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S.S. Julian

@octopolis.bsky.social

1.1K followers 340 following 1K posts

Cartoonist and creator of Octopolis, a sci-fi fantasy about the future where humans are extinct and octopuses have inherited the Earth. Get Issue #1 now at octopoliscomic.com

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · Jun 25

Hi there! I’m SS Julian, a cartoonist, designer and marine science enthusiast. I write and illustrate Octopolis, a scifi fantasy about a future where humans are extinct and octopuses have inherited the Earth! About time, right? Octopolis is self-published, get it at octopoliscomic.com

An illustration depicting several cartoon octopuses and fish in an aquatic environment. An imposing yellow octopus hovers above a happy purple octopus holding the arm of a yellow scared octopus. A yellow cuttlefish swims alongside them. Below an orange octopus wearing a lobster headdress rides an aggressive wolf eel and stares at the party menacingly. In the background an octopus rides a manta ray while another rides a zeppelin. A castle wall of coral can be seen against a background of the ocean surface. Text: S.S. Julian: Octopolis. octopoliscomic.com

Two clothed octopuses enter a dark cavern that appears to be a submerged subway station. In the distance a human skeleton lies leaning against a concrete pillar. One octopus says 'Welcome to Octopolis!' and the other exclaims 'Abyss below!' in surprise.

Two octopuses look on in apprehension from a cave at a shark swimming overhead. The shark is being ridden by an octopus wielding a shell spear and wearing shell armor. The shark has a bridle, harness and several saddle bags.

A purple octopus riding a giant crab overlooks a gigantic coral wall. Small figures of other octopuses appear riding animals and vehicles in the distance. A gap in the wall is gated at its base and at the surface of the water. Then gates are guarded by octopuses wielding spears.

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 3h

What tarot card would you like to see interpreted through Octopolis next? Let me know!

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 3h

Every day is a new beginning, and no one knows what the future holds. It’s your engagement with the world that gives your journey its unique colors. Only by having the humility to acknowledge your own ignorance and embracing the fool, can your mind be open to the infinite rainbow that is Life.

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 3h

The Fool doesn’t have an agenda, they’re not trying to focus the light of the sun into any particular direction; they’re a vessel through which it shines.

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 3h

The Fool symbolizes beginnings, and the unknown that lies beyond the start of any journey. In interpreting the card for Octopolis, I explored the —best known for reflecting the environment around it— refracting the sun like a prism.

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 3h

Happy World Octopus Day! To celebrate, here’s the first piece in my series of Octopolis tarot cards: The Fool!
#octopolis #worldoctopusday #octopus #tarot

$A digital illustration within a tarot card frame titled ‘The Fool’. The images is of a mimic octopus bursting through the surface of the ocean into a sunlit day. The octopus is covered in many colored stripes. It holds one arm up through which light refracts. In another arm it holds a bundle of kelp. Beneath the water is a yellow cuttlefish looking very happy.$

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Reposted by S.S. Julian

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 1d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 1d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

Crab-armor dragoon shock troops will necessarily be levied by the Octopolis navy, I hope you understand

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

Excellent application of the scallop as a neck guard

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

Completely blown away by this, howling at myself at not having considered the full ramifications of crustacean armor. Top notch stuff

Fernando Salvaterra @salvaterra.bsky.social · 4d

are you in need of assistance, mermailady?

the knight octopus will fight for your grace.

#monstrosilist #octopus #ttrpg #b&wart #bestiary

black and white drawing of an octopus wearing bespoke armor, wielding a lance. the armor also has crab pincers.

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

Why, thank you! I hope you enjoy!

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

Yeah for a while I was defensive about it because I didn’t know anything about Splatoon’s premise when I began this and didn’t want people to think I was being derivative. But Splatoon fans dig it, and I’m confident that my work is unique. Fantasy should be a big tent!

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you! I tell Splatoon folks it’s a bit like if someone took a hard sci-fi look at Splatoon lore

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

That’s an excellent name for them. They appear surprisingly intelligent for vertebrates

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 1d

I’m sorry what?!? Incredible news

Catsuka @catsuka.bsky.social · 2d

Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe) to direct a "Moomins" animated feature film.
variety.com/2025/film/ne...

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Reposted by S.S. Julian

Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 2d

Spectacular googly-eyed octopus does battle with a lobster in this 2,000 year-old Roman mosaic from Pompeii! 🐙 🦞

Fantastic fishy onlookers too! 👀

From the House of the Geometric Mosaics. Now at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.
📷 by me

#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology

My photo shows a polychrome mosaic depicting Mediterranean marine life using earthy-coloured tesserae (mosaic tiles) against a black tessarae background. At the centre of the mosaic is a pale-coloured octopus composed of off-white and light brown tesserae with some of its writhing tentacles wrapped around the body of a lobster composed of light red, and pinky-brown tesserae. The octopus has an egg shaped body/head and it stares at the viewer with large eyes made of brown and pink circles with black centres.

The octopus and lobster are surrounded by various species of large and small Mediterranean fish and a mollusc, including an eel and a flat fish. On the left hand side of the scene there is a small kingfisher bird on top of a rock. Some of the fish appear to be watching the fight between the octopus and the lobster

This mosaic comes from the House of the Geometric Mosaics in Pompeii. Now on display at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 2d

This is not related to Octopolis, just a nice piece I've been working on that's aquatic-adjacent. Hope folks aren't too disturbed by four-limbed animals posted to this account.

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 2d

Every autumn the maple fish take on their fall colors.

An illustrated scene of kids in a watering hole. One kid in shorts has just done a cannonball while the other looks down at them through snorkeling gear. A mix of autumn fish and leaves circle the column of bubbles created by the splash.

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 6d

Rest in peace Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall on Animal Personalities

YouTube video by Dr. Jane Goodall & the Jane Goodall Institute USA

youtube.com

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 6d

I wouldn't risk it if I were the spider. They're basically land crabs, after all.

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 6d

Paging @aptshadow.bsky.social

meme of two muscular people locking arms, duplicated 8 times. arms are labeled 'spider' and 'octopus'

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Reposted by S.S. Julian

Logan / Tachyon @tachyonart.bsky.social · 7d

"Uplifted cephalopods are natural candidates for hard-vac wetwork with millenia of evolution in Terran seas having prepared them amply for navigation in zero-g. The minds and bodies capable of moving with such ease through such an alien environment, however...

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 8d

TIL: axolotl is pronounced more like ah-SHO-lotl

Claire Zagorski, MSc, EMT-P @clairezagorski.bsky.social · 9d

Hi! Did you know that you aren’t pronouncing axolotl correctly?

Suppression of indigenous languages by the Spanish is one of the Four Wounds of Colonization. This is a small subversion of colonial power you can use!

Axolotl is a Nahuatl word, and it sounds like this:

Reposted by S.S. Julian

doodlelotl @doodlelotl.bsky.social · 13d

Pyjama squid

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S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 15d

I'm a full-time freelancer and have capacity for new projects starting next week. Thanks for taking a look!

S.S. Julian @octopolis.bsky.social · 15d

Hey Arielle, here are some examples of my work.
ssjulian.com/comics

A comic page from How the Octopus Lost its Shell written by Danna Staaf and illustrated by SS Julian.

A comic page from Octopolis: Holdfast by SS Julian.

A comic page from Seeing the Condor by SS Julian.

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