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Crossed: Wish You Were Here #2
Crossed: Wish You Were Here, Volume 2
The runaway success web comic featuring an island of uninfected survivors in a world overrun by psychopaths (think The Walking Dead meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre)!
A group of Crossed plague survivors off the Scottish coast defend their isolated island and pretend that they are safe from the gleeful violent misery of the Crossed. Shaky has manipulated his fellow castaways into sending him away from the faux safety of the camp and into the ravages of the Crossed world. His desire to be rid of the infighting and petty squabbling puts him in a much deadlier world but his ultimate goals go beyond the survival and denial of those living on the Coast of Cava. This is his story, the search for meaning in in a world filled with homicidal maniacs. There is no hope. There’s only the Crossed. Collects the second chapter of the runaway hit webcomic.
A group of Crossed plague survivors off the Scottish coast defend their isolated island and pretend that they are safe from the gleeful violent misery of the Crossed. Shaky has manipulated his fellow castaways into sending him away from the faux safety of the camp and into the ravages of the Crossed world. His desire to be rid of the infighting and petty squabbling puts him in a much deadlier world but his ultimate goals go beyond the survival and denial of those living on the Coast of Cava. This is his story, the search for meaning in in a world filled with homicidal maniacs. There is no hope. There’s only the Crossed. Collects the second chapter of the runaway hit webcomic.
160 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2013
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114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 21, 2021
Back to Shaky and his fellow survivors in the Orkneys. Shaky is on the sortie mission he wanted to be on, and narrates their adventure and the adventure of how he survived in the past. Easily one of the best long-form Crossed stories, where the story is king and the horror is very limited; it's why I mark down the 'Wish You Were Here' books as 'dystopia. 8 out out of 12. Also note that you really need to read each of the Wish You Were Here volumes in order.
The online version I read, including the Interval books, and totalled 339 pages!
The online version I read, including the Interval books, and totalled 339 pages!
March 10, 2017
Mysteries.
Mysteries.
Mysteries.
Avoid.
Avoid.
Avoid.
Getting better and better!
An awesome second volume, far better and disturbing than ever.
Shaky is a well fleshed amazing main character for real, the full of unexpected twists storyline is so good, and that ending was just one of the most shocking ever.
Rick Grimes, who are you?
June 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
When I was reading the original Crossed series, I thought we never followed one group long enough since it was mostly a new group every volume. This series is following the same group, but unfortunately it's a case of be careful what you wish for because now I realize I liked the other format better.
That being said, this is still a very compelling tale with many interesting characters. It definitely focuses more on the humans rather than the Crossed, much moreso than the original series. The main character, "Shakespeare", is a writer who's chronicling his adventures. We see his past mixing with his present and how certain things seem like deja vu.
The art has always been good in this series, and this is no exception.
Overall this is a good series, but a little too "dense" for me. It's almost like a more violent version of Downton Abbey, although that may not be the most accurate comparison. It is, however, an ultra violent soap opera with very human characters.
When I was reading the original Crossed series, I thought we never followed one group long enough since it was mostly a new group every volume. This series is following the same group, but unfortunately it's a case of be careful what you wish for because now I realize I liked the other format better.
That being said, this is still a very compelling tale with many interesting characters. It definitely focuses more on the humans rather than the Crossed, much moreso than the original series. The main character, "Shakespeare", is a writer who's chronicling his adventures. We see his past mixing with his present and how certain things seem like deja vu.
The art has always been good in this series, and this is no exception.
Overall this is a good series, but a little too "dense" for me. It's almost like a more violent version of Downton Abbey, although that may not be the most accurate comparison. It is, however, an ultra violent soap opera with very human characters.
November 16, 2018
As he sneakily planned, Shaky manages to leave the island. The story continues as he and a few chosen others scavenge for useful supplies. They encounter a few new survivors. But only a few can be taken back due to limited space on the boat. This is cause for tension.
