Category Archives: Wayward - Page 11

Wayward – The Original Pitch, Redacted

Several people have asked me to post up my pitch document for Wayward like I did with Skullkickers. I’ve avoided doing that because the Wayward pitch is filled with story spoilers, but Rob Xara suggested I redact all the bits no one can see yet and that sounded fun… so here’s the original Wayward pitch with big spoiler sections blacked out like a classified military document.

Enjoy!

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You’ll notice the whole thing is only 6 pages and the core of it is really just this one summary page. Yeah, it’s lean and mean. As I’ve said before, keep pitches short and focused. If a publisher likes it they’ll ask for more.

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Normally you’d also include finished comic pages with a pitch package, especially if you’re new to the industry. In this case both Steve and I were established with a solid body of work and the publishers we were pitching to knew we could deliver pro quality so that wasn’t required.

If you’ve never read Wayward before and the pitch material above has you intrigued, find out more about it by clicking HERE!


WaywardVol01Cover-FRONT
Wayward Vol. 1
String Theory

(issues #1-5)

Rori Lane is trying to start a new life when she reunites with her mother in Japan, but ancient creatures lurking in the shadows of Tokyo sense something hidden deep within her, threatening everything she holds dear. Can she unlock the secrets of her power before it’s too late?

Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters-Indigo
Cheap GNs
comiXology
Forbidden Planet
Instock Trades
Midtown Comics
TFAW
Third Eye Comics

Exploring Tokyo in Wayward

Chase Magnett has written a new article all about the way Steve Cummings and I present the city of Tokyo in Wayward and the details we put into it. He’s included a nice photo of Ikebukuro station from Wayward #1. Give it a read!

Photo-Comic-Wayward

Wayward #10 Solicitation

Arriving in July. Pre-order now!

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WAYWARD #10
STORY: JIM ZUB
ART / COVER A: STEVE CUMMINGS & TAMRA BONVILLAIN
COVER B: HANZO STEINBACH
JULY 29 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50

The second arc ends. The future revealed. Welcome to the next level.

COVER A is part 5 of a five-part panorama by STEVE CUMMINGS and TAMRA BONVILLAIN. Buy all five issues of this story arc to fit them together into a massive WAYWARD illustration.
COVER B is a variant by online fan favorite Hanzo Steinbach.

Wayward Panorama Process

Comics Alliance posted up an extensive run down of the panorama illustration used for the 5 cover second arc of Wayward. Lots of great information on how we put the ultra-wide piece together as well as step by step views of the roughs, line art, and colors. Click here to check it out!

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Wayward on Space Channel!

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Innerspace, SPACE Channel’s pop culture new program, ran a short segment on Wayward last week. It was filmed during our trade launch at the Silver Snail here in Toronto. Click on through to check it out.

Wayward Vol. 1 Reviews!

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Wayward Volume 1: String Theory arrived in comic shops last week and the response has been incredible. So, so proud of our whole team on this and am overjoyed that current and new readers alike are picking it up and enjoying it. Here’s the response from reviewers so far…

Amazon.com: “★★★★½”

Comicosity: “Writer Jim Zub and artist Steve Cummings go above and beyond, in terms of their research for this series, ranging from Tokyo architecture to Japanese ghost lore and history.”

Experiments In Manga: “I thoroughly enjoyed the first volume of Wayward—it has chaotic action as well as quiet moments, humor as well as drama—and look forward to the next instalment a great deal.”

Forces of Geek: ” Wayward emerges as a coming of age tale about finding one’s own identity as an outsider and adapting to a new world through non-cultural similarities with others, creating a relatable narrative for anyone who has ever had to adapt to a new environment with other people who also are new and/or don’t quite fit in.”

Geeked Out Nation: 10/10 “Wayward is a fantastic series and this trade is absolutely something you need to pick up. It’s for fans of manga, magic, Japanese culture and kick ass female leads. It features beautiful art and thoughtful back matter. “Wayward” is a winner and easily deserves the title of ‘trade of the month’.”

Geeks of Doom: “These first five issues do an excellent job of setting up some good ongoing mysteries as well as an interesting cast and a unique setting for everyone to play in.”

Good Reads: 4/5 “I really enjoyed the first volume of Wayward. It has a lot going for it with an interesting narrative, cool characters, and gorgeous art with even better looking fight scenes.”

Hidden In Pages: 4/5 “I loved the characters and their cool powers and also the creepy monsters based in Japanese mythology. The illustration was top notch and the story was well done.”

It’s Super Effective: “If you don’t read indy comics and you want to start, read Wayward. It’s my favorite series at the moment. It’s absolutely perfect.”

Kirkus: 8/10 “Wayward is full-on awesome….I love the attention to detail and the attempt to capture Tokyo in a way that feels incredibly genuine”

Maxx’s Super Awesome Comic Review Show: “They’re really outdoing everyone now. Crushing it.”

Northbrook Public Library: “this series is truly an addicting read and the artwork, which excels at capturing the exotic locations and the characters’ street fashions, is nothing short of spectacular.”

Pop Matters: 8/10 “Wayward is well worth a read – let’s hope this one sticks around for a while.”

Pop Matters: 8/10 “Wayward is well worth a read – let’s hope this one sticks around for a while.”

Starburst: 8/10 “Cummings’ art is pleasantly detailed, right down to the background kanji, which gives Japanese speakers hints and clues on the plot.”

Tsana’s Reads: 8/10 “I would definitely recommend Wayward to anyone interested in the setting and/or stories about teenagers with superpowers.”


