Thank you to NetGalley and Boom for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wynd is a wonderful comic with an uplifting story and vibrant art. The titular character, Wynd, is a young boy with pointed ears living in a kingdom where magic is shunned and feared. Wynd's ears reveal his magical nature, so he hides them in order to live a peaceful life. But when Wynd and his family's existence is threatened by the arrival of "The Bandaged Man," Wynd, his sister, Oakley, a gardener, and a prince are forced to work together to save themselves, and ultimately the entire kingdom.

Although each of the five chapters, originally serialized as five issues, is about 40 pages long, characterization was sometimes given less priority in favor of plot. As such, the pacing was a big quick in places while character development lagged behind—the characters chased after the plot, and their motivations followed. Nonetheless, the plot and the main character was well developed enough that I continued and was treated to a satisfying and joyful ending.

I appreciated that the characters, specifically Oakley and Miss Molly, did not hesitate to voice their feelings, thus avoiding the trope of conflict caused by bad communication. It was also nice to read about queer characters in stories that didn't use their queer identies as points of conflict. Some themes conveyed through dialogue stood out and felt a little unnatural (e.g. "I don't think I'm supposed to carry that much weight"), but it wasn't anything that couldn't be overlooked.

I also enjoyed Aditya Bidikar's lettering which complemented the text and art while also highlighting important emotional beats.

I'm excited for the next chapters/book two, and I would definitely recommend this to a friend. I wasn't familiar with this Boom title before I received this ARC, but now, I will look for it the next time I head to my local comic book store.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Set in a fantasy world where beings know as weirdbloods are feared and hunted down, a pointy eared boy must hide his identity to continue living with his human family.
But when the king of the last pure, human city dies everything changes.

This was such a fun read! The illustrations are colorful and playful, and the story flows beautifully.
It's a wonderful fantasy story with all kinds of characters that makes the story grow more and more interesting.

Can be read by both kids and grownups alike.

***I received a free review copy from the publisher & Netgalley in exchange for my honest unedited feedback***

Wynd lives in the quiet town of Pipetown, working in the tavern with Titus and Miss Molly, spending time with his friend Oackley... and hiding his pointy ears, the only mark of his magic blood. Because this is a world with magic, yes, but it is also a world against it.

Wynd's life is more or less average if not for his nightmares and the longing presence of the Bandaged Man, who has come to town to finish with the Weirdbloods.

It is no secret that I deeply enjoy the way James Tynion IV writes, and this is no exception. His way of describing makes it really easy to emphasize with the characters and their pain. When the Prince feels paranoid, the reader understands where these feelings are coming from; when the gardener's son feel the brutal force of the Bandaged Man and his men, the readers wants to be there and help. And after The Conversation with Miss Molly... a couple of tears would be shed.

Alongside the script, the amazing artwork, by Michael Dialynas, completes a fantastic and colourful combo difficult to forget. I really enjoy when the characters faces convey all their gestures and the reader can really see what they are thinking. All the small details in the landscape make a great addition as well.

The world feels so rich, the characters real and complex, that it is impossible not to get deeply involved in the journey. And what a journey! I am really looking forward to discovering all the secrets this place has to offer.

Meanwhile, I will recommend Wynd to all lovers of Isola and Coda; To everyone looking to add a little bit of fantasy to these days;To everyone looking to go on an adventure alongside unforgettable characters.

Wynd is a young boy living in Pipetown in his adopted mother's tavern. He spends his days working as a server and spying on the castle gardener's son. More than anything, he wants to be a normal boy, but he has magic in his blood which presents itself with his pointy ears. Magic is forbidden within the city limits, and if he is discovered he will be killed. His foster mother arranges for Wynd to be smuggled out of the city with the Prince (who wants to make life better for those with magic), but their escape is discovered by the Bandaged Man, a magical bounty hunter who can smell magic. Along with Wynd's best friend Oakley and the Prince's only friend Thorn, they run for their lives. Will they escape and what is waiting for them if they do?

I'm usually a fan of Tynion's work, and this one was no different.
I'm excited to see how the novel will progress, and the continuation of the artwork.

Wynd has always been different since birth; having to hide his pointy ears with his hair and making sure no one figures out how different he truly is. With Fae, Vampires, and anything Weird set to be destroyed on sight, hiding his true self is all that Wynd has known.

That is until the Bandaged Man comes into town; a tracker and destroyer of all things Weird, and is sent by the King to get rid of anything not human. Wynd must leave town, the only world he's known, and try to find safety, and his destiny, by going North.