Still unclear why he needed to leave Cava in the first place. But I bet it has a lot to do with that Sister Teresa/Aoileann, a nun who was with him during their time with the game keeper. Something bad obviously happened to her. But not sure if it’s his fault. Is guilt driving Shaky? Things are getting more intense. Looking forward to next volume.
Still unclear why he needed to leave Cava in the first place. But I bet it has a lot to do with that Sister Teresa/Aoileann, a nun who was with him during their time with the game keeper. Something bad obviously happened to her. But not sure if it’s his fault. Is guilt driving Shaky? Things are getting more intense. Looking forward to next volume.
January 24, 2018
Shaky's story just keeps getting better and better!
I'm not saying anything else... just go read it already ;)
(you know I'm not a wordy guy :))
I'm not saying anything else... just go read it already ;)
(you know I'm not a wordy guy :))
Read
May 9, 2013Garth Ennis created the setting - essentially, zombies but worse, because zombies aren't human anymore and the Crossed are. And he told some impressively bleak stories in it. Other writers have taken a hand too, with variable results - David Lapham has been the most prolific, and I can't stand his stuff, just nastiness for nastiness' sake, exactly the sort of thing that's put me off a lot of modern horror. But this is something else altogether. Si Spurrier's slow-burning epic - in which a small group of survivors more or less manage to keep surviving, at ever-increasing cost - is not far off rivalling The Walking Dead for me. A useful corrective to any survivalist fantasies one may sometimes nurture, by way of reminding readers that with most apocalypses, the ones who die early are the lucky ones.
(In fact I finished this with last week's episode but, having been premature in that assumption with Volume 1, I wanted to make sure this time)
(In fact I finished this with last week's episode but, having been premature in that assumption with Volume 1, I wanted to make sure this time)
November 20, 2023
Only a format junkie like myself would willingly buy what he could get for free. This is a web comic, published online at http://www.crossedcomic.com/category/... . I don't like reading comic books on a screen, so I wait for the hardcover. This is not a paper vs. digital argument; I'm merely stating my personal preference. My format of choice for comic books is dead trees...bound in a hardback. Your mileage may vary.
For those of you who don't know what Crossed is about, it's really simple. An affliction of unknown origin causes people to lose all inhibition and moral centers, resulting in bloodshed and mayhem. They are called the Crossed because they get a rash or broken blood vessel pattern shaped like a cross on their face.
Shaky, the star of our story in the Wish You Were Here line, has become a manipulative prick. While I cannot say how I would react in a do or die, every man for himself post-apocalyptic world like the one portrayed in this series, I would hope that I would treat people as more than Crossed bait. He seems to be modeling himself after the nutjobs that he encounters along the way.
And yes, you do get a heaping helping of bloodshed and over the top violence. The thing that I found the most interesting about this arc is that most of the mayhem is caused by the normal humans in the expedition party and not the Crossed themselves. Shaky's not done yet, either. It will be interesting to see how low he can go. There is a new episode posted nearly every week, but I will wait for the third hardcover to see where it goes from here.
For those of you who don't know what Crossed is about, it's really simple. An affliction of unknown origin causes people to lose all inhibition and moral centers, resulting in bloodshed and mayhem. They are called the Crossed because they get a rash or broken blood vessel pattern shaped like a cross on their face.
Shaky, the star of our story in the Wish You Were Here line, has become a manipulative prick. While I cannot say how I would react in a do or die, every man for himself post-apocalyptic world like the one portrayed in this series, I would hope that I would treat people as more than Crossed bait. He seems to be modeling himself after the nutjobs that he encounters along the way.
And yes, you do get a heaping helping of bloodshed and over the top violence. The thing that I found the most interesting about this arc is that most of the mayhem is caused by the normal humans in the expedition party and not the Crossed themselves. Shaky's not done yet, either. It will be interesting to see how low he can go. There is a new episode posted nearly every week, but I will wait for the third hardcover to see where it goes from here.