WaywardVol1-585x900-web
Wayward Vol. 1
String Theory

(issues #1-5)

Rori Lane is trying to start a new life when she reunites with her mother in Japan, but ancient creatures lurking in the shadows of Tokyo sense something hidden deep within her, threatening everything she holds dear. Can she unlock the secrets of her power before it’s too late?

Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters-Indigo
comiXology
Midtown Comics
TFAW

Wayward and Weird Japan Video Now Online

At Emerald City Comicon Zack Davisson (professional translator and mythology expert) and I talked about Japanese myths, spirits, and the strange, along with how I evolved some of those for my creator-owned series Wayward.

Jenna, one of our fans, recorded most of the panel and has posted it online. Thanks, Jenna!

Wayward #6 and Skullkickers #31 Reviews!

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Wayward #6 and Skullkickers #31, both the first part of their respective story arcs, arrived in stores last week and the response has been wonderful! Let’s see what reviewers thought…

All-Comic: 4/5 “…with the masterful art team of Steve Cummings and Tamra Bonvillain at the helm, the story couldn’t be in better hands.”

The Beat: “While there is a hefty amount of Japanese culture depicted in the story, there is also clean lines and bright coloring that move this story closer towards American comic book art standards.”

Big Glasgow: 9/10 “The detail in which Japanese culture is depicted in Wayward is fantastic.”

Black Ship Books: “Wayward #6 is the perfect jumping-on point for new readers, so if you have any interest in Japanese folklore or teens fighting the supernatural, this is the book for you.”

Brittlejules: “If you enjoy Japanese supernatural stories and monsters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ghosts, cats, and troubled teens with strange powers, then you should definitely check out Wayward.”

Comic Book Bin: “This comic book is like one big enchantment that draws me into the story. I guess I am not the only reader who wants to live in the world of this series.”

Comics the Gathering: 10/10 “This art team lays waste to so many other books. I can’t wrap my head around how they’re able to produce pages of this quality so quickly.”

Comix I Read: 4.5/5 “The new arc started very strong and I am very excited to conitnue reading WAYWARD for its Wayworld.”

Fandom Post: B+ “The book is definitely a welcome return to my reading schedule as Jim Zub handles the narration very well, making it engaging and interesting”

Horror Talk: 4/5 “Writer Jim Zub has an incredible talent for character development. Each of the students in Wayward feels like a real person.”

The Latest Pull: 8.5/10 “I went in to this book with a bit of cautious scepticism, but was pleasantly surprised by this new beginning and I expect good things in the future.”

Major Spoilers: 9/10 “Wayward #6, in particular, is a treat for readers of the series. We get to see the world, characters and magical elements we are familiar with, but through a fresh pair of eyes.”

Moar Powah: 4/5 “Wayward #6 brings in teases of what’s to come. We wonder what’s to become of our new and old protagonists.”

Outright Geekery: 10/10 ” So long as Jim Zub and Steve Cummings continue to deliver a great series, I will continue to recommend this series.”

Reading With a Flight Ring: “the characters and characterization is simply superb and demonstrates why I’ll follow Jim to whatever he writes”

Telltale Mind: 8/10 “With an ending to the story that can only be called mysterious, Zub and Cummings draw you back into this world and all that can be said is that it is good to be back.”

Third Eye Spotlight: “It’s great storytelling, great writing, and we can’t get enough.”

TM Stash: 9/10 “I have trouble deciding what impresses me more with this book – the exceptional script or the beautiful artwork”

Under the Comic Covers: “Another wonderfully paced issue. A great mix of mystery and action.”

We The Nerdy: 8.5/10 “The art too, is still fantastic. The battle at the end looks great, and some of the strange paranormal events that Ohara experiences are all great looking.”

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Comic Bastards: 10/10 “You have no excuse why this book isn’t in your life.”

Comics Alliance: “Skullkickers has been one of the great dark horse stories of the last few years, and it’s fantastic to see that it’s been able to go so long and maintain the fun”

Comix I Read: 4.5/5 “Skullkickers #31 channels the energy of a drunken game of D&D with your friends. It takes everything you love about the fantasy genre but throws in a laugh every half a second.”

Newsarama: 8/10 “This issue of Skullkickers, like those before it, makes a great example of how comics can be just fun and still be completely successful.”

Panel Culture: “Edwin Huang is just fantastic on these fight scenes. They’re dynamic, they’re fun, and Misty Coats’ colors are vibrant.”

Unleash the Fanboy: 9/10 “Equal parts lore, story and fun, Skullkickers #31 is a well-rounded stable issue that eagerly kicks back into the swing of things.”

Mega-Zub Comic Release Day!

Thanks to the shipping strike that happened in California and a couple printing delays a bunch of my comic titles have synced up, leading to the craziest new comic book day of my career so far:
6 new books from 4 different publishers all arriving in comic shops TODAY!

Yeah, it’s ridiculous.

Click on any of the covers below to read preview pages from each of the books:

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As always, thank you for your support!

Wayward #9 Solicitation

Wayward09-00Wayward09B-585x900-web

Arriving in June… Preorder now!

WAYWARD #9
story: JIM ZUB
art / cover A: STEVE CUMMINGS & TAMRA BONVILLAIN
cover B: GURIHIRU

JUNE 24 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50

IMAGE’S SUPERNATURAL SENSATION CONTINUES!

Tokyo is a battleground and blood will be spilled.

COVER A is part four of a five-part panorama by STEVE CUMMINGS & TAMRA BONVILLAIN. Buy all five issues of this story arc to fit them together into a massive WAYWARD illustration.
COVER B is a variant by acclaimed Japanese illustrators GURIHIRU.