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Crossed: Wish You Were Here #4
Crossed: Wish You Were Here, Volume 4
This runaway success web comic features an island of uninfected survivors in a world overrun by psychopaths. The island was a safe place. However, in this latest chapter the arrival of the American drift fleet brings true civilization back, and opens the eyes of the petty and the jealous.
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 13, 2021
The final volume of this version of the end of the world, set in the remote Scottish islands in and around Cava where erudite but deeply flawed anti-hero Shaky finally faces all his demons, but can he, will he do the right thing in the end; and did he do the right thing in the past. A lot less insane and graphic as most Crossed stories go, and overall pretty thought provoking using an apocalypse to tell the story of broken people! 8 out of 12. I read the online web comics.
March 12, 2017
The ride is finally over and Shakespeare's story too.
A full of twists and flashbacks tale about survival, gory visceral horror, pathos and... Romance.
An excellent mini-series if you like "The Walking Dead", Stephen King's "Cell" and flicks like "28 Days later", "The Crazies" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"... Just be warned: this setting is so extreme and disturbing that it's never going to have a movie/tv series adaption.
And Simon Spurrier just wrote a real good story here, with a well fleshed, despicable and unforgetable main character.
"What do you think? Is it a good story?"
"Mm?" "Oh. Didn't read it." "Just counted the words."
September 20, 2014
Really enjoyed this series, if "enjoy" can actually be said about something so downright depressing. Spurrier's protagonist, Shaky, is one of the least likeable main characters I've ever come across, yet I kept reading, wanting to know what was going to happen, both in the present and in the past (numerous flashbacks via his ongoing diary entries). I think the end was kind of a foregone conclusion, but how we finally got there was riveting. Spurrier really never let up with the atmosphere of constant dread under which these characters were living their lives in this post-apocalyptic world (the "crossed" are closer to the "rage zombies" of 28 Days Later than to actual zombies, yet the world that has resulted is pretty similar to those seen in other zombie films, books, comics).
June 8, 2017
So we finally got an epic conclusion. This volume did a good job of tying up the loose ends of what was the longest Crossed story by far. This volume was very "wordy", especially the conversation that tells the story of what the nun has been up to since turning Crossed. We also finally see just what happened between Shakes and the nun in the past.
This was really quite the story when you look at all four volumes together. Good art as had been the case with the entire Crossed series. The conclusion wasn't a shock to me, but there were some unexpected twists and turns along the way. This wasn't my favorite Crossed story, but was very good and fans of Crossed who were looking for a longer storyline should find what they want here.
This was really quite the story when you look at all four volumes together. Good art as had been the case with the entire Crossed series. The conclusion wasn't a shock to me, but there were some unexpected twists and turns along the way. This wasn't my favorite Crossed story, but was very good and fans of Crossed who were looking for a longer storyline should find what they want here.
January 25, 2018
I wish I could give this a five star review, but sticking with 4!
It was definitely brought with some panash, had amazing characters, but at a certain point they just tried toooo much...
But still, a piece of beauty of course!!
It was definitely brought with some panash, had amazing characters, but at a certain point they just tried toooo much...
But still, a piece of beauty of course!!
April 29, 2022
The story could've and should've been wrapped up at the end of Volume 3.
80% of this volume was filled with the main characters inner-most pretentious ramblings and flashbacks to scenes that we've already seen before.
The overall story was good, but this last volume was a real drag at certain points. The first two volumes had me on the edge of my seat, but Volumes 3 and 4 had me looking forward to finishing this and moving on to the next Crossed story.
80% of this volume was filled with the main characters inner-most pretentious ramblings and flashbacks to scenes that we've already seen before.
The overall story was good, but this last volume was a real drag at certain points. The first two volumes had me on the edge of my seat, but Volumes 3 and 4 had me looking forward to finishing this and moving on to the next Crossed story.
February 13, 2023
The series is know due to action scenes. Some monologues but usually it's more focus on action... like a lot.
This volume 4 was basically a monologue and flashbacks. Some interesting sex scene but apart from that yeah nothing much more.... it explains a bit on the previous volumes but again... too long, too boring.
It's a shame that ended like that. There are a couple of other crosses stories to read.
This volume 4 was basically a monologue and flashbacks. Some interesting sex scene but apart from that yeah nothing much more.... it explains a bit on the previous volumes but again... too long, too boring.
It's a shame that ended like that. There are a couple of other crosses stories to read.