August 30, 2017
Il nuovo episodio dell'unica serie nella serie Crossed, ovvero Manchi solo tu (riproposizione dell'omonimo web comic) ripropone, come c'era da aspettarselo, tematiche fortemente presenti nel primo volume, con un protagonista tutt'altro che eroico e simpatico, e un gruppo di compagni che si dividono fra lo stupido e il sacrificabile. Non che la storia sia brutta, anzi, si mantiene un costante livello di tensione. Ecco, forse la struttura in tanti piccolissimi capitoli quasi di scuola sudamericana non giova a una lettura in volume. In ogni caso Crossed dimostra comunque il suo interesse psicanalitico verso il genere umano. Disegni discreti, ma poco attraenti, che spesso diminuiscono il livello di dettaglio nelle scene più convulse.
November 8, 2021
Vacation Gone Wrong.
This is a continuation of the story from the previous volume. Two stories being told, one in the past and one in the present. Shaky serves as the narrator for both. One story impacts the other.
Shaky and his crew set out to find supplies. They succeed and find other survivors and a new threat.
The final fate of the Gameskeeper is revealed. Also more information on the Nun, Sister Aoileann, is told. A lot of background on various characters, old and new, are described.
Some characters survive. Some do not.
Shaky is forced to make difficult decisions in order to survive.
Curious to see what happens with Shaky, Sister Aoileann, and the rest of the cast in the next volume.
This is a continuation of the story from the previous volume. Two stories being told, one in the past and one in the present. Shaky serves as the narrator for both. One story impacts the other.
Shaky and his crew set out to find supplies. They succeed and find other survivors and a new threat.
The final fate of the Gameskeeper is revealed. Also more information on the Nun, Sister Aoileann, is told. A lot of background on various characters, old and new, are described.
Some characters survive. Some do not.
Shaky is forced to make difficult decisions in order to survive.
Curious to see what happens with Shaky, Sister Aoileann, and the rest of the cast in the next volume.
January 1, 2023
What's better than to read splatterpunk in new years eve haha.
This is the second part on the magnus opus series by Simon Spurrier. It has some pretty disgusted Crossed but worse than the crossed are humans. This series Simon focus on humans trying to survive while being depictable people while at the same time, it gives hints or philosophical debates on what it means to be Crossed.
It's okay- it's not his best but as a series divided in 4 parts you weren't expecting a great finale...
This is the second part on the magnus opus series by Simon Spurrier. It has some pretty disgusted Crossed but worse than the crossed are humans. This series Simon focus on humans trying to survive while being depictable people while at the same time, it gives hints or philosophical debates on what it means to be Crossed.
It's okay- it's not his best but as a series divided in 4 parts you weren't expecting a great finale...
November 1, 2021
Still find this series a bit dialogue heavy though as I get used to it the artwork style has grown on me. The plot has begun to hint at shadows of something interesting to come so I’ll come back to the series at some point.
March 7, 2024
Wish You Were here Wish the series was this amazing
This is not to say I dislike the series nor is it to say all parts of these books are amazing. Wish you were here is amazing it's vivid, emotional, though provoking, not just mindlessly gory, and most of all a great read.
This is not to say I dislike the series nor is it to say all parts of these books are amazing. Wish you were here is amazing it's vivid, emotional, though provoking, not just mindlessly gory, and most of all a great read.
January 30, 2026
If Shaky thinks, I disagree.
If Shaky speaks, I ignore.
If Shaky fails, I'm happy.
If the world is against Shaky, I am the world.
If Shaky has 7 billion fans, I am none of them.
If Shaky has no haters, it's because I no longer exist.
And if I had 16 lives, I’d spend all of them hating Shaky
If Shaky speaks, I ignore.
If Shaky fails, I'm happy.
If the world is against Shaky, I am the world.
If Shaky has 7 billion fans, I am none of them.
If Shaky has no haters, it's because I no longer exist.
And if I had 16 lives, I’d spend all of them hating Shaky
May 27, 2019
Last half is very slow.
