PRESS RELEASE • JUNE 15, 2024

Octopolis: Holdfast is a 2025 Russ Manning Award finalist.

SS Julian has been named one of four finalists for the 2025 Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award on behalf of their 2024 comic, Octopolis: Holdfast.

Russ Manning, Self Portrait

The Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award

The Russ Manning Award has been given out annually at San Diego Comic-con (Comic-con International) since 1982. It is presented to a comic artist who, early in his or her career, shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics. To qualify for the award, the artist must be a newcomer to the comic field, with no professional work published prior to January 2021. Past recipients have included Scott McCloud, Jeff Smith, Gene Ha, and Eleanor Davis.

Octopolis: Holdfast

Octopolis is a non-dystopian post-apocalypse comic series set in a future where humans have driven themselves extinct, and intelligent octopuses have inherited the Earth.

Just as evolutionary biologists have predicted, octopuses have developed their own societies, domesticated underwater animals, and created their own problems.

Though fictional, Octopolis draws on real scientific discoveries about octopus behavior and intelligence, celebrating marine ecologies by re-contextualizing them in a fantasy genre setting.

Octopolis: Holdfast is the first adventure in the series. Join the inquisitive and inventive octopus Kurita as she explores the ruins of Old Octopolis (our sunken cities) and defends her family’s den from ruthless shark-riding nomads. The book was self-published by SS Julian’s imprint ‘Cephalotype’ in 2024, after raising $32,000 of crowdfunding on Kickstarter.

Contact

If you are interested in a review copy of Octopolis: Holdfast, please contact SS Julian for a digital or physical copy.

contact@octopoliscomic.com

www.octopoliscomic.com

Instagram - @octopolis_comic

Facebook - @octopolis

BlueSky - @octopolis.bsky.social

Cartoon illustration of a man with an octopus on his head, blue background. Self-portrait by S.S. Julian

About the Author

SS Julian (he/they) is a cartoonist from San Diego, CA who studied creative writing at Stanford University. After working as a product designer for a decade, they quit their job to create Octopolis. Julian wrote, inked, colored, and formatted the book in its entirety. They are represented by Jennifer Azantian of the Azantian Literary Agency.

Preview Pages and Promotional Art

Colorful underwater comic scene depicting a vibrant ocean city named Octopolis with marine creatures, coral formations, and futuristic vessels.
Colorful illustration with a stylized character resembling a Roman warrior on a ship's prow, holding a shield and staff. The background features abstract buildings, clouds, and a yellow airship, giving a whimsical, surreal vibe.
Cartoon characters exploring a futuristic, blue-themed cityscape labeled "Octopolis." One character is flying with a parachute, saying "Welcome to Octopolis!" Another character notes "Abyss below!" A skeleton is visible in the foreground. URL: octopo
Cartoon octopus riding a shark underwater, holding a spear, with fish observing.
Underwater scene with octopus-like creatures engaged in various activities around a wooden cart, seaweed, and coral, in a cartoon style.
Abstract underwater scene featuring an octopus with geometric tentacles, fish, and a submerged structure. Includes text "Octopolis" by S.S. Julian at the top.
Illustration of an octopus in a crown underwater holding a shield with "S.S. Julian Octopolis" text above; a small figure riding a shark is in the background amidst coral reefs.
Illustration of an octopus wearing a conch shell helmet and holding a spear, riding a shark in an underwater setting, with "Octopolis" text in the background.
Illustration of a stylized octopus with cartoon eyes. Above, various buildings and architectural elements. The word "Octopolis" is prominently at the top. Website text reads "octopoliscomic.com" on the side. Background is teal.

Blurbs

  • Octopolis, a scifi fantasy comic for marine science nerds.

  • Octopolis, a post-apocalypse comic for the reader who’s tired of dystopias.

  • Octopolis draws on real science about the octopus’s incredible biology and intelligence to create an alien world firmly rooted on Planet Earth.

  • Octopolis is a celebration of the ocean, with a heartfelt message about the importance of biodiversity, and diversity, period.

Summary

Octopolis: Holdfast follows the adventures of one particularly precocious octopus: Kurita, a young female octopus. Kurita lost two arms and ever since regenerating they seem to have minds of their own, which… they literally do!

Kurita dreams of making her fortune as a philosopher in the great metropolis of Polyps. One day, Kurita finds the answer to her wishes: an ancient shield, heavier than stone and sturdier than shell. She’ll soon find that her discovery is more important - and more dangerous - that she could possibly imagine.

Kurita will need to embrace her whole identity in order to wield this artifact and stop a power-hungry cannibal queen from repeating the mistakes of the past!

Cartoon purple octopus with green scarf and two pink arms.

The Science

Octopolis draws on real scientific discoveries about octopus behavior and intelligence: the extraordinary behavior of the lesser Pacific striped octopus, the real-life locations Octopolis, Octlantis, and the Octopus Garden on Davidson Seamount.

The only magic in Octopolis is the magic of the ocean! Octopolis is a celebration of the ocean, and those interested in marine biology will appreciate the attention to detail. Ultimately, the action-packed underwater adventure shares a message about the importance of sustainability, biodiversity, and diversity, period.

Two larger pacific striped Octopuses mating in aquarium tank with sand
Colorful cartoon octopuses mating on a textured background.

#octopolis #sdcc #sdcc2025 #russmanningaward2025