What do you think?
Rate this book
Wayward
Wayward, Vol. 5: Tethered Souls
IMAGE'S SUPERNATURAL SENSATION CONTINUES!
Japan and Ireland are torn apart by conflict. The new power that defines the modern world rages out of control.
JIM ZUB (Avengers, SKULLKICKERS) and STEVEN CUMMINGS (Dead Shot, Legends of the Dark Knight) continue their supernatural spectacle that combines the camaraderie and emotion of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer with foreign cultures and fascinating mythological monsters.
This volume includes design artwork by artist Steven Cummings and profiles on mythical creatures by monster scholars Zack Davisson and Ann O'Regan not found in the single issues.
Collects WAYWARD #21-25.
Japan and Ireland are torn apart by conflict. The new power that defines the modern world rages out of control.
JIM ZUB (Avengers, SKULLKICKERS) and STEVEN CUMMINGS (Dead Shot, Legends of the Dark Knight) continue their supernatural spectacle that combines the camaraderie and emotion of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer with foreign cultures and fascinating mythological monsters.
This volume includes design artwork by artist Steven Cummings and profiles on mythical creatures by monster scholars Zack Davisson and Ann O'Regan not found in the single issues.
Collects WAYWARD #21-25.
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2018
8 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Jim Zub
948 books321 followersJim Zub is a writer, artist and art instructor based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past fifteen years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Capcom, Hasbro, Bandai-Namco and Mattel.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 22, 2019
Almost at the end now and shit is going down.
Gigantic woman running around the streets like Godzilla? Check. Rori going to war on behalf of her father? Check. Everyone getting killed and sent to die? Check. Betrayals around every turn? Yep Yep Yep. This is the climax people. While Rori tries her best to help her father and his tribe of demons, we have all our other heroes stuck in Japan dealing with a giant girl roaming the streets destroying everything!
Overall, a solid volume again if not great. I mean it's fun, the pacing is still good, and the fights are both beautiful and brutal. However, I just can't seem to care about any of the characters much. Even after a betrayal, I just felt kind of Eh about the death. Overall, it's a fairly good series I just wish it was a tad bit better. A 3 out of 5.
Gigantic woman running around the streets like Godzilla? Check. Rori going to war on behalf of her father? Check. Everyone getting killed and sent to die? Check. Betrayals around every turn? Yep Yep Yep. This is the climax people. While Rori tries her best to help her father and his tribe of demons, we have all our other heroes stuck in Japan dealing with a giant girl roaming the streets destroying everything!
Overall, a solid volume again if not great. I mean it's fun, the pacing is still good, and the fights are both beautiful and brutal. However, I just can't seem to care about any of the characters much. Even after a betrayal, I just felt kind of Eh about the death. Overall, it's a fairly good series I just wish it was a tad bit better. A 3 out of 5.
January 15, 2018
I don't even know ...it's like the Irish/Japanese version of American Gods only there's been no real thought put into it at all. Also it's been a few months since I've read the last volume and I've forgotten what literally almost all of these characters do, and I feel like the storyline is trying to do so many things at once and BE so many different places at once and that it's definitely not conducive to helping me remember. If this is almost over [and honestly it feels like it SHOULD be] then I wouldn't mind seeing it through til the end, but if they're gonna drag it out forever maybe I should just quit while I'm behind ...
March 4, 2018
Wow! Best volume so far!
What’s it about?
Holy s***, that would take a long time to explain... I’m gonna skip that bit!
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is still really interesting and lots is happening!
The art is still amazing! So many beautiful panels in this volume!
The characters are still very interesting. I was worried about that because one of my favorite characters was killed off in the previous volume but no, the rest of them are still super interesting.
There’s some fantastic action throughout!
This series is still very unpredictable, who could tell what happens next?
This applies to the previous volume as well but I’m happy to see Ireland in this book portrayed so well. We need to see Ireland in more comics. Other than this and some Ennis stuff I can’t think of many comics that include Ireland.
This series continues to be very weird. It’s so freaking cool! Lots of great, weird stuff happens in this volume!