February 6, 2025
3.5/5🌟 rounded up to 4 for goodreads
December 1, 2025
me gustó como encontró spurrier su rumbo narrativo
February 25, 2025
A virus that spreads through bodily fluids causes people to act on their darkest thoughts, causing a lot of death, destruction, rape and a whole lot of evil. We follow "Shakespeare" as he transcribes the events around him as well as his past. What does it take to survive, and how far will you go to get what you want. This is part of a 4 volume story.
August 26, 2016
There are fewer laughs in this volume, compared to the first one. Most of the focus is on Shaky, the main character, and his companions from the island and some new ones he finds in the trip organized in the last few chapters of the previous volume. Several important revelations are made regarding his 'story' - something most people in the crossed universe keep to themselves.
Last volume we saw Shaky working to cheat on the draw that determined who would go on a trip away from the island to gather supplies and new people. I bet everyone thought that he was working toward removing his name from the ballot because he going on about what a coward he was. It turns out that he wanted to go, and did some unorthodox things to achieve this, because he was bored with just sitting around, waiting to die.
The trip goes somewhat according to plan, Shaky ending up the leader for most of it and doing a good job at it, but it wouldn't be a horror story if it didn't have snags and unforeseen events. There are a lot of flashbacks to back when the outbreak just started and the first group he joins to survive. Again we see some especially nasty, but entertaining, examples of human nature in both past and present. Even home there is a short leadership change, but by the end this change is undone in one spectacularly lucky event and another gruesome one.
Like in the first volume, leadership is highlighted as being anything but a simple affair. It requires a cold, calculating mind. Even Shaky is surprised how quickly he enters that mindset, but it's the price of survival.
Last volume we saw Shaky working to cheat on the draw that determined who would go on a trip away from the island to gather supplies and new people. I bet everyone thought that he was working toward removing his name from the ballot because he going on about what a coward he was. It turns out that he wanted to go, and did some unorthodox things to achieve this, because he was bored with just sitting around, waiting to die.
The trip goes somewhat according to plan, Shaky ending up the leader for most of it and doing a good job at it, but it wouldn't be a horror story if it didn't have snags and unforeseen events. There are a lot of flashbacks to back when the outbreak just started and the first group he joins to survive. Again we see some especially nasty, but entertaining, examples of human nature in both past and present. Even home there is a short leadership change, but by the end this change is undone in one spectacularly lucky event and another gruesome one.
Like in the first volume, leadership is highlighted as being anything but a simple affair. It requires a cold, calculating mind. Even Shaky is surprised how quickly he enters that mindset, but it's the price of survival.
January 13, 2013
the "Wish You Were Here" storyline originates from the Crossed webcomic (crossedcomic.com) written by the always entertaining Simon Spurrier and illustrated by Javier Barreno. As a completely FREE comic available on a website, there is no reason why you shouldn't be reading this, especially if you are a fan. Buying the physical copy is just a nice way of saying "thank you" to Avatar Press, Spurrier, and Barreno for creating this great ongoing story within the Crossed universe.
The story itself tells a tale of a group of people that have actually managed to find a somewhat safe area, on a small island off the coast of Scotland. Obviously they are surrounded by psychotic rapekillers... but after a long while of the same chores day after day to keep themselves protected and fed, and everyone on the island butting heads about what their next move is... what happens? Is this the rest of their lives, hidden in a small corner of the world, the 'routine' wearing them down into nothingness?
that's about as specific as I'm going to get because I really think you should all check it out. In terms of the Crossed books that have come along after Ennis and Burrow's first mind-blowing story, I honestly think that Spurrier's take on the universe "Wish You Were Here" is the next best installment. There have been many to follow volume 1, but Spurrier has a much better feel for what Ennis was trying to accomplish. He's also a lot more fun to read.
