The Jellyfish, translated from French and written by Montreal-born writer Boum, follows 20-something Odette as they start to experience the sudden appearance of a jellyfish in their eye. They visit the optometrist only to be told that they have a jellyfish in their eye and there’s nothing to be done. Soon, they have two. Then those multiply…and multiply…and multiply. They’re really starting to panic now. Their relationships with family, friends, and lover start to become difficult. They don’t know how to tell them that their vision is going dark, and when they do, their loved ones are slow to adapt. Work becomes difficult. Life becomes difficult.
This was such a beautifully done graphic novel. The way the jellyfish represent slowly going blind and the way they are drawn so you experience what Odette sees is just brilliant. This is also a personal story, as Boum became permanently blind in her right eye in 2021. This was one of my absolute favorite graphic novels I read in 2024 and I cannot recommend it enough.
Check out this great interview with the author to learn more about her personal experience and how she created The Jellyfish.
