SHARKS

Glimpses of historic and contemporary sharks help to stem the tide of misinformation.

Looking at the world of sharks from its very earliest moments around 420 million years ago and from every conceivable angle, this entry in the Science Comics series unspools a fascinating history and jeopardized future for this oft-misunderstood predator. Profiles of individual shark species and shark ancestors intertwine with energetically illustrated facts about different types of sharks, their anatomy, their role in the environment, and more and aim not only to correct typical misinformation, but to make a case for these endangered creatures’ continued survival. The effect is hampered somewhat by a few missteps in execution: Interesting digressions nonetheless feel like disorganization in layout, and there are some confusing inconsistencies in the text—"sharks are perfectly harmless to humans if left alone” and “what makes the great white truly terrifying is the shark’s tendency to mistake humans for its own prey” are two claims that are difficult to reconcile even if they are both accurate. Also, despite the other visual and informational riches about sharks’ vibrant world and how important their survival is to humans’, young shark enthusiasts of color will unfortunately not find themselves reflected in any meaningful roles here.

Informative, exciting, and, unlike sharks, just a bit disappointing.