Spirit World

We Are Legends

by Alyssa Wong, Haining (Illustrator)

Travel between the lands of the living and the dead alongside a brand-new Chinese hero in a thrilling entry in DC’s We Are Legends initiative, introducing legendary Asian-American characters!

We Are Legends expands the DC Universe with authentic stories starring characters of Asian descent, as told by Asian talent!

Spirit World stars Xanthe, a non-binary Chinese hero with the ability to travel in and out of the Spirit World—the realm of the dead, and that of the living. Xanthe possesses the ability to burn items folded from ceremonial joss paper and turn them into real objects that can be used in the physical world. 

Their super power is based on the East Asian custom of burning joss paper at gravesites to send resources to ancestors in the spirit world. Their weapon of choice is a large broadsword (because who doesn’t love a big sword when you can choose to use a big sword?!).  

The adventure begins as Xanthe forms a reluctant alliance with DC’s bad boy of the mystic arts, John Constantine, to rescue Batgirl Cassandra Cain from a horde of jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampires).Who knows what other spirits they’ll find in the Spirit World—like that skateboarding boy wearing hanfu with some headphones and a gaping hole in his chest?!

Spirit World is written by beloved comics and sci-fi author Alyssa Wong, and beautifully illustrated by Haining! Get on board an unforgettable journey with one of comics’ most compelling new characters!

This volume collects Spirit World #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, LGBT

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2024

About the author

Alyssa Wong studies fiction in Raleigh, NC, and really, really likes crows. She was a finalist for the 2016 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and her story, “Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers,” won the 2015 Nebula Award for Best Short Story and the 2016 World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the Pushcart Prize, the Bram Stoker Award, the Locus Award, and the Shirley Jackson Award. Her work has been published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, Nightmare Magazine, Black Static, and Tor.com, among others.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it is like a old school kung-fu movie. Having Cassandra Cain (my favourite Batgirl) and Constantine as backup characters was awesome.

How is Xanthe? Why can she walk between the Spirit world and the world of the living. When a team up with Batgirl and Constantine leaves Batgirl trapped in the Spirit world and Xanthe trapped in the world of the living. Both of them women will need to face some truths they are not ready for and kick a lot of butt along the way.

I had very high expectations for this series coming off Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate. This book delivered. Though this series is over, I really hope to see more of Xanthe. I think she would be a great addition to the Batfamily. She might even have found a member who could be more than a friend (not Cassandra). The book finishes character designs.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is pretty good, but the standout here is the gorgeous art. Some of the most stunning work I've seen in a graphic novel in recent years and up there with the current Poison Ivy run.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Enjoyed this...very approachable story and attractive art

[Liz.Loki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this bc I love Cassandra Cain and John Constantine and now I LOVE XANTHE SM TOO OMG this story was so fun and heartwarming.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW... this was a really interesting character! Reminded me a little of Marvel's Sword Master, but with just enough differences that set it apart.
This covers some adventures of Xanthe Zhou, a nonbinary Chinese mystic of sorts who can travel between the living world and the spirit world, while also being able to use paper magic and conduct exorcisms. Seeing them pull out a piece of paper and with a snap of their fingers they have a really cool sword was awesome. Xanthe must team up with Constantine to rescue Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) when she gets pulled into the spirit world by a collective (many spiritual beings combined in one body with one goal).
Overall, the story had a great flow, lore heavy (but not overwhelming), connection to the standard DCU, and a really great lead character that can absolutely fit in with the magical side of DC. Really looking forward to seeing more from this title and these characters.
Strong recommend.

[ShamNoop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Putting aside an out of character Constantine, this was fun!

[Emily Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non-binary superhero using their magic in the spirit realm 🗡️ Fast paced, great artwork, and a lot of fun to read.

I adore this volume. Spirit World is seriously underrated and really is a joy to read. This volume features appearances from Batgirl, John Constantine, and Batwoman that add to their stories as well as Xanthe’s.

The story itself is an action packed adventure taking place in both human & spirit realms. It gives us a look at Xanthe and delves into their past.

The artwork for Spirit World is fantastic. There’s a certain fluidity to how the artist blends the panels together and some of the full page spreads are stunning. The art is clean and uses vivid colour, especially for the magic elements within the worlds. The text also flows well and is clear to read.

All in all, loved this volume.

Rep: Queer Non-binary Chinese American MC (They/Them), Bisexual Man MC, Lesbian Woman SC.


TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.






TW// injury, death, bodies, blood, loss of memory.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good! Loved the addition of Constantine.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible artwork! I really hope to see Xanthe in more adventures.