September 2, 2016
The last book had the American fleet overrun by the crossed. This one sees that same fleet, now burning and swarming with crossed, barreling down on the island. Shaky's group repels the first wave of crossed, but then are forced to flee the island. Aoeileann is a nun from Shaky's group years ago, a woman he fell in love with but she couldn't share his feelings because of her religion. She appears in other volumes as a special type of crossed with an X on her face, not a plus sign like all other crossed and she has a certain sway over other crossed to the point of controlling their killer tendencies. She is the most dangerous type of crossed because she is smart, restrained, she has a plan and will use cunning to achive it. Shaky finds out what happened to Aoeileann after she was infected and how she guided the group after winning them over. They meet again in the end to close their story.
If you've read everything up to this, it should be easy to read the final chapter. It gives closure as far as Shaky is concerned, but the world keeps turning. This is perhaps the thing I find least attractive about zombie stories: the lack of a final ending. Still this small chapter in the crossed-infested world is satisfying and I'm glad I read it.
If you've read everything up to this, it should be easy to read the final chapter. It gives closure as far as Shaky is concerned, but the world keeps turning. This is perhaps the thing I find least attractive about zombie stories: the lack of a final ending. Still this small chapter in the crossed-infested world is satisfying and I'm glad I read it.
Read
August 8, 2014It's not easy to tell a fictional story about the absurdity of the human need to find stories in life, and not have it read a bit like you're cheating*. When the lead is a barely-veiled version of the author, that makes it a little trickier. And when the story takes place in a world roamed by murderous feral humans who'll engage in grotesque depravity at the drop of a hat, well, they could be considered somewhat distracting. Yet here, at the end of everything, Spurrier somehow pulls it off. It helps that he's worked out the ways in which comics can use unreliable narrators without feeling like outright lying.
(Incidentally, the whole of this epic of love, inhumanity and grenades in cows remains available for free at crossedcomic.com)
*See also: novels where the author takes issue with the historical tendency to put words in Jesus' mouth...by having Jesus as a character and putting different words in his mouth.
(Incidentally, the whole of this epic of love, inhumanity and grenades in cows remains available for free at crossedcomic.com)
*See also: novels where the author takes issue with the historical tendency to put words in Jesus' mouth...by having Jesus as a character and putting different words in his mouth.
August 7, 2014
A classy splatterpunk, if that can compute. A thoughtful volume although not without just the right levels of violence and trauma. Crossed, when it's written well, is an exhilarating character study of humans in the worst possible situations. When it's done wrong, it's just rape and violence and gory girls with their boobs out. This is...not that. It's far more fun. After four volumes read from the free web comic, I'm seriously considering buying them in trade paperback. Yes, for fans of survival horror with a strong stomach, Crossed: Wish You Were Here comes highly recommended.
May 1, 2025
I wasn't expecting much out of this series. This is my first (and most-likely only) venture into any of the "Crossed" Series, however, I am happy to have finished the ride.
I was expecting the grotesque depictions of a burning world in comic-format, but I was shocked at how much focus and depth was put into our main character and his internal struggles. Shakespeare was an incredibly interesting (albeit frustrating) character to have narrate this story and follow along with. His attitude and outlook on the world matched the setting perfectly, and while I personally could not find much (if any) sympathy for him in the end, his character was complex, and interesting to watch unravel as you learn his past, and present as you read.
The structure of present-to-past-to-present-again "boomerang" storytelling worked really well here - I found myself being hooked on Eden's future, while also wanting to hear more and more of Shaky's story. It's a crazy journey from cover to cover, and anyone that can stomach the insane depictions of violence and inhumanity are in for an incredible story.
The only downside to all of this is that I will never recommend this to anyone that I personally know because of how messed up it all is.
I was expecting the grotesque depictions of a burning world in comic-format, but I was shocked at how much focus and depth was put into our main character and his internal struggles. Shakespeare was an incredibly interesting (albeit frustrating) character to have narrate this story and follow along with. His attitude and outlook on the world matched the setting perfectly, and while I personally could not find much (if any) sympathy for him in the end, his character was complex, and interesting to watch unravel as you learn his past, and present as you read.
The structure of present-to-past-to-present-again "boomerang" storytelling worked really well here - I found myself being hooked on Eden's future, while also wanting to hear more and more of Shaky's story. It's a crazy journey from cover to cover, and anyone that can stomach the insane depictions of violence and inhumanity are in for an incredible story.
