Wayward (comics)

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Wayward
Wayward volume 1, cover art by Steve Cummings, August 2014.png
Cover art for Wayward Vol. 1 by Steven Cummings and Tamra Bonvillain.
Publication information
Publisher Image Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateAugust 2014 - October 2018
No. of issues30
Main character(s)Rori Lane
Creative team
Created by Jim Zub
Steven Cummings
Written by Jim Zub
Artist(s)Steven Cummings
Penciller(s) Steven Cummings
Inker(s) Steven Cummings
Letterer(s) Marshall M. Dillon
Colorist(s) John Rauch
Tamra Bonvillain
Collected editions
SC Vol 1 (#1–5) ISBN   978-1632151735
SC Vol 2 (#6–10) ISBN   978-1632154033
SC Vol 3 (#11–15) ISBN   978-1632157010
SC Vol 4 (#16–20) ISBN   978-1534300538
HC Vol 1 (#1–10) ISBN   978-1632154736
HC Vol 2 (#11-20) ISBN   978-1534302174

Wayward is a comic book series written by Jim Zub, drawn by Steven Cummings, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, with flats by Ludwig Olimba, and letters by Marshall Dillon. Its publication, by Image Comics, began in 2014 and ended in 2018.

Contents

Publication history

Image Comics announced that Wayward would be released in August 2014. Often pitched as the modern Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Wayward was initially successful enough to warrant a reprint of both the first and second issues. [1] [2] Issue 30 has been confirmed to be the final issue. [3]

Plot

Rori Lane, a young woman, moves to Tokyo from Ireland where she starts school and tries to establish herself and re-connect with her mother. She is quickly caught up in supernatural events, forming alliances and trying to defend herself and her loved ones from mythical monsters.

Characters

Ayane
A "cat girl" formed from the spirit energy of a group of stray Japanese cats.
Inaba Kami
A kitsune ronin warrior who prefers to stay in her human form.
Nikaido Kazuaki
A homeless teen boy who absorbs emotional energy and can release it in waves of calm or destruction.
Ohara Emi
A teen girl who can control and manipulate man made objects/materials.
Rori Lane
The protagonist of Wayward. A half Japanese, half Irish teenager with the power to see and manipulate 'threads' of power and destiny.
Segawa Touru
A teen boy hacker who can control electronic networks and machines with his mind.
Shirai Tomohiro
A teen boy who eats spirits to survive and augment his abilities.

Reception

Wayward was overall a well-reviewed title with an average rating of 8.7/10 from 215 critic reviews over its 30-issue span. [4]

In other media

The American board game company IDW Games announced on May 18, 2017, that they were collaborating with Wayward author Jim Zub on a board game modeled after the comic book. The game is to be fully cooperative, with players assuming the roles of the comic's heroes fighting to defeat villains controlled by the game. Jon Gilmour was announced as designer for the Wayward board game. [5] [6]

It has also been announced that rights have been acquired by United Kingdom company Manga Entertainment in order to develop a Japanese animated or live action series. [7]

Collected editions

Trade paperbacks
TitleMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
Wayward – Vol. One: String TheoryWayward #1–5March 25, 2015 978-1632151735
Wayward – Vol. Two: Ties That BindWayward #6–10August 26, 2015 978-1632154033
Wayward – Vol. Three: Out From the ShadowsWayward #11–15May 25, 2016 978-1632157010
Wayward – Vol. Four: Threads and PortentsWayward #16–20March 1, 2017 978-1534300538
Wayward – Vol. Five: Tethered SoulsWayward #21–25February 6, 2018 978-1534303508
Wayward - Vol. Six: Bound to FateWayward #26–30December 11, 2018 978-1534308749
Deluxe hardcovers
TitleMaterial collectedAdditional materialPublication dateISBN
Wayward – Book OneWayward #1–10
  • Issue #1–10 Cover Illustrations
  • Design Sketches
  • Essay on Japanese Culture
November 19, 2014 978-1632154736
Wayward – Book TwoWayward #11–20
  • 5-part Wayward connected cover poster from #11–15
  • Issue #11–20 Cover Illustrations
  • Design Sketches
  • Essay on Japanese Monster Mythology
April 19, 2017 978-1534302174
Wayward – Book ThreeWayward #21–30
  • 5-part Wayward connected cover poster from #26–30
  • Issue #21–30 Cover Illustrations
  • Design Sketches
  • Essay on culture and mythology
May 28, 2019 978-1534312098

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References

  1. Sims, Chris. "Jim Zub On ‘Wayward’ And The Pressures Of Being A Magical Teen", ComicsAlliance, Townsquare Media , Connecticut, 20 May 2014. Retrieved on 13 June 2017.
  2. Macdonald, Heidi. "Jim Zub on how creator owned comics economics have improved", Comics Beat , Nepal, 23 February 2015. Retrieved on 13 June 2017.
  3. Zub, Jim. "To confirm: Wayward #30 will be our final issue." , Twitter , 21 March 2018. Retrieved on 7 November 2018.
  4. "Wayward Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  5. Zub, Jim. "Wayward the board game!", Jim Zub , Toronto, 19 May 2017. Retrieved on 12 June 2017.
  6. Matadeen, Renaldo. "IDW Games to Release Wayward Board Game", Comic Book Resources , 19 May 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  7. Ahern, Sarah. "Wayward Comic Series Optioned for TV by Manga Entertainment", Variety (magazine) , Retrieved 13 June 2017.