About Octopolis

Octopolis is a graphic novel, written and illustrated by S.S. Julian.

Humans are extinct, and Octopuses have inherited the Earth.

Octopolis is a non-dystopian post-apocalypse story set underwater. In a future where humans drove themselves into extinction, a new intelligent species has evolved: the octopus. They’ve build their own society in the coral-encrusted ruins of our sunken cities.

Colorful underwater fantasy scene with coral reefs, a giant hermit crab, and various marine life, including fish and sea plants. Two figures stand at a gateway near the bottom. Air bubbles form above, suggesting structures or vessels afloat in the water.

The Tide Wall, a living reef that protects the city-state of Polyps. Its parapets are studded with elkhorn coral that breach the surface at low tide, and patrolled by guards at low tide. There are two entrances: A weighted lower gate for ground transport, and a buoyant upper gate for swimmers.

Life under the sea

Comic illustration of an octopus riding a shark with a spear in an underwater scene, surrounded by fish and seaweed.

Octopuses have domesticated all sorts of animals for their purposes. This sand octopus rides a black-tipped reef shark and wields a turitella-shell spear.

Underwater scene with cartoon octopuses carrying woven baskets and scrolls, surrounded by seaweed and coral, in an animated style.

The octopuses have a vibrant trade economy. Kurita’s family is preparing their sledge with a load of kelp textiles and preserved krill to take to market.

Our fearless hero

Cartoon purple octopus with green sash and two pink arms.

Octopolis follows the adventures of Kurita, a young female octopus on the cusp of adulthood. She lives with her family on the edge of the Great Kelp Forest. They make their living cultivating kelp for textiles and for their buoyant pods, which are useful as floatation devices.

Kurita lost two of her arms in a childhood accident. Ever since they regenerated (like all octopus arms), they seem to have minds of their own. Of course, they literally do! Kurita loves her ‘younger’ arms and considers them the source of her creative ideas, but they tend to get her into trouble more often than not.

Like any octopus, Kurita is curious. She dreams of making her fortune as an alchemist in the great metropolis of Polyps. She’s about to get her wish, but probably more than she ever bargained for!

The shadow of empire

Ruins of a fallen empire litter the ocean’s coasts. Here the main characters explore a sunken subway station, abandoned except for a skeleton of the elusive two-tailed fish.

Comic scene featuring two octopuses swimming, one holding a light, another saying "Abyss below!" Inside a futuristic, building with a skeleton on the floor. Text "Welcome to Octopolis" is displayed. Style is blue-toned and digital.

Cephalopods don’t leave skeletons behind, so they have no idea that humans ever existed. They believe this ancient sea-spanning empire was ruled by octopuses like themselves.

They call it… Octopolis.

Surreal comic-style illustration with an abstract landscape, featuring a shield-bearing character in a boat, geometric buildings, clouds, and flying objects.

S.S. Julian is the mind behind Octopolis.

Cartoon man with a mustache, wearing an octopus on his head, against a blue background. Self-portrait by S.S. Julian

Hi there! I am a cartoonist, originally from San Diego CA and currently based out of the Bay Area.

I studied Creative Writing from Stanford, and worked for years as a game designer and later as a product designer for Goodreads.com. A couple years ago I decided to quit my job to make the comic I’d been dreaming about for years a reality.

I’ve spent my life swimming and scuba diving along the California coast. It’s a vital ecosystem that’s actively threatened by human activity. In Octopolis, I’m hoping to depict the ocean with the same enthusiasm afforded the fictional worlds in all my favorite books and comics.

Right now I live in the Bay Area with my wife and dog. I volunteer as a diver at the SF Aquarium of the Bay, where I get to feed the wolf eels, giant sea bass, and of course, the octopus.

Disclaimer: I am a human, not an octopus with designs on world domination. Why would you think that?