Spirit World: Xanthe Zhou Rocks

Last month, the run for Spirit World, written by Alyssa Wong, art by Haining, lettering by Janice Chiang, and Sebastian Cheng as colorist, began. A new series in DCs lineup that is headlined by newcomer Xanthe Zhou and Cassandra Cain of the Bat-Family. Prior to this series starting, the prologue was featured in Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate. In the prologue we saw Cass and Xanthe fight against Jiangshi at the cemetery in Gotham's Chinatown, with help from John Constantine. A fight that would send Cass to the Spirit World while Constantine and Xanthe would now have to make their way to help her. We are given a compelling setup that led us into this current run. 

For me, I became interested in this story because Alyssa Wong was writing this story. I am a big fan of their work as I am reading the current Deadpool run. And that story is filling my need for queer romance with a side of bloddy violence and body horror. A comic I would absolutely recommend with my whole chest. 

As for other characters featured in this story such as John Consatntine and Cassandra Cain, I have little experience. Constantine is someone I know more in memes, as I have seen him show up in some animated shows, but I've never really read anything with him in it. But as for Cass, I read the first season (I just found out about second season, hell yeah) of Batman: Wayne Family Adventures. The series is written by CRC Payne with art by StarBite. This is my favorite depiction of the Bat-Family because I get to see everyone interact as these idiots that love and care deeply for each other. And I would even argue that this is the definitive way to experience Bruce and his many kids. So, I know Cass a bit but not too much. Every character is essentially on the same playing field.

What really rocks in Spirit World is not only does Xanthe wield a giant sword that they cut down the undead with, but that you can have these moments of deep reflection interlace with the terrors of the world. This is one of the many things that well written horror series excel at and it makes me excited to read it every month. 

A little spoiler moment that sticks out to me in these first two issues are Xanthe's interactions with their parents. Xanthe died as a child and the parents still see that same person in them despite the passage of time. There are speech bubbles where Xanthe is deadnamed by their parents, yet the name is scratched out. This choice is so well executed because it makes sense given that Xanthe is not that person anymore. That person died in more ways than one and is not reflective of the current person that Xanthe is. 

I have read other stories where parents have not yet fully grasped this change in their child, or just other people in that character's life, and the deadname is visible. That didn't make me question the choice from the writer, yet now that I have seen the scenario in another series, I can't help but want more stories to do this. I also read this scratched out text like radio frequency static. The character says it, yet there is no way to know what was said. I am really hoping more people go out to their local comic book shop or order this book online because it definitely something special. 

The Spirit World itself is filled with so many beautiful structures while coexisting with the horrors of the underworld that it becomes mesmerizing. So many unique pages that build off of the entities with the trails of smoke and cloud-like formations. It's a technique that I have really only seen in Peach Momoko drawings as well as her Demon Days and Demon Wars books. Constantly giving off the effect that many spirit illustrations give off from Japanese and Chinese folklore.

Xanthe Zhou has got what it takes to headline a DC project and the team behind this run has my full confidence. Plus, it's Pride Month. You the reader are obligated to go support an awesome Non-Binary protagonist so that they get more books. Because there is nothing better than supporting those that deserve it. Read Spirit World, you will not regret a single thing.