[Oryan Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book so good they never gave Xanthe any more comics…

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a good read. It is kind of a weird introduction of a new (at least to me) character in the DC Universe. Having Constantine and Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) being the new characters sidekicks is kind of strange. The all travel to the "Spirit World" and have adventures where they end up fighting the local Gods. Someone is trying real hard to drop this new character into DC continuity with the Lazarus Event and that is kind of awkward.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "Spirit World". The main character of the story is Xanthe Zhou, a nonbinary Chinese superhero. They can go between the world of the living and the dead and they are awesome. I love how quickly they think on their feet and their courage, compassion, determination, and powers. Their personality is great too (they are fun, brave, witty, and thoughtful) and I love their bonds with Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) and Constantine. Plus, as a Chinese-American myself, it was awesome to see a Chinese superhero.

It was very cool to see Cassandra/Batgirl in the story also. I knew a little about her before I read this story, but not much (and I've been wanting to read more books with her). So, it was great to see her as a prominent character throughout the story. Similar to Xanthe, she also thinks well on her feet and does well in battles with supernatural forces. She doesn't have powers, but she is both a great fighter and very strategic. She holds her own and her friendship with Xanthe is written very well. Both her and Xanthe have good hearts and they work together well.

I generally enjoyed the inclusion of Constantine too. He doesn't seem as snarky or sarcastic as I usually see him (he still is, but to a lesser extent than I'm used to, but my observation could be off). That surprised me. Nonetheless, I like his friendship with Xanthe also. He works well with them and they have good chemistry. His use of supernatural magic fits in well with the story also.

So are the story's themes. One of the key themes is found family. I won't give out too many specifics (to avoid spoilers), but what I can say is that Xanthe's relations with their blood related family are (with one important exception) strained to say the least (a huge understatement). Yet, they have found family with John Constantine, Cassandra, and others. Their bonds are beautiful and heartwarming.

The theme of remembering and honoring the dead is also prominent. A quote that I heard in recent years (and relates to this story) is from the show "Person of Interest": "If you meant something to someone, if you helped someone, or loved someone, if even a single person remembers you, then maybe you never really die." (Season 5, Episode 13; spoken by The Machine). Again, I can't go deep into details without spoiling, but what I can say in general is that in this story, remembrance and love for those who have passed away has a huge impact in the spiritual realm of the story. The way that Wong wrote this theme was very moving and well done.

Another positive aspect of this book is the worldbuilding. I love the inclusion of Chinese mythology, spirituality, and culture in it. While I have much to learn, I recognized aspects of each, including, but not limited to, incense, ancestor worship and veneration, offerings to ancestors, joss paper, usage of talismans, the Bull Demon King, and more. The magic system intrigued me, and I found it cool how Xanthe was able to go between worlds as well as the way they formed their swords. Plus, it was cool to see gods and the way that the supernatural world worked in the book.

With that said, I did feel like the story was a bit rushed, especially at the end. I'm guessing that this may be due to how this is more of a limited series. Thus, there may not have been much room to flesh out the story without rushing. Nonetheless, I think it would've been better if the story was a bit slower, especially towards the end. There was also a connection to a crossover story (Lazarus Planet) that I didn't read, so there was a bit of slight confusion, but it wasn't too confusing and I was able to understand the story.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. I love the characters, themes, and worldbuilding. I also love the art. The coloring is great. The character designs are great too. Xanthe's hairstyle is awesome. In addition, the plot is superb. It's a good book.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of a weird read, there are parts of it I really loved and then there are parts I am so confused still and feel like the ending was rushed, there should have been an issue or two more to completely show the big battle b/w Xanthe and the Jade court, but still it could be it may come in a future sequel and it will be a good story then. But omg, the art in this is freaking gorgeous, some of the designs are so good and just mesmerizing and I so want this artist to be on some other big titles, just amazing art and its a visual treat and I recommend you to just check it our for the art.

Speaking of the story, its good intro about this character Xanthe who bounce between the world of the living and the dead, but when Cass gets trapped in the spirit world and Xanthe in the physical world, they have to team up with John constantine to save Cass and we follow the journey and also Cass's journey, and sorry to say it again, but the art of her is freaking gorgeous and I love how it integrates the chinese mythology and its just greatly done, and then seeing the backstory of Xanthe and who they were, meeting other characters like Po-Po and Bowen was fun.

And the threat of the collective and the person behind them, and why they are doing what they are doing, it could have been expanded on further but I like the concept of "remembrance" and not being forgotten and all that, so like the emotional crux of the book is really good and the comic did sort of reach that conclusion.