The story itself tells a tale of a group of people that have actually managed to find a somewhat safe area, on a small island off the coast of Scotland. Obviously they are surrounded by psychotic rapekillers... but after a long while of the same chores day after day to keep themselves protected and fed, and everyone on the island butting heads about what their next move is... what happens? Is this the rest of their lives, hidden in a small corner of the world, the 'routine' wearing them down into nothingness?
that's about as specific as I'm going to get because I really think you should all check it out. In terms of the Crossed books that have come along after Ennis and Burrow's first mind-blowing story, I honestly think that Spurrier's take on the universe "Wish You Were Here" is the next best installment. There have been many to follow volume 1, but Spurrier has a much better feel for what Ennis was trying to accomplish. He's also a lot more fun to read.
August 3, 2013
This series starts out much better than the last. The stakes are higher as a squad of the weaker ones head out on a days-long supplies run, putting themselves right in the path of the human hurricanes that are the Crossed.
Plus, our hero grows a pair and becomes a lot more interesting. He tells the darker tales of his past, he draws out from the others some of their sordid tales, he starts behaving with conviction and callousness - taking a little control over his life. The rest of the gang are still mostly there just as mirrors held up to reflect his growing...something.
But Spurrier conducts mysteries like a shambling, seeping symphony, and weaves a slow descent into bastardry - not like Ennis and his talent for bald-faced ahumanity, but a careful, explicit examination of each little decision in a mundane day that add up to a personality.
I find the storytelling talent here is already great - would do on even a normal comic. Add on top of that the spurts of original depravity that keep showing up around unexpected corners (which could be credited to Spurrier or the artist), and I'm pleasantly surprised that this feels a different-but-equal companion to Ennis' mind-shattering original volume.
Plus, our hero grows a pair and becomes a lot more interesting. He tells the darker tales of his past, he draws out from the others some of their sordid tales, he starts behaving with conviction and callousness - taking a little control over his life. The rest of the gang are still mostly there just as mirrors held up to reflect his growing...something.
But Spurrier conducts mysteries like a shambling, seeping symphony, and weaves a slow descent into bastardry - not like Ennis and his talent for bald-faced ahumanity, but a careful, explicit examination of each little decision in a mundane day that add up to a personality.
I find the storytelling talent here is already great - would do on even a normal comic. Add on top of that the spurts of original depravity that keep showing up around unexpected corners (which could be credited to Spurrier or the artist), and I'm pleasantly surprised that this feels a different-but-equal companion to Ennis' mind-shattering original volume.
May 6, 2022
Finally the Avatar Press release an amazing series in the world of crossed.
I'm not saying that the series crossed written by Garth Ennis (that include Badlands and other stories) isn't good enough, what I'm saying is that the series "Crossed Wish you were here" is far better than that.
But it's just my opinion.
I think it's better because of a only one main factor,
I'm talking about the "long story" that the others books of Crossed don't have.
I like this long story because you have the same characters, and because of that they have had more freedom at their disposal to explore the plot, the drama and lots of other things, like what they're right now doing in the "Wish you were here".
I hope that the new series of Crossed called "Crossed +100" is going to be good like this one here!
I'm not saying that the series crossed written by Garth Ennis (that include Badlands and other stories) isn't good enough, what I'm saying is that the series "Crossed Wish you were here" is far better than that.
But it's just my opinion.
I think it's better because of a only one main factor,
I'm talking about the "long story" that the others books of Crossed don't have.
I like this long story because you have the same characters, and because of that they have had more freedom at their disposal to explore the plot, the drama and lots of other things, like what they're right now doing in the "Wish you were here".
I hope that the new series of Crossed called "Crossed +100" is going to be good like this one here!
May 20, 2016
Honestly, I am DONE with Crossed. I'm not entirely sure why I've read as many volumes as I have but I am officially DONE. The "Wish You Were Here" volumes were considerably better than the previous entries, but in the end, this is just way too brutal for me, mostly in regards to the sexual brutality of it all. It's so brutal to the point where I'm actually distracted from the story. I think I kept reading, spending unnecessary amounts of money in hopes that it would become something different, something it would and will never become. Anyway, I am finally going to begin reading a graphic novel that is worth my time...or so I'm told.
August 4, 2016
No sé que tienen estos cómics que, sin importar cuánto me depriman, sigo y sigo leyendo. Creo que me humanizan...
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