u/Wolver8ne

Before reading WYWH, I had never completed any comic series before (read a little Bone as a teenager). I got introduced to Crossed through an Instagram reel meme about 2 months ago, about expecting a "Walking Dead" style apocalypse but getting Crossed instead. My curiosity led me down a rabbit hole where I extensively read about the lore, concept, and some plots of certain series in the universe on Wikipedia. Honestly, the concept was initially way too graphic and intense for me to handle, but my love of all things apocalypse, especially zombie-esque concepts, gave me an itch that needed scratching. After skimming online a bit, I read that WYWH was one of the only, if not the only, Crossed storyline that had an extremely well-developed plot, character development, etc, that didn't just solely use the concept as a vehicle to see how gratuitous it could get. So, I read it and completed it about a month ago; since then, there hasn't been a single day when I haven't thought of WYWH.

Well, to summarize things neatly, WYWH was simply one of the most engaging, compelling, haunting, and well-developed storylines of any piece of media I've consumed. The way the plot developed from one volume to the next, juxtaposing the two linear storylines of the present and past, was brilliantly done. As I kept flipping through the issues, the dread and inevitability of the truth behind Aioleann's and Shaky's relationship increasingly intensified, and I felt it. While the islanders' entrapment by Aioleann's army grew in the present, the past arc brilliantly connected the two storylines. This was often done really well, panel side-by-side, notably when Ashoke is revealed to be Aioleann's "bodyguard," after the previous panel shows Shaky abandoning him. This juxtaposition technique employed throughout the retelling of the past arc really reinforced the consequentiality of Shaky and Gamekeeper's actions.

There are so many things I wanna talk about regarding the story, but if I had to break down my takeaways, I'd say:

• Loved the ending (haunting + tragic + glimpse of hope)
  • Enjoyed how Shaky and Aioleann's last moments were off-screen and narrated by Rab (more poignant)
  • Shaky got the ending he deserved (his narcissism+ego exposed), Aioleann got to make peace, they both get catharsis together by killing Gamekeeper, Rab and the kids find more islands = *chefs kiss*
• Enjoyed Shaky's unreliable narration unravel
• Big fan of Jackson, Aioleann, and Rab
• Moments like crossed-Aioleann wondering if she killed any crossed at the church + ashoke's reveal + Shaky's betrayal of Aioleann will forever haunt me
• The Island's fall + last stand was really well-done
• Poor Tabitha
• Fuck the Gamekeeper, but he is hands-down one of the most resilient fuckers I've ever seen
• Really enjoyed Gamekeeper's reveal + walkie talkie narration with Shaky
• Glad the American woman got her final moment
• I will probably cry for Aioleann every once in a while
• Simon Spurrier created a masterpiece

As we all know, James Harden has been extremely inconsistent in the playoffs thus far. As of now, was the Harden trade a for-sure improvement over Garland? Perhaps Harden is more playoff experienced, but Garland was younger and has more potential upside at 26 years old.

Was health a concern? Fit? Concerns over stagnation? As an inconsistent Cavs follower, let me know.

I guess a final question is, if Garland was currently in Harden’s position, would things be different?