I like how the writer gave a critical reason for Cass being here and changed her origin a bit, it led to some fun story and personal stakes and yeah John felt out of character, but ignoring that I like his interactions with these two here. The threat was okayish I guess, its towards the end with the Jade court who i think would have been way better enemies, their mythology and designs were freaking gorgeous and if it does get a future volume, I would love to see Xanthe vs them and showing their sinister side.

The idea of reincarnation and not being forgotten is good concepts and also showing why Xanthe does what they do, its really creating a cool character and giving them pure motivations and I would love for them to crossover in other DC titles down the line but as far as introductions go, this was a really great one and a great addition to the DCU! So definitely read it ad enjoy! :)

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Starts with their introduction in Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate before going into the miniseries proper. It's definitely not in here for naught as the miniseries is a continuation of this story. Its a good establishing story that gives you a few questions about the world of Xanthe that's luckily filled in very well by the miniseries proper.
The miniseries is written by Alyssa Wong with Haining as artist. The story is a nice one following the Lazarus Planet story and is split between Xanthe and Constantine finding Cassandra Cain Batgirl and Batgirl making her way through the Spirit world before they converge and deal with Wan Yujing (whos visually inspired by Jogomuro ads as such looks cool AF) highlighting the systemic issues of the Spirit World, giving us cool fights, and giving a good endpoint to the importance of remembering loved ones. Its a fun story and the dynamics are written as exquisite as the story is well-paced, engaging, and has great set pieces. Also, in the spirit world Cassandra gets this cool Chinese inspired vagabond-y outfit that looks so clean and also learns she's been there before when her Mom shot her or sumthin which'll prolly be a deal in the Batman comics but I don't really care for Batman stuff so idk.
Haining has that sorta anime-inspired comic art. I LOVE how they do action with such dynamism and fun. They also got some very creative paneling like using a fox demon's fiery tails during its transformation as panels, a sparking clash to separate panels, the classic running and jumping in a single page for no need of panels, or the crazy two page spread when Cassandra Cain is bitten and regains her memories. They're kinetic, easy to follow, and seam well I to what's actually going on in the page. It's perfection. But somehow even more commendable is their scenery art skills. The comic is called Spirit World not Xanthe for a clear reason because hot damn does Haining make the Spirit World come alive as a bustling and feast for the eyes locale. No doubt with help from the amazing colorist Sebastian Cheng which makes everything pop with incredible color.
It ends with their inclusion in DC Pride 2023. It's a neat little vignette of them and Batwoman having a moment together. Has a little something in there about not choosing our family and feelings of ostracization that queer youth can feel (which especially fits Xanthe whose family is touched on as being on the whole spectrum about their choice to be openly nonbinary).
As a collection it is odd they dint show all the variant covers. They had a couple blank pages so issues would start correctly on the left or right side which would've been less odd if they put the variants there. Even if not there are 2 or so variants they just didn't put in here which is odd.

[Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read if Looking For: gorgeous illustrations, plenty of fight scenes, nonbinary badasses, did I mention how great the art is?

Set in the DC extended universe, Spirit World follows Xanthe, who splits their time between the world of the living and the dead. They fold origami, using the finished products to summon full-sized counterparts to help in battle and investigation. In this mini-series, Xanthe teams up with Batgirl (a martial artist) and Constantine (a sorcerer) to investigate violent spirits that have been sneaking into the world of the living, and the troubles facing the Spirit World.

I thought that Haining did a phenomenal job with the illustrations. The pages are saturated with beautiful colors, dynamic fight scenes, a wide variety of gorgeously rendered villains. I think I’d describe this as a feast for the eyes, and I absolutely want to read more comics with art by them. Unfortunately, I found the story disjointed. It wanted to introduce and resolve a problem each chapter, instead of developing a storyline naturally over the course of an entire volume. Each chapter needs to stand in isolation if readers haven’t seen any others, but are also trying to build towards something greater. This overly-segmented story was then peppered with references to other events in the DC universe. It’s the type of reading that assumes you’re operating in a larger ecosystem, instead of consuming a single discrete story. Undoubtedly rewarding for those in that space, but a detriment to those who picked up this singular comic in isolation. This is a fairly common choice in superhero comics, and it remains one I dislike. Overall though, this was a light, fun, and action packed story with phenomenal art.

[Sasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars

it's extremely rare to see buddhism well-represented in mainstream comics, let alone mainstream global northern media, by asians who grew up buddhist. i haven't been able to find anymore after spirit world. i was the slowest i'd ever been reading each issue because i didn't want it to end. i'd also forgotten how much i love alyssa wong's writing and i hope they keep going. spirit world is such a captivating story full of action, hijinks, emotion, and kindness. xanthe is one of my new favorite dc heroes and her energy coupled with john constantine and cassandra cain's was electric. also the depiction of ((minor spoiler)) deadnaming with the double meaning and buddhist reincarnation was SO good. the art is so expressive and vibrant, like holy smokes! haining and sebastian cheng really knocked this out of the park. dc, pay your artists more and stop crunching them! also give me more xanthe/alyssa wong stories!

----

cover + interior artists:
- sketch and inking: haining
- coloring: sebastian cheng
issue cover artists: bernard chang, dustin nguyen, jen bartel, jessica lui fong, yoshi yoshitani

[Vail Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone wants to know why the Pixar film Coco did so well in the Chinese market, just refer them to this comic here.
What starts out as a pretty cool graveyard smash starring our main character, a courier between the spirit world & the living, Cassandra Cain's Batgirl, & John Constantine vs hopping vampires (those undead evils that eat both blood & chi), becomes a pretty big brouhaha about busting a big-ass ghost and undoing a corrupt system involving the uppity minor gods who rule that realm.
In a pretty interesting show of respect for the LGBTQ, the main character's deadname is written in a funky scribble when their parents realize they're seeing the ghost of their "little girl." While the family bit was an important detour in the quest, leaving it so open-ended like that really felt like the biggest dangling thread was left at the end of the story (except for Xanthe showing they're still willing to interact with the little sister they never knew they had).
Overall a great little corner of the DC universe that I wouldn't mind exploring more of, with a fascinating main character hero with unique abilities & relationships, all involved in a pretty decent story with not an overabundance of DC supporting characters, but the ones they chose fit pretty well.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would read more stories about Xanthe and their world. And, at the risk of getting into trouble the smallest reason, not unimportant, is that she is a well developed nonbinary character.

What drew me in more was the world Wong created, and as far as I can tell (without doing some research before writing this) created what feels like a world steeped in Chinese supernatural lore. It was interesting and fun to read and helped me to appreciate the lore much more than the multiple recent Western Monkey King re-telling (and that includes the company that publishes this trade).

Xanthe, with supporting help from John Constantine and Cassandra Cain has to restore the balance between the lands of the living and the dead. This is not going to be easy, and there are those who feel wronged by what happened to them when alive (and possibly with some justification).

Sure, this is a quick, easy read that because of its length is not able to develop Xanthe's character a lot, but Wong does get character development in, enough to make me invest in Xanthe.

[Alec · Rating 4 out of 5]

just a great story full of great characters, fun designs and art, and a vast world that feels very fresh. the plot of xanthe, johnstantine, getting to the spirit world and then choosing to save its denizens even though they only came to save cass is probably nothing remarkable but just everything pops in this miniseries. i think part of that is the colorful and detailed artwork, but also the brief moments of emotion and meaning throughout the story. xanthe being unable to be bound by their mother's spells because their mother uses their dead name in the incantation, and their refusal to accept misgendering and mistreatment is a particular standout to me. the moments with the jade court are excellent as well. ultimately xanthe zhou is just an incredibly likeable and interesting protagonist and though they aren't the sole reason that it sings so beautifully, they are an excellent addition to the choir. if you want something of a strange take on swords and sorcery, and don't mind some superheroics in the mix, this might be for you

[Rhys Causon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love to take a step into the magical side of DC, sometimes I much prefer it over the Capes and Cowls. This is a nice blending of the two as it featured one of my favourite characters (John Constantine), a character I’m beginning to really enjoy more and more every time I see her included in stories (Cassandra Cain) and a new character for me that could easily become a new favourite (Xanthe).

While the heroes feel well rounded the villain feels a little bit flat for the most part, yet once her backstory is revealed it becomes clear as to why she acts in such a way. But I wouldn’t see her being used in Films/TV shows/Games anytime soon.

Not knowing much about Chinese culture in regard to the afterlife and death does not hold a reader back from enjoying the story, though I’m not sure how closely it reflects those ideas either. But the way the artist and colourist captures the spirit world is beautiful, even when dealing with horrific imagery.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of DC's three We Are Legends books from last year, Spirit World features Xanthe, a non-binary sorcerer who may or may not actually be dead, as they rope John Constantine and Cassandra Cain into a spelunking trip through one of DC's various hellscapes.

Xanthe's ability to transform origami into real life weapons is a fun power, and Wong's handling of both Constantine and Batgirl, who are two characters that are usually hard to get right, is pretty spot on. There's a lot of concepts and characters involved outside of those three, but they make a good core for the book for sure.

