The Belfry WebComics Index

Wayward Fall is a free web comic drawn and written by the talented artist Taversia and co-written by her friend AntiType.

It is set primarily in the modern world in a place named Wayward Falls, the name from which the comic derives its title, the s of Falls being dropped in a play on words that represents the uncertain, and indeed often wayward, journey of the characters within the story.

As for the appearance of the cartoon, it is coloured in a rich and vivid, yet not garish style with much of the action taking place in the dark alleys and byways of the city at night.

So what sort of story is it? and what are it's themes?. Well the comic might best be described as an action-horror-romance somewhat reminiscent of the Underworld film series with an additional strong element of an enticing, slowly revealing mystery running through it's core.

The story begins with a female assassin, introduced as Agent V, as she stalks her latest target at a Wayward Falls nightclub. However just as she closes in for the kill, her quarry is mysteriously murdered by someone else and so the story begins.

Agent V we soon discover is no ordinary assassin, and Wayward Falls, due to a number of it's fantastical inhabitants, no ordinary city.

Agent V's actual name is Vigana Videl and as the story unfolds we discover she has a dark and mysterious past, and more than this, is a vampire. We learn that she was once an ordinary woman, originally living in the Dark Ages, and mentioned in one part of the story as having been a farm girl, who nevertheless was dragged into a life and a fight she did not want when she was transformed into a vampire, becoming part of an ancient royal vampire family with plans to rule the world in a future empire that she wanted no part of. But Vigana was not without friends and a tremendous conflict then developed between the Royal Vampire family and her allies who sought to rescuse her from her new life, and so was set in train the sequence of events that would lead Vigana to find herself transported through time, seemingly alone in the world, her old life left behind, to begin once more in the city of Wayward Falls where we first encounter her, working for the mob as a hired assassin.

Vigana is a jaded, troubled soul, haunted by the memories and horrors of her past that she can never return to, and feeling alone in the world, all of her friends and family from her old life seemingly long since gone. However, though she has fallen in with the mob, though the horrors she has seen have left her cynical, jaded and yet streetwise, Vigana we sense is not a lost cause.

Whilst Vigana is the main protaganist, she is just one of an array of mysterious and very well constructed characters all of whom have their own agendas and own back stories. There is Arturo, the Wayward Falls local mobster and employer of Vigana at the beginning of the story, Dexter Reeve, the villaineous and sadistic Fire-Mage, a man who possesses the magical ability to harnessess the power of heat and fire to devastating effect and Brash Johansen, a good looking playboy who is nevertheless deeply troubled due to the fact that he has a demon intertwined with his soul, a demon which grants him power, but at what cost?.

Another main plot line that runs parallel to Vigana's own journey is the battle between Ledj and Sabot. Ledj is a mage who came from Vigana's time and had to step out of reality to survive, learning new powers and refining his magical abilities during his absence, he emerged back into the world in the modern setting of Wayward Falls. He is on the side of good and light and the attraction and relationship between Vigana and Ledj is another main feature of the comic.

Ledj has a formidable enemy looking for him in Wayward Falls though, and that enemy is Sabot. Sabot has sold his soul for unimaginable power and represents the opposing forces of darkness, the antithesis of what Ledj stands for. Neither can rest whilst the other lives and they seem to be on course for an inevitable titanic struggle between good and evil and the forces of light and darkness from which only one of them can emerge triumphant.

Dreams and flashbacks of characters pasts is another trademark feature of Wayward Falls and other characters from different times or dimensions are revealed through the troubled dreams and nightmares of some of the main protagonists in their moments of solitude.
But these are not all of the characters of Wayward Falls, there are many others, such as the mysterious Praemus whose agenda and purpose is unclear, and others who appear in dreams and flashbacks.

But rather than read any further here, why not check out the comic for yourself and take a dark and mysterious journey into the heart of Wayward Falls where nothing is as it first seems.

The webcomic Wayward Fall is very aptly named. It chronicles a dystopic town's descent into chaos, lawlessness, and a past catching up to those haunted by it. Good, it seems, has gone from the world. The only semblance of enforcement comes from a being outside reality and time. One forced to flee from this reality and time twice on account of the overwhelming depravity and naked evil pervading its taint upon the world he helped fashion.

While this is presumably a world ruled by man, it is the creatures of the night that chiefly dominate this tale: vampires, werewolves, even lesser demons. Though many of these races are fairly popular and rather overused at the moment, the author demonstrates both originality and ingenuity in the creation of a number of her characters' backgrounds and bloodlines. Take for example the booned, sex-driven human possessed by an incubus, or the one without classification, who fancies himself a vessel of his masters, bereft of soul and unimaginable in power.

