Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize 2011 Honor Book
As a kid (and even now in my current "grown up" guise!), I loved those Big Little books, 3 X 4 thick mini-tomes in which each turn of the page revealed a new comic image that advanced the story a frame at a time. Drew Weing's Set to Sea is that kind of book...but with panache, detail, and a tip of the hat to the rich imagery of E.C. Segar's Popeye. In fact, the subtext of Weing's book might be "Bluto finds his inner self." Weing's burly lead character is spiritually transformed by his ocean voyage, forevermore transformed from rowdy to poetic self. In this book, small in size but large in vision, the art of storytelling through pure visual image is at its height. –J. Zolten
Drew Weing's Set to Sea is a small wonder of visual narrative. The book's superbly executed single-panel pages combine iconic cartooning and realistic detail as they deliver a quietly moving story which unfolds primarily through image. This is a book to reread and enjoy many times over. –S. Smith
Simple and yet so beautiful, the use of words is perfectly budgeted to not distract from the amazing images. You can easily read it again and again.
–J. Meier
Set to Sea really encapsulates the power of comics: to combine an aesthetic experience with a lovely story. The panel transitions are especially impressive, and the story moves with the turning of the pages. Every time I read Set to Sea (and it's been a least a dozen times by now), I come away with a new meaning. This book changes and grows with you. The strength and beauty of the story lies with its simplicity and subtlety. –J. Rosello
Set to Sea epitomizes the whole notion of the graphic novel set forth by Lynn Ward. It is a tour de force packed into a small-scale book. The illustrations are nothing less then brilliant. The balance between word and image is spot-on whereas the image takes precedence over the words yet the words are instrumental in conveying the story. I love this book. I have read it over and over again and each time it reveals something new to admire and appreciate. –J Sanders