huge whales.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Let's start with the positives.

This is a historical fiction graphic novel about a young boy who loses his family and boards a ship to become a harpooner. What I really loved about this graphic novel is the artwork. Beautifully planned, full of details and amazing to look at.

However, unfortunately this graphic novel was not for me. The ship Esteban boards is one of whale hunters, and the whale killing was graphically portrayed. I just could not appreciate a story about whale killing. I recognise that this review is biased, but I could not say anything different.

This book is an introduction to the Esteban series. It does a pretty good job of it, hooking us in with thrilling action and introducing us to the protagonist, a native American boy named Esteban.

Esteban, after the opening events, gets a job on a whaling ship. Little mysteries are set up throughout the story, prompting questions like “how does Esteban’s mother know the whaling ship’s captain?”, “who or what was the messenger bird who could hear the voices of spirits?”

The art lends a somehow minimalist feel to the story, showing calmness in a story filled with crashing waves and sure action. The still mood set by the art is punctuated and brought to life with jagged font and wide spreads, which makes visualising the story much easier.

To sum it up, this book is a good introduction to the protagonist and his first few days of life on the whaling ship.

This is a graphic novel from the shores of South America where whalers took to the seas to sail into Antarctic waters to hunt, kill and process whales.
It is not a good read if you are disturbed by the killing of whales for profit and without thought of the impact on these wonderful creatures. However, it is a book of its time, like Moby Dick with the captain and sailors having respect for the hunt and the hunted. The language and attitude should not be confused with current knowledge and moral outrage. This happened, the story is a balance between this background and Esteban’s introduction into his world as it was seen as his only security at that time.
It is an exciting backdrop and location for the story of a young boy finding his way and reaching for his destiny. His links with a people with strange customs and beliefs gives the account an extra dimension boarding the magical and fantasy of place and culture.
This is comic number one with future instalments charting his time at sea and among this breed of sailor. I know of 5 titles in this series from The Whaler here to 5. Blood and Ice.
The time spent with Esteban in this first instalment is action filed, character building and hinting of changing times with vessels under steam joining the fleet in vast numbers.
The elements of his earlier childhood revealed also bode well for a wonderful story character driven if you can just get past the horrors of whale hunting.

Esteban is one of those stories about coming of age after some traumatic event. In this case it's about how newer ways take over some of the old. For the sailors or the title character there are industrial types who try to take over what they devote their lives towards. Quickly people are going out of their way to preserve what little of their lives they still have. With Esteban's family slaughtered, he crews up with a gruff but sympathetic captain. Despite some rules, it's how Esteban's youthful beliefs reinvigorate the crew as they face competing boats as they opt for steam engines. Esteban's life experiences might seem like a fantasy, but they're a part of him and his Argentine people so they're real enough to him. It's holding onto those beliefs that get anyone out of a hard life especially in the face of obsolescence.

This is a great story that people might have a hard time getting into in regards to what people do in these times but if they can get over that, they just might find something to relate to.

This book was very cute. It touched on grief and longing without ever diving too deep or dampening the mood of the book. The art is adorable, and the story is both sad and inspiring. Esteban never gave up on his dream and persisted until he could accomplish his goals. Personally, I love whales, so reading this was a little hard but I loved the story nonetheless. However, their didn't seem to be a resounding goal in the book, and the story wanders a little. I would have liked it if the book were longer and delved deeper into Esteban's story.

It is story of a brave girl who wants to fight the adversities prevelent in society and wants to fight brutality of life.
Among these she wants to show her real worth.

She joins a ship as a whaler after great persuasion and efforts.
Then interesting tale unwinds amongst the sea and sailors.
Artwork is great. Backgrounds merge with characters like shadows and reading story is highly enjoyable.
Suspense hangs through pages and minute details of whale industry are drawn expertly.
I recommend it to graphic novel fans.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.