Set to Sea is a 2010 graphic novel by cartoonist Drew Weing. It is the first graphic novel that he published. It follows a struggling poet as he is shanghaied and pressed into service on a clipper ship.
Examples of tropes found in Set to Sea include:
- The Alcoholic: The protagonist apparently spent all day in the Angry Kitten bar prior to being abducted. The synopsis states he regularly runs-up tabs at local bars.
- Bookends: The comic begins and ends with the protagonist falling asleep in the Angry Kitten bar.
- Expy: The driver of the cart takes the protagonist to the ship looks identical to Alice the Goon.
- Eyepatch of Power: The protagonist gets one after being shot in the eye during the Pirate attack.
- Grievous Harm with a Body: During the pirate attack, the protagonist picks up one pirate and starts beating the other pirates with him.
- It's All Junk: After struggling with what to write, the protagonist throws his poetry book in the ocean. He gets back into it after he gets inspiration from life as a sailor.
- Homage: Much of the character design is inspired by E.C. Segar.
- Pirate: The ship the protagonist is forced to work on is attacked by these shortly afterward.
- Mean Boss: Captain Conrad, who kidnaps his crew and treats them like shit (Though he still seems to pay them, since his crew are seen buying things in port.)
- No Name Given: Captain Conrad is the only character named.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: After surviving being shot in the eye, the protagonists, after being stunned for a period, starts attacking the pirates quite furiously.
- Title Drop: "I Set to Sea" is the title of the first poem we see the protagonist. Set to Sea is also the title of his poetry book when he publishes it.
