Review: Here’s Why You Should Be Checking Out Black Mask Studios’ The Wilds

So it’s not really been a secret, but I’ve been taking a bit of a break from comics and comics culture. I’ve been rereading old favorites over the years, but haven’t really dived into anything recent. There’s been a lot of talent coming to the forefront, but I’ve been craving a story that I could really sink my teeth into.

That’s why I was so excited (and not at all ready) for The Wilds.

The Wilds is a new comics series premiering through Black Masks Studios. Led by writer Vita Ayala, illustrator Emily Pearson, and colorist Marissa Louise, the story takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity is pushed to the edge by a mysterious floral-based plague that is as deadly as it is visually stunning on the page. We follow Daisy Walker, a “Runner” in this world for The Compound (which the Black Mask Studios website describes as being a mix between “a post-apocalyptic postal service and black market salvaging operation”, which is pretty much spot on).

Daisy’s job as a Runner seems cool, but what drew me to her character was her grit and desire to do more. She’s been jaded by what the world has become and what she’s seen on the job, but that isn’t stopping her from wanting to help those in need. Though she wishes to escape and retire into the sunset with her girl Heather (and honestly Sis, we don’t blame you), she also knows the reality of what that would mean for the rest of her team if that were to happen.

But on what should be a typical job, Daisy finds herself doing the unexpected, from saving a civilian and bringing him back to the Compound to bracing herself when an attack on the Compound has her reevaluating everything that she thought she knew.

The combination of Ayala’s writing, Pearson’s artwork, and Louise’s coloring makes The Wilds really pop. There were lines that genuinely made me gasp out loud, that really made you appreciate and invest in the world that’s been crafted in the pages. There’s a humanity in all of the characters, even against all the odds and in the face of the looming danger, like the Abominations (the flower-covered plagued antagonists).

The Wilds achieves an interesting mix of thriller, mystery, and sci-fi that has a special place in my heart. I’m so happy that this is the series that’s reignited my hunger for comics, and I can’t wait to see what else Ayala, Pearson, and Louise have in store for us.

The Wilds is available in stores Wednesday, February 28th!