The only downside to all of this is that I will never recommend this to anyone that I personally know because of how messed up it all is.
May 6, 2022
Crossed: Wish You Were Here Vol. 4
We All Burn Together
A large ship full of The Crossed arrives at the island. The islanders are holding their own, sea of flames, burning bodies, when more ships arrive.
Our narrator, Shaky, becomes persona non grata amongst his surviving islanders.
Rab, who founded the island of survivors, tells Shaky the survivors are leaving the island. Shaky isn’t invited to join them.
“Folks around you die a wee bit too much.”
They go all “Misery” on Shaky, crowbar to both ankles.
Lots of flashbacks this volume, including the backstory of Reverend Moses White. The Gameskeeper (still alive) fills Shaky in on the Nun’s history he doesn’t know and the story of the X’s.
Warning: Inappropriate use of severed limbs times 2. Probably prohibited where you live.
Another flashback scene. Shaky and the Nun have intercourse while the rest of the congregation are slaughtered by The Crossed.
Wow! While Vol. 4 is not the strongest entry of the series, I am in agreement with other reviews. I came away hating Shaky. He morphs into an utter villain by the story’s end.
There are some survivors. But those who should die, do.
We All Burn Together
A large ship full of The Crossed arrives at the island. The islanders are holding their own, sea of flames, burning bodies, when more ships arrive.
Our narrator, Shaky, becomes persona non grata amongst his surviving islanders.
Rab, who founded the island of survivors, tells Shaky the survivors are leaving the island. Shaky isn’t invited to join them.
“Folks around you die a wee bit too much.”
They go all “Misery” on Shaky, crowbar to both ankles.
Lots of flashbacks this volume, including the backstory of Reverend Moses White. The Gameskeeper (still alive) fills Shaky in on the Nun’s history he doesn’t know and the story of the X’s.
Warning: Inappropriate use of severed limbs times 2. Probably prohibited where you live.
Another flashback scene. Shaky and the Nun have intercourse while the rest of the congregation are slaughtered by The Crossed.
Wow! While Vol. 4 is not the strongest entry of the series, I am in agreement with other reviews. I came away hating Shaky. He morphs into an utter villain by the story’s end.
There are some survivors. But those who should die, do.
dnf
January 30, 2026Shaky is indeed a piece of shit (no surprise). The series itself? I enjoyed the first volume, the second less so. Then I didn’t feel like continuing the rest of the series but I wanted to see the end of Aoileann’s tale so scim read. Shaky, just as bad as the Crossed. At least the Crossed can’t help how they are. Which, I feel, is the entire point of the Crossed series in a way. To show that the deepest evils come from within us. The human condition is more evil than the Crossed condition for the simplest reasons, humans retain free will.
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 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
August 30, 2017
Si conclude la verbosissima saga di Crossed Manchi solo tu, senza la solita mattanza: in questo caso è solo il protagonista a rimetterci le penne, e nemmeno per mano di uno scrociato, ma insieme ad esso. Una storia che, al netto di alcuni passaggi eccessivamente involuti, si è mantenuta interessante e ha proposto un finale originale nell'ambito della saga: uno scrociato donna intelligente e, per una serie di concause, non violento. Ovviamente il fatto che lei non riesca a uccidere non significa che il fumetto cessi di essere estremo: qui vediamo sesso prima consenziente, poi imposto a una suora che culmina con una crisi epilettica di lei, che non impedisce a lui di continuare. Ma è amore, almeno da quello che si percepisce nelle pagine.
November 16, 2018
This volume is too wordy. Like they’re desperately trying to end the series. Most of the first half takes the form of radio conversations between Shaky and the game keeper. Yup, turns out the old man was still alive all along. The conversation was not easy to follow. Talk, talk, talk and talk. Yawn.
The crossed makes it to Cava. The only option left is to abandon the island. The ending was OK. It could have ended poorer. Can’t deny that it’s a whole lot better than the ending to the main 100 issue series.
The crossed makes it to Cava. The only option left is to abandon the island. The ending was OK. It could have ended poorer. Can’t deny that it’s a whole lot better than the ending to the main 100 issue series.
