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.
| Wayward | |
|---|---|
 Cover art for Wayward Vol. 1 by Steven Cummings and Tamra Bonvillain. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | August 2014 - October 2018 |
| No. of issues | 30 |
| 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 |
Publication history edit
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 edit
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 edit
- 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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
| Trade paperbacks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
| Wayward – Vol. One: String Theory | Wayward #1–5 | March 25, 2015 | 978-1632151735 |
| Wayward – Vol. Two: Ties That Bind | Wayward #6–10 | August 26, 2015 | 978-1632154033 |
| Wayward – Vol. Three: Out From the Shadows | Wayward #11–15 | May 25, 2016 | 978-1632157010 |
| Wayward – Vol. Four: Threads and Portents | Wayward #16–20 | March 1, 2017 | 978-1534300538 |
| Wayward – Vol. Five: Tethered Souls | Wayward #21–25 | February 6, 2018 | 978-1534303508 |
| Wayward - Vol. Six: Bound to Fate | Wayward #26–30 | December 11, 2018 | 978-1534308749 |
| Deluxe hardcovers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Material collected | Additional material | Publication date | ISBN |
| Wayward – Book One | Wayward #1–10 |
|
November 19, 2014 | 978-1632154736 |
| Wayward – Book Two | Wayward #11–20 |
|
April 19, 2017 | 978-1534302174 |
| Wayward – Book Three | Wayward #21–30 |
|
May 28, 2019 | 978-1534312098 |
References edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ Macdonald, Heidi. "Jim Zub on how creator owned comics economics have improved", Comics Beat, Nepal, 23 February 2015. Retrieved on 13 June 2017.
- ^ Zub, Jim. "To confirm: Wayward #30 will be our final issue." , Twitter, 21 March 2018. Retrieved on 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Wayward Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Zub, Jim. "Wayward the board game!", Jim Zub, Toronto, 19 May 2017. Retrieved on 12 June 2017.
- ^ Matadeen, Renaldo. "IDW Games to Release Wayward Board Game", Comic Book Resources, 19 May 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Ahern, Sarah. "Wayward Comic Series Optioned for TV by Manga Entertainment", Variety (magazine), Retrieved 13 June 2017.