We are delighted to be joined by creator, writer and artist Ariela Kristantina.
Hi Ariela, it’s so wonderful to have you here with us.
Hi! Thanks so much for having me 😊
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, Ariela Kristantina here –I’m the creator, writer/artist of The Girl Who Draws on Whales. My other works include Adora and The Distance by Marc Bernardin (Comixology), Killer Moth: The Happiest Man in Gotham by Mairghread Scott (DC), Mata Hari by Emma Beeby (Dark Horse), InSexts by Marguerite Bennett (Aftershock), The Logan Legacy by Tim Seely (Marvel), and Deep State by Justin Jordan (Boom Studio).
Can you tell us about the origins of The Girl Who Draws on Whales?
A simple sketch that I did after working on something else —a little girl and a whale floating together. I’ve always had a soft spot for animals, and that sketch stuck with me until I decided to write about her in a full story. I wanted the whale to be something more: maybe a friend? A guardian? A supporting character? I imagined that the world was huge and overwhelming, but still deeply personal. For me, the connection between animals and humans is powerful.
They were here long before us, and, at least the way I see it, they’ll still be here long after we’re gone.
Who is Wangi?
Wangi is an ordinary girl who is brave, stubborn, a little reckless, and endlessly curious—an artist who believes her stories and drawings can bridge worlds. She’s got this big imagination and even bigger heart, which gets her into trouble. She’s the kind of kid who sees meaning in everything—clouds, waves, even whales.
You created the story and all of the art for The Girl Who Draws on Whales. What part of that process did you enjoy the most?
That’s a tough one! I definitely know what I don’t enjoy—filling in the gaps in the script after all the pages are done. It always feels like doing homework after finishing the fun part. At the start, I had the whole story broken down to a T —thumbnails, page notes from Will Dennis (the editor), everything. But writing the captions and dialogue, actually stitching it all together, turned out to be way trickier than I expected.
How did Comixology Originals get involved with The Girl Who Draws on Whales?
I wrote up the initial story and pitch, and then showed it to Will Dennis—we were wrapping up the coloring for Adora and The Distance at that point. He decided it didn’t suck so he helped me take the pitch directly to Chip Mosher at Comixology Originals and got the ball rolling. Chip left not long after, but Jeff DiBartolomeo, the GN and CTO of Comixology Originals, ended up being one of the book’s biggest supporters.
What can you tell us about Banyu?
Banyu is Wangi’s younger brother. He is careful, observant, and he helps keep her steady. While Wangi acts with strong feelings and creativity, Banyu helps her stay realistic. He supports his sister with a deep, quiet courage; he’s an important part of Wangi’s support system.
How did Sarah Stern and Bernardo Brice join the team?
I’m a huge fan of Sarah’s style—I particularly loved her Batgirl work with Jorge Corona and the way she colors my covers for BOOM! Studio. I asked her to join once the first quarter of the book was complete. For the lettering, I previously worked with Bernardo Brice on Adora and The Distance. It was an easy decision to bring him onto this project.
Can you tell us about the world that The Girl Who Draws on Whales is set in?
The world of The Girl Who Draws on Whales is almost completely flooded. People live on scattered sea villages and small islands, and most of the old world sleeps underwater after the Great Flood. I wanted it to feel calm but mysterious—beautiful, dangerous, and a little forgotten. The world isn’t ending; it already ended, and people have learned how to live with it. It’s a fantasy world I want to see in a comic book—a place that survives and exists without being over-explained. At the end of the day, my goal is to entertain. I just hope readers can connect with the world Wangi and Banyu call home.
What can you tell us about The Girl Who Draws on Whales?
The Girl Who Draws on Whales is basically the kind of story I wanted to read when I was a kid—and honestly, still want to read now. It follows two siblings, Wangi and Banyu, who live in this post-flood world made of sea villages and wandering whales. Wangi has this incredible bond with a whale named Maaha—she literally draws stories on his back—and one day a wounded whale shows up with a drawing she didn’t make.
So the kids do something very kid-like: they sneak out to investigate, and suddenly they’re pulled into this bigger world filled with magical sea creatures and a literal flying warship.
At its heart, it’s a story about siblings, trust, and adventures, but it’s also about protecting your home, your “world”, and your stories. And yes—there are a lot of whales.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
Thanks so much for taking the time to read about The Girl Who Draws on Whales! I hope it brings you a sense of wonder—and maybe a little comfort too—the same way it did for me while making it.
We would like to say a big thank you to Ariela for chatting with us and wish her the best of luck with The Girl Who Draws on Whales.
