Matteo has a problem.
A Webcomic by DuneDeca, Spellward Bound tells the story of Matteo Ramirez, a teenager who wants to become an astronaut one day. Unfortunately for him, he is suddenly transported to a fantasy world, and soon finds himself beginning to transform into one of the denizens of that world. If he transforms completely, he'll be stuck there forever, and as such will never be able to achieve his dreams.
The comic's canvas page on Webtoon can be found here
. A Webtoons Originals version, found here, was released on December 13, 2022, and concluded its first season on December 26, 2023.
This webcomic provides examples of:
- Alien Sky: The Fire Realm has one both day and night, with Binary Suns and two moons (one of which is in the process of breaking up).
- Blow You Away: Dusters appear to have this ability, as do the Eibua.
- Detonation Moon: Of a sort. It’s unknown what exactly happened to the Fire Realm’s second moon to shatter it.
- Dishing Out Dirt: Before Earth was removed from the Aether cycle, humans could manipulate the earth.
- Fantastic Racism: It is shown that other races look down on elves for their lack of natural magical ability, along with their habit of turning up as soon as new ruins appear.
- Forced Transformation: Matteo REALLY doesn't like the idea of turning into a magical creature. All characters with magic poisoning that survive the initial burst of raw magic gradually transform into a different species capable of handling that magic.
- Horse of a Different Color: Abapi, a race of camel-esque lizards native to the Fire Realm, are used as mounts by those without four legs.
- The Magic Goes Away: As mentioned, Earth was cut off from the Aether. As a consequence, humans lost the ability to perform magic, and across Water, Air, and Fire, anything that relies on Earth magic to function slowly died.
- Making a Splash: Hylefts are able to use Water Magic as they please, and it factors a good deal into their culture.
- Magic Pants: Matteo is given an enchanted pendant which transforms whatever he’s wearing to match the form he takes, such as wider sleeves for his Hyleft hands and wrists, and a saddle-like blanket for his Tekchyik form.
- Our Elves Are Different: In that they have long and fluffy tails.
- Perpetual Storm: The Water Realm is constantly raining-not caused by magic though, just a fact of life there.
- Pillar of Light: World Eater Storms appear to take the form of a pillar of magenta light.
- Playing with Fire: Tekchyiks are able to breathe and manipulate Fire.
- Portal Door: There are large gates that can allow denizens of the Realms to easily travel from one Realm to another.
- Single-Biome Planet: From what is seen of it, the Fire Realm is a Shifting Sand Land in its entirety.
- Stealthy Teleportation: When Matteo shifts realms, there is no visual effect - he (and whom/whatever he is in immediate contact with, are simply in one Realm in one panel, and in a different Realm the next.
- Translator Microbes: A side effect of Magic Poisoning allows Matteo, along with anyone within an unspecified range, to be able to understand one-another. Tyson is also given an enchanted crystal pendant which causes a similar effect.