This volume is so emotional, holy s***!
The ending is a great way to end a volume.
Overall:
This is the best volume of what I would consider to be the best “teen superheroes” themed comic I’ve read yet! If you’re a fan of exciting superhero stories and you’re not reading Wayward... what the f*** are you doing?
5/5
What’s it about?
Holy s***, that would take a long time to explain... I’m gonna skip that bit!
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is still really interesting and lots is happening!
The art is still amazing! So many beautiful panels in this volume!
The characters are still very interesting. I was worried about that because one of my favorite characters was killed off in the previous volume but no, the rest of them are still super interesting.
There’s some fantastic action throughout!
This series is still very unpredictable, who could tell what happens next?
This applies to the previous volume as well but I’m happy to see Ireland in this book portrayed so well. We need to see Ireland in more comics. Other than this and some Ennis stuff I can’t think of many comics that include Ireland.
This series continues to be very weird. It’s so freaking cool! Lots of great, weird stuff happens in this volume!
This volume is so emotional, holy s***!
The ending is a great way to end a volume.
Overall:
This is the best volume of what I would consider to be the best “teen superheroes” themed comic I’ve read yet! If you’re a fan of exciting superhero stories and you’re not reading Wayward... what the f*** are you doing?
5/5
April 20, 2018
Hmm... as much as I love Wayward, things are getting a bit messy. With characters all split up and the addition of Irish magical folk, the narrative is a chaotic mess and it's hard to follow what is going on or where things are headed. But by the end, everyone joins up again in Japan and... do I see cats? Well, that makes me look forward to volume 6! Plus I do want to see the fallout of the strange Ireland aside.
March 5, 2018
NEVER BUY A WHOLE SERIES JUST BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THE FIRST BOOK SHOW POTENTIAL, or THE PROBLEM OF ONLINE SHOPPING ON A WHIM.
The art is still nice
The art is still nice
April 16, 2021
Read the last two issues back to back cause after the ending of the penultimate issue of this volume I has to. Interesting to reveal a couple of the main characters backstories without it taking up a huge chunk of this volume
April 7, 2023
Priča mi je odlična i sve mi je baš divno nacrtano.
Problem mi je jedino što previše vremena prođe od prijašnjeg nastavka pa se ne mogu do kraja unijeti u priču.
Ali, baš me zanima kako će se sve završiti. Onaj ljigavac sa šeširom mi baš ide na živce.
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala
Problem mi je jedino što previše vremena prođe od prijašnjeg nastavka pa se ne mogu do kraja unijeti u priču.
Ali, baš me zanima kako će se sve završiti. Onaj ljigavac sa šeširom mi baš ide na živce.
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala
January 14, 2019
A lot of plot threads to follow in this volume of Wayward but it wraps up a first first season arc of the story . I like this series a lot but have to admit it has been awhile since I read the last volume. The release schedule for this series is very slow. But the artwork is really top notch. This book continues to be a visual treat and I am looking forward to the looming war that Zub has been building towards since volume 1. This book suffers a bit when it comes to pacing and the dialogue looses me at times. But I still really enjoy the mythic quality to this book. I just thing that Image's Birthright by James Tynion IV is doing the contemporary fantasy more justice. I am looking forward to the next volume which I hope will be coming out soon.
February 1, 2018
This volume (up to issue 24, I believe) presents the answers to some of the questions that have been building as well as offering a hopeful hint to the future.
February 5, 2018
Still loving it
August 28, 2019
Each one of the characters can easily carry the story and I love how strong they are on their own.
August 29, 2020
It has been a long time since I read the first 4 volumes in this series, and unfortunately my memory of the previous works is hazy. The story read fast and the art impressed, but something seemed missing. Also, the story didn’t do enough for me to catch up or remind me of the previous stories.
What worked really well was the alternating narrative between Ireland and Tokyo. It highlighted the wonderful color work of the volume and kept the story racing.
The art, coloring, and layouts are fantastic. As a comic, the volume certainly succeeds. The story however was mostly forgettable. It is building up to something, but it failed to build my interest.
