--- title: "Review: You Brought Me the Ocean, by Alex Sanchez and Julie Maroh" description: Suzanne reviews You Brought Me the Ocean, an origin story for a gay Black Aqualad. image: https://www.loveinpanels.com/hubfs/you-brought-me-the-ocean.jpg --- [![LoveinPanelswhite.png](https://www.loveinpanels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LoveinPanelswhite.png?width=640&height=225&name=LoveinPanelswhite.png "LoveinPanelswhite.png")](http://loveinpanels.com/) Search ![You Brought Me the Ocean Cover](https://www.loveinpanels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/you-brought-me-the-ocean.jpg?height=500&name=you-brought-me-the-ocean.jpg) **Title**: You Brought Me the Ocean **Creators**: - [Alex Sanchez](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?creators=Alex%20Sanchez) - [Julie Maroh](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?creators=Julie%20Maroh) **Format**: EBook Print **Color**: Color **Romanceiness**: Definitely a Romance **Heat**: PG13 **Tags**: [Chinese-American](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=Chinese-American) [Black](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=Black) [young adult](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=young%20adult) [superhero](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=superhero) [origin story](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=origin%20story) [gay](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=gay) [lgbtq](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=lgbtq) [queer](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=queer) [coming out](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comicsearch?tags=coming%20out) **Where to Buy or Read**: If you'd like to buy a copy of *You Brought Me the Ocean*, please consider using one of these links to support the site: [Amazon](https://amzn.to/30OBVDA) ◊ [Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/us/book/you-brought-me-the-ocean/id1517562327?mt=11&app=itunes&at=1010lHNt) ◊ [Barnes & Noble](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8814288/type/dlg/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-brought-me-the-ocean-alex-sanchez/1136623920?ean=9781401290818) ◊ [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/116/9781401290818) ◊ or buy at your local comic shop! As of this writing, it's also available to borrow on Hoopla. **Synopsis from the Creator**: The New York Times bestselling illustrator of Blue is the Warmest Color, Julie Maroh, and Lambda Award-winning author Alex Sanchez (Rainbow Boys), present a new coming-out romance set against the backdrop of the DC Universe. Jake Hyde doesn't swim-not since his father drowned. Luckily, he lives in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, which is in the middle of the desert, yet he yearns for the ocean and is determined to leave his hometown for a college on the coast. But his best friend, Maria, wants nothing more than to make a home in the desert, and Jake's mother encourages him to always play it safe. Yet there's nothing "safe" about Jake's future-not when he's attracted to Kenny Liu, swim team captain and rebel against conformity. And certainly not when he secretly applies to Miami University. Jake's life begins to outpace his small town's namesake, which doesn't make it any easier to come out to his mom, or Maria, or the world. But Jake is full of secrets, including the strange blue markings on his skin that low when in contact with water. What power will he find when he searches for his identity, and will he turn his back to the current or dive head first into the waves? **Love In Panels' Review**: [Review of You Brought Me the Ocean](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comics/you-brought-me-the-ocean) # [Review: You Brought Me the Ocean, by Alex Sanchez and Julie Maroh](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comics/you-brought-me-the-ocean) [fa icon="calendar"] Jun 18, 2020 9:45:00 AM / by [Suzanne](https://www.loveinpanels.com/comics/author/suzanne) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) *You Brought Me the Ocean* is an origin story for Aqualad, this time as a gay Black teen living in the US Southwest. So many secrets. His mother's been keeping him away for water his entire life, but why? What are the "birthmarks" on his arms and why do they glow when exposed to water? Is he gay? Why does everyone think he's dating his best friend Maria? And is it time to talk to the only out gay guy at school? Or do more than talk? ![YBMTO_1_39](https://www.loveinpanels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YBMTO_1_39.jpg?width=200&name=YBMTO_1_39.jpg)Long-time readers of queer comics will be familiar with Julie Maroh's art. Soft lines and a pencils and watercolor feel. Subdued colors. Lots of longing looks. This was my first time reading anything by Alex Sanchez, however, and I was pleased. Jake (Aqualad) falls for Kenny, a Chinese-American boy with green hair and a conservative dad who uses a wheelchair. Kenny feels trapped in town because if he leaves his father will be managing the local inn alone since his mother passed away years ago. He's the only out gay kid and that's also isolating, even if he has some friends. The romance between Jake and Kenny is complicated but felt true and deep. Readers should know that *You Brought Me the Ocean* is heavy on homophobia, including some actual gay-bashing. Jake's long-time best friend is Mexican-American and she's been waiting for years for Jake to finally want to date her. She's initially angry when she finds Jake and Kenny kissing, but it's not homophobia so much as really hurt feelings based on an assumption she never should have made. ![YBMTO_1_4](https://www.loveinpanels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YBMTO_1_4.jpg?width=200&name=YBMTO_1_4.jpg)They're all seniors in high school, which adds another element of uncertainty to the story. I'm not sure about you, but my family decided that when I was 18, I got to know all the messy family business and this felt a bit like that. (Why is it that everyone wants to turn your life completely upside down when you're already in a period of massive transition?) In all, this book is beautifully illustrated and a bit heart-breaking but ultimately a loving and hopeful origin story for a young man destined for great things. *** If you'd like to buy a copy of *You Brought Me the Ocean*, please consider using one of these links to support the site: [Amazon](https://amzn.to/30OBVDA) ◊ [Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/us/book/you-brought-me-the-ocean/id1517562327?mt=11&app=itunes&at=1010lHNt) ◊ [Barnes & Noble](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8814288/type/dlg/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-brought-me-the-ocean-alex-sanchez/1136623920?ean=9781401290818) ◊ [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/116/9781401290818) ◊ or buy at your local comic shop! As of this writing, it's also available to borrow on Hoopla. *** **Content Warnings:** homophobia, bullying, assault *Suzanne received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. 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