Endeavour is a beautiful, modern day 'Lord of the Flies' on a boat

If children are a true reflection of human nature, then Endeavor provides plenty of philosophical food for thought by pulling themes from literary classics.

The three-part limited series from DSTLRY showcases Stephanie Phillips' uncanny talent for writing rich, emotionally vulnerable characters along with amazing art from Marc Laming. Weird City got an early look at the conclusion ahead of the issue #3 pre-order deadline (June 15), which is how we can endorse it for your summer reading list...

Endeavour mostly takes place aboard a large ship of the same name recreated to resemble the HMS Endeavour, historically known for adventure and exploration. The modern version is merely a novelty cruise ship for five families seeking an eccentric experience, kicking off its maiden voyage off the coast of Sydney, Australia. That's where we meet Via Wright, brother Roy, and their renowned doctor father, who've booked passage to honor the memory of their recently departed mother. The other families have children of their own, and Phillips wastes no time in introducing conflict among them and the Wright family. But everything changes when the crew takes on a mysterious woman floating adrift in the open waters, who brings with her an illness that kills all the adults on board.

Reducing the ship's occupants to just seven children sets the stage for Phillips' modern-day version of Lord of the Flies, with slices of Animal Farm and foreshadowing from Watership Down. The pacing for a story like this seems more important than usual, given that everything takes place within a single location. That means flashbacks, which in this case provide more emotional context without taking over the story. But Endeavour stands on its own by the end of its third issue. Tonally, it feels like it belongs in your public library's prominent featured reads section among other similarly themed titles.

The art of Endeavour, though, requires its own callout. First, I didn't understand the decision to add so many large spread pages of the open ocean, but when I cast Endeavour to my large OLED screen, I realized how much it adds to the presence, to feeling like you're on a ship. Also, you wouldn't think illustrating stories about ships at sea would be much of a lift, unless you're literally looking at Laming's work. So many detailed lines, corresponding ropes, and specific parts of a classic ship stand out here. As does his demonstration of range in pairing facial expressions with dialogue perfectly throughout the book. Lee Loughridge's colors also bring a new dimension to the story – for instance, scenes of Via speaking to her brother through a closet door.

You can read a digital copy of Endeavour #1 FREE on Neon Ichiban, which also has the second issue for sale if you can't find it at your local shop. And check out the preview pages below for Endeavour #3, which officially hits shelves August 5.