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    GVN Talking Comics Exclusive Look: Humanoids ‘What We Wished For,’ by Ilias Kyriazis

    An illustrated character in mid-air on a skateboard against a dynamic, colorful background with the words "WHAT WE" visible. The character wears a hoodie and has a surprised expression.

    Wishes

    There is a saying about wishes that has several different forms:

    “Beware of what you wish for in youth, because you will get it in middle life.” – Goethe (1749 – 1832)

    “Be careful what you wish for, because if you wish hard enough you are pretty sure to get it.” – Betty Leicester’s English Christmas, by Sarah Orne Jewett

    “Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.” – Chinese Proverb

    Synopsis

    The concept is ingeniously explored by creator Ilias Kyriazis in his forthcoming book, “What We Wished For,” which is scheduled for release this month by Humanoids. The narrative delves into the complexities of seemingly simple wishes and the lessons they impart.

    On the night a mysterious comet passes overhead, a group of kids encounter a supernatural being who promises to grant them one wish each. As they contemplate their wishes, they take too long and the comet passes without a trace until 35 years later, when the comet returns…and their wishes begin to come true!

    But what seemed like their deepest desires in childhood come back to haunt them in the most unexpected and for some, deadliest, of ways. Now, they must face the consequences of their childhood dreams before those very dreams turn into disastrous nightmares.

    A Personal Story

    We had previously reviewed Ilias’s collaboration with Tim Seeley on “Chronophage,” which earned a spot on our best of 2022 list, thus confirming his status as a talented artist. In his latest book, he assumes complete creative control. For the author, this project was a deeply personal story that was years in development.

    Ilias Kyriazis

    “WHAT WE WISHED FOR is very personal to me. It’s a story I had in my mind ever since I first started thinking about the passage of time and the possibility of not all my dreams coming true,” said Kyriazis. “It took me years to feel ready but it’s time to reach out with my comics and attempt to connect with everyone who feels the same.”

    Exclusive Excerpts

    Thanks to our friends at Humanoids and creator IIlias Kyriazis, we are proud to offer this exclusive page excerpt from What We Wished For.

    A skateboarding individual performs a trick above a pink background. Text reads "What We Wished For" by Ilias Kyriazis and includes a review by Steve Orlando. Humanoids logo is at the bottom.

    A girl is woken by the doorbell, gets out of bed, and opens the door to friends dressed as zombies. A cartoon character is sitting on a toilet, screaming. Between their legs is a black and white image of a child saying, "I want to be a boy!" The bathroom wall is covered in blue tiles. A woman angrily throws a pie at a man in a doorway, hitting him in the face and causing an explosion of pie filling. She walks away smiling while he stands covered in pie. A comic page with five panels. Top left: building exterior. Top right: hand cleaning ice cream scoop. Middle left: person washing dishes. Middle right: person eating. Bottom: two people in a heated argument. A woman sits at a table eating with a younger woman with glasses. They discuss a comet on a phone screen showing “Grimm’s Comet passes over Earth after 38 years.”.

     

    One of the most intriguing plot developments occurs when Angie’s childhood wish is realized. Excluded from the fun by boys who believed girls didn’t fit in, her wish to become one provides her with a perspective she might never have otherwise gained. Angie’s story is among Ilias’s favorites.

    Ilias Kyriazis

    “Gender swap has been a thing in fiction since we called it mythology. I believe we managed to present it in a new angle with Angie’s story. Hers is definitely one of my favorite character journeys in the book.”

    Humanoids “What We Wished For” by Ilias Kyriazis hits stands later this month.

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