When we last left Geralt of Rivia, he was either lounging around Toussaint in The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine or wrapped up in the tangled mess that is the Netflix series timeline. Wherever you found him, Geralt was the same gruff, silver-haired mutant we know and love. Now, The Bear and The Butterfly #1 drops him into a colder, harsher place, trading vineyard sunsets for snow and blood-soaked fields. This first issue plants the seeds of a new rivalry, with a giant, armored Witcher from the School of the Bear looming in the distance.
The Bear and The Butterfly kicks off with Geralt doing what he does best: hunting monsters. It’s a vampire hunt on paper, but things are never that simple in the Witcher universe. The story shifts gears fast as Geralt follows the trail through chilling forests and shadowy alleys. There’s a vibe here that’s less “epic quest” and more “grim fairy tale gone wrong.” The muted color palette — slashes of red against blinding snow — makes every scene pop without overwhelming the panels. Mid-hunt, Geralt’s path crosses with a new Witcher — hulking, brutal, and barely saying a word. No massive plot twists yet, but you can feel something big building under the ice.
Credit: Darkhorse Comics
Reading this issue felt like slipping back into a well-worn leather jacket — comfortable but with enough new scratches to keep things interesting. Spurrier nails Geralt’s grumpy, no-nonsense voice without turning him into a caricature, and introduces a Bear School Witcher? Yeah, that hits a nerve in the best way. These Bear guys aren’t your polite tavern-sitters. They’re the kind of Witchers who punch first, talk… never. The art is also impressive: Stephen Green draws characters with real heft, making every fight feel weighty. That said, if you’re hunting for groundbreaking twists in Geralt’s story, this isn’t it. It’s a familiar track, but the journey’s still damn fun. Plus, I’m all for anything that teases a Witcher-on-Witcher showdown. Give me that brutal monster hunter drama.
The Bear and The Butterfly #1 delivers a moody, punchy start. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but doesn’t need to — it sharpens the blade. The new Bear Witcher is a serious presence, even if we don’t know much about him yet, and Geralt feels just right: gruff, capable, and slightly tired of everyone’s nonsense. On the downside, supporting characters are non-existent so far, but it’s issue #1. There’s room to build. The real star is the atmosphere — cold, dangerous, and crackling with tension.
‘The Witcher: The Bear and The Butterfly’ #1 Review: Geralt Meets a Towering New Threat!
The Bear and The Butterfly #1 is a snowy, bloody beginning that feels perfectly Witcher without drowning in exposition. It’s a strong start for fans hungry for more monster-hunting mayhem. Bring on the bear fights.