What worked really well was the alternating narrative between Ireland and Tokyo. It highlighted the wonderful color work of the volume and kept the story racing.
The art, coloring, and layouts are fantastic. As a comic, the volume certainly succeeds. The story however was mostly forgettable. It is building up to something, but it failed to build my interest.
April 17, 2020
Very nice story, great characters, beautiful art, but this volume has a little bit too much action and too little dialogue. Read in 30mins.
March 31, 2021
Split up and messy storyline. The whole Irish story more or less abruptly ends and Rori goes back to Japan.
April 29, 2021
I'm still not loving the shift to Ireland. It feels like two totally different books squished together.
December 31, 2021
I like this! Best volume so far.
March 14, 2022
Great story
May 26, 2022
Lovely way to bring myth into modern times
August 1, 2022
i liked the joining of two very different magical traditions but finding this storyline hard to follow
October 9, 2022
3.5 stars
March 17, 2023
Great work, great ambiance, and I am starting to figure it all out.
May 9, 2023
This volume is of Wayward is still excellent, but I was very bummed out through most of it.
July 25, 2023
Under the cover of Japanese culture, this comic's actual theme is young and old people fighting for power, which is dull and boring.
September 2, 2024
I just read all six volumes in one sitting. This series is wonderful and addicting. I want more not gonna lie.
January 31, 2025
3.5 stars. The best volume since the first.
July 22, 2025
Cool art busy storyline
2.9✨
2.9✨
June 14, 2018
The parallel action finally begins its inevitable and fated twist toward resolution! Rori's tragic encounter with a legion of magical Irish bastards has left her angry and scarred. Emi and Shirai, after an evening on the run, must reconcile what it means to be lost and without a home in a world run by itinerant spirits. Inaba and Segawa must team up and rescue Nikaido from the clutches of the military. It's all coming together! Sort of. The fifth volume of WAYWARD has plenty of fantastic portal openings, kaiju spectacles, emotion bombs, and elves wielding energy blades, and it's all pretty dang awesome.
If, in the previous volume, characters were knocked off their feet and stumbled about, dazed and confused, then Volume Five shows these characters getting back on their feet, finding their resolve, and recognizing the value of pushing back against the forces that would annihilate them. Good stuff, these fantasy-adventure comics.
The death of Ayane in the previous volume may have left a bitter taste in one's mouth (if not for the possible resurrection of the hideous trope of killing off LGBTQIA characters), but the story progresses at a fast but sensible clip thereafter. Rori feels betrayed by her father, and reconciles herself to harness the anger she feels to sort out balance of power currently coursing through her veins.
On the other side of the globe, Emi keeps falling through dimensions, as it were, and it's up to Shirai to anchor the young woman to the present. Easier said than done. Fortunately, just as Emi is a magnet for strangeness, Shirai feeds off the destruction of strangeness. It's good to see these characters are willing to help out one another when times get tough. The emotional connection between Emi and Shirai hasn't materialized as visibly as with others, but it's clear this is a pairing that needs to keep its cohesion if these kids are to survive the long game.
Inaba Kami and Segawa constitute the oddest pairing in all of WAYWARD, but they work incredibly well together. Inaba is demanding, straightforward, and never blushes. Segawa is all nerves, keeps a low profile, and is constantly second-guessing himself. Quite the match made in heaven. The fact that this duo escapes the police, endures under pressure, and acknowledges the responsibility they have to look out for one another, Nikaido included, shows a level of growth that's genuinely impressive -- for these characters, as well as for the book.
On par with Zub's script, Cummings's art proves competitive. Now far less domestic than the book's initial chapters, Volume Five has a lot of action and fantasy thrown into the mix. This allows for Cummings to compose an awesome scene of Shirai running and leaping through a crumbling stairwell; a super-creepy underwater scene in which Rori fights off vicious mer-creatures; as well as the opening five pages, which consists of Nikaido rummaging through the emotions of other hospital residents . . . it's an intense moment and is probably the book's most compelling scene to date.
