Wayward, Issue #15 is the final issue in the third arc. I've maintained that the third arc is by far the superior of the three because it shows that the New Gods of Japan and the Yokai aren't necessarily the "good guys" and the "bad guys," respectively, that they seemed to be in the first two arcs. Sure, the Yokai look scary, but does that mean they're evil? And sure, the New Gods are a bunch of cool teenagers, but does that mean that they're not controlled by the spiders? Perhaps I am showing my age as I do so, but I'm definitely Team Yokai.
In this issue, Nurarihyon is reuniting the Yokai and aligning them with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. The New Gods must move from fighting "evil" spirits to fighting ordinary Japanese soldiers, and in huge numbers. At the same time, Nurarihyon has recruited a teenager of his own, Segawa, who has begun to exhibit powers of electricity. And there is an ever-growing rift between two of the New Gods and the spiders. All of this comes together in a stunning conclusion.
I like the line art by Steven Cummings. Along with Tamra Bonvillain, he uses light well, notably in the opening page, where the wolf Yokai are in shadows. Getting back to Tamra Bonvillain, her strength is her consistency from issue to issue. The webs of the spiders are the same green, and the room the webs are in is the same brown. I know, this is coloring 101, but I appreciate it. I also like the way Marshall Dillon letters the spiders with double strokes. Overall, it's a beautiful comic and still one of my favorites. I bought Cover B.
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