First released in 2010, Sandcastle is an incredibly inventive graphic novel, but it’s a challenging title that’s flown under the radar for a lot of people and is just now gaining a larger appreciation a decade later. The world of graphic novels has experienced several Renaissances and there’s so much material to check out that it can sometimes even be overwhelming.
It’s easy to miss the more independent titles, but these smaller releases can often be even more exciting than the commercial stories being told that are steeped in superheroes. There’s something very special going on in Sandcastle and there’s never been a better time to get informed on the title with it set to gain new traction in 2021.
9 It's Written By Pierre Oscar Levy
There are plenty of factors that are important for a comic or graphic novel to become a classic and resonate with a large audience. Chief among these factors is that there’s a competent writer that’s in charge of the project that doesn’t just have something worthwhile to say, but is also able to articulate it in an effective and interesting way.
Sandcastle is written by Pierre Oscar Lévy, who has gone on to make an impression in the comics industry but was initially a documentary filmmaker by trade. Lévy is able to incorporate what he’s learned about the human condition through his filmmaking and filter it through his writings, especially in the case of Sandcastle.
8 M. Night Shyamalan Is Adapting It Into His Next Movie
One of the most exciting developments surrounding Sandcastle, and the one that’s guaranteed to give the graphic novel its biggest boost, is that M. Night Shyamalan is adapting it into his next film, Old, which is set to be released in July.
Shyamalan’s take is expected to deviate from the source material in some ways, but the general premise and main obstacle will be the same in both. This isn’t the first time that Shyamalan has adapted someone else’s work, but he has a real passion for Lévy and Peeters’ graphic novel, which should hopefully lead to a satisfying movie.
7 The Artwork Is By Frederik Peeters
It’s not unusual for a comic or graphic novel to have one individual that’s both the writer and the artist, which is often how Frédérik Peeters operates. However, in the case of Sandcastle, Peeters chooses to pool his talents together with Pierre Oscar Lévy to create a powerful story that plays into both of their strengths.
Peeters has a very distinct art style that’s fitting for the transformative nature of Sandcastle’s characters. Peeters is able to effectively shift between broader caricatures to stark and realistic individuals. The beautiful art helps bring the unusual story to life.
6 SelfMadeHero Is The Book's Publisher
Another crucial factor that can make or break a graphic novel during its inception is the publisher that helps bring it to the masses. Debates continue to rage on over the advantages and setbacks of being a part of a major label like Marvel or DC as opposed to a smaller, independent imprint.
Sandcastle wasn’t an ongoing release so it didn’t have to worry about things like persistent censorship or creative meddling. For this reason, SelfMadeHero, an imprint of the Abrams ComicArts brand, helped put Sandcastle on the shelves and it was an amicable relationship.
5 The Writer & Artist Met During An Adaptation Of A Previous Project
There are many creative teams in the comics industry that excel because they bring out the best in each other. Sometimes these creative pairings are manufactured by the label, but they can often organically happen or blossom over time as writers and artists build a relationship together over several projects.
In the case of Sandcastle’s Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frédérik Peeters, the two first met when Lévy was attempting to adapt Peeters' autobiographical graphic novel, Blue Pills, into a documentary film. The two connected in such a way that they were inspired to develop Sandcastle together.
4 It Presents A Twisted Twilight Zone-Like Story
The main concept in Sandcastle is that it features a beach with supernatural properties where people age their entire lives over the course of a single day. Sandcastle tackles this premise with a wide berth of characters that begin at different points in their lives.
Some characters accept and adjust to this cruel fate, while others try to escape from the macabre situation that they’ve found themselves in. It all plays out like a surreal Twilight Zone entry and it functions as a thoughtful meditation on humanity, sexuality, and life’s messy nature— just like how the Twilight Zone could.
3 It Wasn't Originally Written In English
Both the writer and artist behind Sandcastle have diverse backgrounds. Pierre Oscar Lévy is French and Frédérik Peeters is Swiss, which meant that a good deal of Peeters earlier material didn’t necessarily make it overseas.
Blue Pills was Peeters' first work to get translated into English, which was such a success that this continued to happen with his subsequent works: Pachyderme, Lupus, RG, Koma, and then ultimately, Sandcastle. Sandcastle’s English translation came out in 2011, a year after the original’s release, and it’s a very faithful and trustworthy translation.
2 The Creative Team Has Won Several Awards
Sometimes independent releases that aren’t a part of a bigger franchise can be difficult to get into, especially if the creative team aren’t immediately recognizable. Awards and accolades obviously aren’t the point of comics, but they can help give the consumer a little more assurance towards unknown writers and artists.
Peeters has received both the Polish Jury Prize and the Premios La Cárcel de Papel in Spain for Best Foreign Comic for Blue Pills. Additionally, Peeters' others works have been nominated for other honors that are just as prestigious, like the Grand Prix at the Angoulême International Comics Festival.
1 It Mixes Science Fiction With Murder Mystery
Some of the very best stories are the ones that are able to effectively and confidently lean into several different genres. The unusual time displacement nature of Sandcastle makes it a clear science fiction narrative, but the graphic novel also verges into murder mystery territory.
The sci-fi setting triggers both the best and the worst of the individuals that are caught up in this scenario, which is what inevitably pushes characters to make these harsh decisions. The mystery, suspense, and even the romance aren’t possible without the science fiction before it.