The volume's pacing is neatly threaded, and doesn't hopscotch back-and-forth, as the previous one did. WAYWARD kicked its storytelling up a notch, and has shifted the fight for the future of Japan into yet another gear.
If, in the previous volume, characters were knocked off their feet and stumbled about, dazed and confused, then Volume Five shows these characters getting back on their feet, finding their resolve, and recognizing the value of pushing back against the forces that would annihilate them. Good stuff, these fantasy-adventure comics.
The death of Ayane in the previous volume may have left a bitter taste in one's mouth (if not for the possible resurrection of the hideous trope of killing off LGBTQIA characters), but the story progresses at a fast but sensible clip thereafter. Rori feels betrayed by her father, and reconciles herself to harness the anger she feels to sort out balance of power currently coursing through her veins.
On the other side of the globe, Emi keeps falling through dimensions, as it were, and it's up to Shirai to anchor the young woman to the present. Easier said than done. Fortunately, just as Emi is a magnet for strangeness, Shirai feeds off the destruction of strangeness. It's good to see these characters are willing to help out one another when times get tough. The emotional connection between Emi and Shirai hasn't materialized as visibly as with others, but it's clear this is a pairing that needs to keep its cohesion if these kids are to survive the long game.
Inaba Kami and Segawa constitute the oddest pairing in all of WAYWARD, but they work incredibly well together. Inaba is demanding, straightforward, and never blushes. Segawa is all nerves, keeps a low profile, and is constantly second-guessing himself. Quite the match made in heaven. The fact that this duo escapes the police, endures under pressure, and acknowledges the responsibility they have to look out for one another, Nikaido included, shows a level of growth that's genuinely impressive -- for these characters, as well as for the book.
On par with Zub's script, Cummings's art proves competitive. Now far less domestic than the book's initial chapters, Volume Five has a lot of action and fantasy thrown into the mix. This allows for Cummings to compose an awesome scene of Shirai running and leaping through a crumbling stairwell; a super-creepy underwater scene in which Rori fights off vicious mer-creatures; as well as the opening five pages, which consists of Nikaido rummaging through the emotions of other hospital residents . . . it's an intense moment and is probably the book's most compelling scene to date.
The volume's pacing is neatly threaded, and doesn't hopscotch back-and-forth, as the previous one did. WAYWARD kicked its storytelling up a notch, and has shifted the fight for the future of Japan into yet another gear.
April 11, 2018
I really like the Wayward series and even though they introduced Celtic mythology recently too I just did not get as much enjoyment out of this book. Maybe I am still bummed about Ayane and seeing a moment of grieving brought that back to me (after all they already have a crazy kitsune girl why did they need a crazy Nekomusume too even though she was there from the beginning basically.) Not to say the artwork is not amazing as usual but something was just off this time for me.
Now what I want to know is why the heck is Rori helping the fomori and her father if she is really mad at him? Is she so upset by what happened to Ayane that life and death are equally tempting no matter where she goes? Got to warn ya folks that things get violent and some elves were harmed in the creation of this book. Rori can even see her magic is corrupting the beautiful world of the Sidhe but seems relatively unfazed as modern druids open fire on elven defenders. No I think it is Rori herself that is really bugging me about this volume because magic requires sacrifice for humans and Rori has taken a lot of mental damage lately so what happens to her in this volume irritates and yet confuses me all the more.
In the meantime in Japan the other kids are finding their way to one another leading to a giant Ohara type doll plowing through the city, exploding hospital floors, ready to kill Kitsune girls, arrogant technomancers, and at least one amazing head smashing blow from a ghost eater trying to save Ohara. Of course there is the scene with Ohara and Rori which is what confuses me from earlier but I guess alls well to end well and look at that...a cat is coming in to see the group gathered. Could part of Ayane still be alive in Japan? Only time will tell.
