Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

When a strange fish-boy washes up at the beach, Pete, his friend Toby, and Toby's big sister, Claire, aren't sure what to make of him. But soon Mer, the Merman from Mermin, is living with Pete and on the run from his mysterious and watery past. Mer's confusion about human life is amusing, as are Toby's parents' and teacher's reactions to Mer's appearance. Weisner's art is bright and modern. The action scenes and (literal) fish out of water story line will appeal to superhero fans in particular. Unfortunately, readers may be frustrated by the lack of answers to the many questions raised and the unresolved ending, which waters down an otherwise strong tale. Give this to Lunch Lady or Dragonbreath fans while they wait for the next installment of those series. The fish-boy and his human friends are a likable crew, so hopefully fans can spend some more time with them in future adventures.--Wildsmith, Snow Copyright 2010 Booklist

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A goofy indie comic that reads like Aquaman told though James Kochalka's whimsical lens doesn't quite stay afloat. When Mermin, a friendly green sea creature, washes up on the beach, siblings Claire, Pete and Toby can't believe their eyes. After Mermin uses his superstrength and saves Pete from a vicious shark, Pete repays the favor by letting Mermin stay with him. Truly a fish out of water, Mermin tries to adapt to life with humans on dry land but naturally struggles to fit in. On top of this, a gang of renegade sea creatures tracking Mermin are determined to bring him back to the sea, for reasons that are never explained in this volume. First volumes are often heavy in exposition, but this one offers little else, relying more on antics tenuously strung together than building a cohesive, engrossing storyline. Too many unanswered questions hinder any real fulfillment: Why would Mermin have superstrength on land? Why are the bad guys chasing him? What is he running from? Weiser maddeningly offers his readers nothing on this front; not even the tiniest hint. However, readers looking for a funny, bubble-gum comic with art vibrant as a Saturday-morning cartoon and action to match will find that this suffices. A decent-enough offering, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea. (Graphic fantasy/adventure. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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Mermin, a refugee from the undersea land of Mer, first appeared in a series of five self-published comics, which have been compiled, reworked, and newly colored by Weiser (The Ride Home) in this collection. The title character is a green, bug-eyed, superstrong fish-boy who washes up on the beach, where he's discovered by fifth-graders Pete and Toby, as well as Toby's older sister. After Mermin saves Pete from a shark (a good old kick to the snout does the trick), the boy offers to take Mermin in. Middle-school shenanigans ensue as Mermin perplexes Toby's classmates, parents, and teachers, while avoiding the water for reasons he won't reveal. With the school pool filling up with fish and a whalelike mercenary lurking in the shadows, it quickly becomes clear that Mer isn't letting Mermin go without a fight. The slapstick comedy, climactic battle scenes, and in-your-face cartooning add up to a story with the feel of an animated cartoon series, if not an especially ground-breaking one. Many questions about Mermin remain unanswered, suggesting that future adventures may be in store. All ages. (Feb.)? (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.