Haining's art is a wonderful blend of more Eastern anime-esque styles and traditional superhero layouts.

Much like Monkey Prince before it, Spirit World (and the other We Are Legends books) are great ways to explore corners of the DC universe we really should spend a little more time in.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spirit World is kind of a frantic introduction to the hero, Xanthe, her ceremonial items-based powers, and the setting, the spirit world, with all its odd characters and court of leaders. There's quite simply a ton packed into this volume, including the fact that Cassandra Cain tags along the whole time as the token normie sucked into this mystical realm. (Oh yeah, and Constantine too, though he's pretty relaxed about the magic weirdness)

The plot races along to the point that I couldn't really make heads or tails of it, but each new scene offered some intriguing revelation or cool creation, so I can't complain too much. It'd be fun to see more of Xanthe, but maybe outside a mini-series so we can actually get a chance to explore these many characters and settings a bit more.

[Arlene Avilez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Xanthe and, speaking as an artist, I REALLY like their design!

Aside from the OG's and the heavy hitters, I'm not really familiar with the DC universe. I know Constantine, the name and what he generally does. Batgirl (Cassandra) was actually a recent 'found out about' for me. Via the webtoon Wayne Family Adventure.
So seeing familiar names and faces here was nice.

I'm also not familiar with the Chinese Afterlife. But the Spirit World was lovely! People in power abusing their power, a forgotten soul. who was desperate. And a hero who understood and wanted better for everyone!

I need to know about Xanthe and their story!

[Niche · Rating 2 out of 5]

New DC supernatural character

Honestly, I only picked this up since Cass was in it and I heard their was no romance. Both points were true, although it technically had level 1.5 romance on the Oxytoxin scale (under 3 is generally considered "no romance").

Coinciding with Lazarus Planet shenanigans, Cass gets pulled into the spirit world and Xanthe (the MC) and Constantine have to rescue her. On the way they have to bring balance to the spirit world and get reincarnation going again. The art is nice, but I was pretty apathetic towards the story. Most of the pathos just didn't reach me. DC's supernatural stuff is usually a miss for me outside of Specter and Zaltana.

[J.R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Super disappointing (aside from the art). After reading the Lazarus Planet intro, I was thinking the spirit world would be super cool and an amazing new dimension. But things are kept too vague and the standard magic plot circle arrives.

The magic plot circle is this:

1. Introduce character who is decently good at magic.
2. That character holds their own until a more powerful magic entity turns up.
3. Protagonist has to find more powerful magic user.
4. Repeat step one with a character who is better at magic than the previous one.
5. Continue loop until you introduce a character who is finally more powerful than the bad guy.

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wish Constantine wasn't in this book, because he's out of character in virtually every panel. It's extremely jarring, especially when there are plenty of other magical characters in the DCU who could have fulfilled the same function. Even an entirely original character, since this version of Constantine is so off he might as well be. Which is a shame, because there are good ideas here, and I liked the art. Maybe it's really shallow of me, but I just couldn't relax into the book when I was cringing every time Constantine showed up.

[Aidan Hepler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot, it was fun to read, had cool world building, and a cast of amazing characters. However, I must mention, this book is a little messy and a little rushed. There's a surprise power up scene at the end that leads through the rest of the story, and left me feeling a bit confused as to why they sped through it so fast. Also, there was barely any falling action, and one plot line isn't resolved (maybe that's the point, if they're gonna follow up in another book), but with all that said, it's still fun and cool enough to get the four stars.

[Leland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it, Xanthe is an awesome character and I really enjoyed their powers.

I will say, I especially liked how their deadname was illustrated as nothing more than scribbles.

Ultimately, I felt it ended a bit abruptly. I would have liked to see the jade court face a little bit of punishment for their centuries of greed, and directly causing thousands to forget themselves.

It also sort of upset me that Xanthe concedes, agreeing to make the court whatever they choose- without reincarnation being reopened.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Xanthe is a nonbinary Chinese American kid that can move in and out of worlds and that makes it a dangerous endeavor however way it's sliced. And Xanthe has to team up when Batgirl needs some help. Who is friend or foe?

Superhero comic lore is not in my wheelhouse but this was filled with action, fright, and adventure so I can appreciate the comic for those elements however much of the backstory or reinterpretation is lost on this gal!

[Robby · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love the vibrant artwork, the writing is overly coy with its worldbuilding, especially when it comes to the main character's backstory. Even when we get revelations at the end, they are still rather slapdash and confusing. I understand that not every cultural aspect needs to be meticulously explained for the non-Chinese reader, but when you have an original character, it should at least be clear what is going on with them.