Wynd is an allegory. It is a powerful and, sadly, still needed one. I’ve lived in liberal cities since the age of seventeen, so, in the bubble I live in, I don’t see gay people experience hate on a daily basis, though I grew up in a world in which people called homosexuality an abomination. A terrible word to call anyone, it's dehumanizing, and that’s just what this series is about. How many gay and transgender people attempt or complete suicide because they are taught to hate themselves? You may not be able to ever imagine walking in the shoes of a gay person, but somehow the people who can’t imagine that will easily be able to walk in the shoes of someone who is magical – someone who actually doesn’t exist. What a strange disconnect humanity suffers that we can’t show empathy for living beings, but a character on a page is safe. Magic is the great equalizer.  This is a time-tested theory from the magical abilities of the socially forward-thinking X-Men to H.G. Welles’ social disparity in The Time Machine.

Alsa, Wynd is more than just allegory, it is a universal coming-of-age story. It is about someone who is afraid to be who they know they can be and then learning to have self-confidence in the face of that fear.

It is also more than that! It is a rousing and emotional adventure that gives much of the same feeling that you feel when Bilbo declares, “I’m going on an adventure!” in The Hobbit.

In Fanbase Press’ #StoriesMatter initiative this year notes that without stories, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the plights of other people on the same levels that we do. Stories decompartmentalize our restricted views of the world. They allow us to see beyond what we have experienced and realize that we aren’t all that different from each other.  

James Tynion IV is a wondrous writer with an unending imagination who, in this case, is working with the most perfect team to bring this story to vivid life. Michael Dialynas’ art is simply gorgeous. The colors are sumptuous. Scott Newman’s design of the book in and of itself is magical.

There’s so much more that I want to unpack in this series, but that would take away the experience from you. And this is a series you and everyone else should experience. The second story arc will be released in May of next year… you have time, but I can’t imagine why you’d want to wait that long to meet Wynd.


Creative Team: James Tynion IV (writer), Michael Dialynas (artist), Aditya Bidikar (letters), Scott Newman (designer), Eric Harburm (editor), Gwen Waller (assistant editor)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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