Review by Frank Plowright

Jeff Victor’s previous You Wish graphic novel was an utter delight, introducing Avery, a child who exists via a wish made to a genie. She rescued her mother and returned home with Gribblet, a cute messenger for genies. Gribblet sets Wishborn in motion, Victor starting with a nightmare about his past, and revealing that this story occurs not long after the previous one ended.

Because this is another quest for lost parents, Victor is in danger of repeating himself, but the quest is more an excuse to have Avery explore the world within the genie’s lamp. As shown last time, not all genies are pleasant, their world is hardly hospitable, and this time Avery doesn’t have any wishes of her own to fall back on, although Victor has a clever solution for that.

As before, the actual cartooning is stunning. It’s relatively simple and dependent on the people, but extremely attractive and brightly coloured while ensuring young readers will instinctively know how people are feeling just by looking at the art. Plenty of new characters are introduced, most good-natured and appealingly designed, but Victor can also serve up darkness as Wishborn is a little more sinister than the previous book, both in terms of the threat and the stories of people Avery meets. It’s as if Victor has presumed his only readers are going to be those who read the first book, and they’re now a couple of years older and able to cope.

Although greatly enjoyable, brilliantly drawn and liable to appeal to readers who want Avery’s story continued, this isn’t quite the creative triumph of the first volume. In places Avery manifests powers all too conveniently, and while the villain’s eventual defeat is cleverly set-up, it’s also rushed, even if it is what we want to see. Victor leaves the door open for another visit, and a third You Wish is due in 2026.