Though set in modern times, seemingly impossible feats of strength and craft are wielded by these beings, ranging from the regenerative properties of the vampire to the unbridled power of the magi. Technological innovation meets mystical attunement, characters using whatever they have at their disposal in order to survive and dominate.

The story features an ongoing, and for some, unending battle of agendas, as only the wayward can do. Each key character has their own unique plan for making their way and finding their place in the world, whether it be a gun-toting, seductive, lovelorn heroine...or a scheming, overpowered, insidious herald of the dark masters of the world. Some use their gifts for power and prestige, others for personal enjoyment; still others opt to reshape the very fabric of reality. In their mad bids to possess and control, suffering abounds and a hidden history begins to surface.

When referring to these battles of conflicting agendas, rare is the day one can find such an abundance of gripping, well-choreographed, versatile contests of wits and strength. They are often long, and always intense as well as suspenseful. Many appear to be echoes of a combat held in many of the characters' distant pasts, a culmination of more epic conflicts to come.

In both combat and adventure (or some would say, the gaps in between fighting), the exposition of Wayward Fall possesses many intricately interwoven layers of plot and backstory. Subtle hints of the A Plot blip in and out throughout the story thus far told, with a B Plot so well-developed and yet so thoroughly mystifying one is compelled to know more as one answer only serves to yield more questions. It centers around the life of a young vampiric heroine, Vigana, hiding from her past and trying to make her living in a new world the best way she knows how. Not only does the story show how that futile attempt is utterly shattered, but it also chronicles the chain of events it sparks that will put both her new home and possibly existence as we know it at stake.

The comic stands as one of the last vestiges of free-hand drawing on paper in a world dominated by computer screens and art programs. While the touch-up, coloring, shading, and special effects are all done with image-editing programs, much of the imagery is the product of a pencil rather than mouse. The impressive synthesis of the old with the new, as well as the artist's proficient command of both tools, allows for gorgeous and meticulously-fashioned attire, impassioned effects, and breath-taking action.

Taversia Borrelli, both author and artist, demonstrates both purpose and prowess in her telling of this tale. And with the assistance of her co-writer, AntiType, the proper context in which this story is shared can be fully appreciated. Though only stories worth telling are about love, love is but one of many facets that permeate this story, as is evidenced by the struggle of characters to assert their ambitions upon the world, the reservation of facing the past, and the ultimate fate of the world. Not so much the eternal struggle between good and evil, but of which kind(s) of evil and how much of it there will be at the story's end.

Overall, Wayward Fall serves as a true testament to expositional ingenuity and artistic skill. It is not often one finds a superb blend of story-telling with such graphic talent, but Taversia does not disappoint as her now one hundred page long webcomic shows no signs of dulling or slowing; neither in plot, nor design. The best is yet to come, and those along for the ride can only wonder at what this young, gifted graphic artist and storywriter has yet to unveil.

I Read wayward falls eagerly, I occasionally stay up til six in the morning to read the new strips as Lady Taversia posts them. But this is the ebb and flow of me. I Love her art, and she gives the characters enough depth for you to drowned in. Her plot develeopment is quite what I look for in most BOOKS! well may the great uberness not end. :P
~Chaos

Lady Taversia's passion for her comic shows in her constant (sometimes 3 times a week!) updates, her steady story progression, and even the growth in her work as an artist from page 1 to the current page. The story obviously centers around the vivacious (and often somewhat bitchy) Vigana, but there is a strong cast of characters that you can't help but wish you knew more about...even the arrogantly irritating fire mage, Dexter. The dialog never fails to be witty, and the fight choreography alone is worth the time spent reading through what exists so far. Do yourself a favor, and take a peek in. You won't regret it.

Wayward Fall has great potential as a webcomic with its plot that keeps you guessing as to what will happen next and it's colorful and unique characters. However, certain aspects of the dialogue end up seeming redundant or cliche, and while the artwork tends to be very well done, there are sloppy areas that could use improvement, such as the weaponry and vehicular scenes. If these issues were to be corrected, this comic could become truly great.

A dark comic that never fails to entertain - especially if you're a fan of action, violence, and all manner of underworld creatures (with none of the sparkling!). Well-paced, well-written, and compelling, you find yourself curious, following along effortlessly as your mind seeks to unravel the characters' backgrounds.