Review: WAYWARD #1

Timdogg | August 26, 2014 | Comics | 1 Comment

Story: Jim Zub
Line Art: Steve Cummings
Colors: John Rauch and Jim Zub
Letters: Marshall Dillon

Jim Zub has a pretty good track record when it comes to creator-owned series’. He currently has Skullkickers with Image Comics, which has been running for a few years now. Along with work-for-hire projects like Marvel’s Figment and IDW’s Samurai Jack, that is a solid track record of quality work. Along with Steve Cummings, John Rauch, and Marshall Dillon, they hope to see the trend continue with Wayward.

Wayward has been described as Buffy, The Vampire Slayer for a new generation. Let’s see if that holds true.

What I Liked

This is one pretty comic book. Cummings, Rauch, and Zub must be commended on crafting such a stunningly beautiful book. There is not a single panel that has wasted space. Backgrounds are finely detailed, displaying the world of Japan. The colors are so vibrant, I felt like the pages were reflecting light back at me.

Character designs get an A+ as well. Our protagonist, Rori Lane, is a fashionable teenager who comes from a mixed background of Irish and Japanese. After living with her father, he sends her off to start living with her mother in Japan. All we know is things ended badly between Rori and her father. The relationship with her mother appears to be on better footing.

Another character we meet is Ayane. There seems to be more than meets the eye concerning Ayane, however. After mysteriously coming to Rori’s rescue, she just as quickly disappears. Does Ayane have a connection with cats?

What I Didn’t Like

There honestly was not a single thing I could find to gripe about. Internal narration by Zub helps the reader get a sense of Rori’s personality. We get to experience Japan through her eyes, along with displays of a unique ability. Fans of action even get some of that here when Rori and Ayane fight strange creatures.

Summary

Wayward #1 showed readers just enough to leave them wanting more. Rori Lane is placed in a foreign land that she must navigate. Along with starting a new school and meeting new friends, mysterious attacks on the street and the case with the cats must be investigated. And what’s up with the probability skills she showed? I’m ready to learn more next issue.

Rating: 5 out of 5

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network. They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/