Coming Soon: Wayward, a New Supernatural Comic Set in Tokyo
Comics creator/scribe Jim Zub, creator of Skullkickers (Image Comics) and Makeshift Miracle (Udon Entertainment) and writer for Samurai Jack (IDW) announced the upcoming publication of Wayward, his new creator-owned comic series/collaboration with artist Steven Cummings and colorist John Rauch, published by Image Comics.
If Cummings’ name and art style seems familiar, it may be because you’ve seen/read his other titles, The Uglies: Shay’s Story and The Uglies: Cutters (both based on Scott Westerfield’s best selling Young Adult novel series, from Del Rey) and Pantheon High (TokyoPop), as well as his work for DC Comics on Legends of the Dark Knight and Deadshot. You can see more of his artwork on his DeviantArt page.
Wayward is described as a supernatural action series, like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a new generation.” Here’s Image Comics’ description of the story:
Wayward #1 by Jim Zub, Steven Cummings and John Rauch ©Jim Zub
Rori Lane is an outsider by nature, but moving to Tokyo to live with her single Mom has only exacerbated her weirdness. She’s feeling out of sorts, worried about fitting in and, as if that wasn’t enough, strange things are beginning to happen. Glowing symbols and patterns are starting to appear before her eyes… and she’s the only one who seems to notice.
In WAYWARD a group of teens living in Tokyo find a common bond in manifesting strange, supernatural abilities. As they begin to unravel the mystery behind their powers and their common source they’re drawn into a war with the vestiges of Japan’s monstrous mythic past.
Why set this story in Tokyo? Well, maybe because yokai (Japanese spirits/demons) are so much fun to write/draw, and perhaps because Cummings currently resides in Tokyo, where he works full-time as a comics creator. Look for lots of actual locations from Japan’s megaopolis as the backdrop for the action and fight scenes of Wayward.
The first issue of Wayward will be published in August 27, 2014, with a cover price of $3.50. Besides the version you see here, there will also be special variant covers, drawn Alina Urusov (Birds of Prey), Jeff “Chamba” Cruz (Street Fighter), and Adam Warren (Empowered).
While you’re waiting for this first issue to hit the stores, get a taste of Jim’s storytelling with Makeshift Miracle. It’s currently being serialized free, online at MakeshiftMiracle.com.