October 24, 2023
This is the finale to the long-running free web comic. By the time that it was done I was relieved to be done with it. Shaky is an unlikable leading man, and that is the point, but if the reader cannot identify, sympathize, or empathize with the star then the story becomes a chore. I was waiting for redemption or some form of self sacrifice or at the very least some self serving action, but I don't feel like I get any of the above. This series ended with a whimper instead of a bang.
May 8, 2019
Maybe 2.5 really
April 28, 2023
gotta be honest, i cried. i love this story so much but i’m never touching it again. i don’t know what to do with myself now
October 10, 2023
1.5 but perhaps still a better webcomic than xkcd. who knows
July 13, 2025
Decent series in the Crossed universe
I also did the same thing with this volume as I did with the last one. Read most of it, forgot to finish it and now I finished it
I also did the same thing with this volume as I did with the last one. Read most of it, forgot to finish it and now I finished it
December 19, 2025
no le tenia fé pero que buen final
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.
Read
January 12, 2026An enthralling read, the whole series. Brutal and horrible, but with emotion and characters you can't turn away from. At its core, this slow-burn horror story is one long therapy session for the protagonist, a not-so-thinly-veiled version of the author. It's about the human need for storytelling. It's also about leadership, love, the secrets you keep from yourself, atonement, and self-regard. And, y'know, surviving in a world overrun by sadistic, murderous humans.
Fantastic character work and grizzled, nasty writing. The writing has an almost musical quality to it, the chapters a definite rhythm (it was serialized as a webcomic in weekly installments). My only complaint is that the story becomes comparatively convoluted (read: wordier than usual) in the final volume. Still, if you can stomach the gore, are okay with a fairly unlikable protagonist, and welcome chatty diary entries on every page, I can't recommend this series enough.
Fantastic character work and grizzled, nasty writing. The writing has an almost musical quality to it, the chapters a definite rhythm (it was serialized as a webcomic in weekly installments). My only complaint is that the story becomes comparatively convoluted (read: wordier than usual) in the final volume. Still, if you can stomach the gore, are okay with a fairly unlikable protagonist, and welcome chatty diary entries on every page, I can't recommend this series enough.
August 8, 2016
3.5 estrellas.
La verdad es que no estoy muy segura de cómo sentirme. Esta es una de las mejores entregas, pero su protagonista no terminó de caerme bien (aunque en momentos me identifiqué con él -como escritora, no necesariamente como persona-.) y mi personaje favorito no se murió d( O w O )b
Lo que sí es que esta historia termina de convencerme que el amor puede ser una gran bendición o la peor de las maldiciones que puede caer sobre el ser humano.
Le hubiera dado más estrellas, pero el último capítulo fue un asco. El penúltimo te deja en el borde de tu asiento, pero el final lo sentí perezoso...
La verdad es que no estoy muy segura de cómo sentirme. Esta es una de las mejores entregas, pero su protagonista no terminó de caerme bien (aunque en momentos me identifiqué con él -como escritora, no necesariamente como persona-.) y mi personaje favorito no se murió d( O w O )b
Lo que sí es que esta historia termina de convencerme que el amor puede ser una gran bendición o la peor de las maldiciones que puede caer sobre el ser humano.
September 13, 2014
It's always loved the Crossed series of books, they're original, violent and just plain crazy.
When I heard that they were putting out a weekly story following a single man I was pretty excited to read it. Now that the story has concluded I have to admit that this was everything I was expecting it to be.
This poor bastard can't do anything right no matter what he tries.
When I heard that they were putting out a weekly story following a single man I was pretty excited to read it. Now that the story has concluded I have to admit that this was everything I was expecting it to be.
This poor bastard can't do anything right no matter what he tries.
June 18, 2015
Simon Spurrier ended this storyline well meaning it did not end well for most.
An uplifting story set against a backdrop so dark and depraved that it cannot never be celluloid . Still the "romance" survives and lingers.
An uplifting story set against a backdrop so dark and depraved that it cannot never be celluloid . Still the "romance" survives and lingers.
November 24, 2016
Huh, romance.
I spent all this time caring so much about such an unlikeable character. It was worth it though.
"What do you think? Is it a good story?"
"mm? Oh. Didn't read it. Just counted the words."
I spent all this time caring so much about such an unlikeable character. It was worth it though.
"What do you think? Is it a good story?"
"mm? Oh. Didn't read it. Just counted the words."
February 15, 2022
If your faint of heart do not read this. Crossed is essentially about a sickness that brings out the worst in people and regular people just trying to survive. All in all though it is entertaining
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews