Comics
Review: “Wayward” #1
An enjoyable coming-of-age tale, “Wayward” #1 delivers an enchanting adventure about two plucky teenage girls whose idea of fun is killing all kinds of monsters. This debut issue has a wicked sense of humor and holds a lot of promise for the ongoing series.
WRITTEN BY: Jim Zub
ART BY: Steve Cummings
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: August 27, 2014
Reviewed by Jorge Solis
At the end of the world, Rori Lan has traveled across from the states to Japan to discover a brand new life for herself. After stepping foot in her new home, Rori’s mother wants her to learn the new language and make new friends. The adorable immigrant realizes there is something wrong with her eyes. She starts to see things that are not even there. There are dark and evil monsters, hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike at her.
Writer Jim Zub dives into Rori’s perspective, presenting the awe and wonder of Japan. This isn’t about a foreigner who steps into a strange land. The narrative focuses on how Rori wants to learn her new settings and adapt to the culture. She earnestly wants to fit into her new home, even though there is a dark side to it.
What makes Rori different is how her eyes can foreshadow certain events. Because the story is told through our female protagonist, we see how her eyes can focus like a radar, streamlining one absolute route for her. Our secondary character, Ayane, is still a mystery as the issue leaves certain clues about her.
Artist Steve Cummings has done a great job bringing the world of Japan alive. There is so much detail added to the interiors, such as the furniture and clock in Rori’s bedroom. When Rori walks the streets, notice the graffiti on the walls and the tall buildings in the background. The illustrations do a great job making you feel like you’re there in Japan. You can tell a lot of references and research was done in this aspect.
The color scheme by Zub and John Rauch well definitely hook your eyes to the page. Rori’s poppy red hair stands out in the crowded airport. Even her purple and green outfit later on is vibrantly loud as the world around her is in silhouette.
“Wayward” #1 delivers a fun premise with a quirky protagonist. The first issue delivers a lot of promise, let’s hope the creators continue with that in the second installment.
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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