Of course don't just read these books for the comics. Please stay for the learning too ( I am guessing each comic came with none and they were compiled at the end of the book. In this volume we learn about the difference between American and Japanese hospitals, Sirens of the Irish shores(they sure were ugly in this book), Tsukumogami, and the red string of fate (interesting...it originated in China.) :)
If I had to chose a favorite part of the book though it would have to be when Segawa flips off the security cameras at the hospital and had the image freeze like that for 12 hours to Nurarihyon's amusement. :)
Now what I want to know is why the heck is Rori helping the fomori and her father if she is really mad at him? Is she so upset by what happened to Ayane that life and death are equally tempting no matter where she goes? Got to warn ya folks that things get violent and some elves were harmed in the creation of this book. Rori can even see her magic is corrupting the beautiful world of the Sidhe but seems relatively unfazed as modern druids open fire on elven defenders. No I think it is Rori herself that is really bugging me about this volume because magic requires sacrifice for humans and Rori has taken a lot of mental damage lately so what happens to her in this volume irritates and yet confuses me all the more.
In the meantime in Japan the other kids are finding their way to one another leading to a giant Ohara type doll plowing through the city, exploding hospital floors, ready to kill Kitsune girls, arrogant technomancers, and at least one amazing head smashing blow from a ghost eater trying to save Ohara. Of course there is the scene with Ohara and Rori which is what confuses me from earlier but I guess alls well to end well and look at that...a cat is coming in to see the group gathered. Could part of Ayane still be alive in Japan? Only time will tell.
Of course don't just read these books for the comics. Please stay for the learning too ( I am guessing each comic came with none and they were compiled at the end of the book. In this volume we learn about the difference between American and Japanese hospitals, Sirens of the Irish shores(they sure were ugly in this book), Tsukumogami, and the red string of fate (interesting...it originated in China.) :)
If I had to chose a favorite part of the book though it would have to be when Segawa flips off the security cameras at the hospital and had the image freeze like that for 12 hours to Nurarihyon's amusement. :)
April 12, 2018
This story has turned into a real mess. Too many characters doing too many things, and the writing isn’t good enough to keep them together. I found myself not caring about any of them, and being generally confused at many points. The pacing was totally off, the action flat because it had been too long since the last part with those characters so the tension was broken. Nothing is handled with any depth or care.
There were also several cringe-inducing moments: Irish characters who were walking stereotypes, Irish druids revealing that Rori’s parents were setup so they could steal Japan’s “corrupting” “foreign” magic, and an out-of-the-blue 1-page scene of 10-year-old Rori cutting because she is jealous of other girls “growing”.
Pretty sure I’m going to give up on this comic. It’s now the last two volumes that have been really weak and all over the place. Too bad because it had potential and the artwork is great.
There were also several cringe-inducing moments: Irish characters who were walking stereotypes, Irish druids revealing that Rori’s parents were setup so they could steal Japan’s “corrupting” “foreign” magic, and an out-of-the-blue 1-page scene of 10-year-old Rori cutting because she is jealous of other girls “growing”.
Pretty sure I’m going to give up on this comic. It’s now the last two volumes that have been really weak and all over the place. Too bad because it had potential and the artwork is great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2018
A fine inclusion in the Wayward series. The characters, previously scattered, slowly reunite. They fight some crazy villains, including a giant doll and the entire Irish magical community. Although, I really wanted to learn more about Ireland's old powers before the battle. Maybe have a pow-wow, a little let's-talk-things-out time? Alas, this volume moves fast, sometimes too fast.
The new powers vs old powers thing is finally explained in a coherent way - a few volumes too late for that, I think. I found the little "Previously" tag at the very beginning to be extremely helpful - these characters just don't stick with me for some reason. But once you're a few issues in, this volume of Wayward is probably the most propulsive yet. It also seems to conclude in a way that signals the end is near. Probably a good thing at this point.
The new powers vs old powers thing is finally explained in a coherent way - a few volumes too late for that, I think. I found the little "Previously" tag at the very beginning to be extremely helpful - these characters just don't stick with me for some reason. But once you're a few issues in, this volume of Wayward is probably the most propulsive yet. It also seems to conclude in a way that signals the end is near. Probably a good thing at this point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews