What to Expect From The Wildstorm Relaunch
DC Comics has spent the last year shaking up the direct market and superhero comics in America; [...]
The Wildstorm
Creative Team: Warren Ellis (writer), Jon Davis-Hunt (artist), and Ivan Plascencia (colorist)
Launch Date: February 15, 2017
The Wildstorm is the only series with a complete creative team and official launch date so far. That's not a surprise though as it is the series establishing what Wildstorm is for a brand new generation of readers. Those already familiar with the brand will recognize a lot of names and ideas, but Ellis and his collaborators are treating this launch as a true #1 where no pre-existing knowledge will be required. That doesn't mean The Wildstorm is holding any hands though. In the first issue alone it introduces around a dozen characters, multiple organizations, and a handful of deserving sub-plots. This series shows Ellis at his most intricate designing a universe from the ground up with all of the possible considerations taken into account.
That is what makes The Wildstorm so thrilling too. There's a lot happening on every page and it's a delight to engage with whether the scene features a techno-organic suit punching through the sky or two spies discussing craft in a backroom. Everything serves a purpose and readers are required to remain engaged throughout the entire comic. Unlike Young Animal where the series are connected tonally, The Wildstorm forms the centerpiece for everything that will follow. In addition to telling its story, it's also laying down the rules for a new Earth in the DC Universe. Learning about the world is every bit as fascinating as the battles occurring on the page, and that's what will make The Wildstorm required reading for the rest of the imprint's launch.
prevnextMichael Cray
Creative Team: Warren Ellis (writer) and unannounced collaborators
Launch Date: Unknown
Many comics readers will recognize Michael Cray by his alter-ego Deathblow. This second series is also being written by Ellis and is already in production. Cray is still an elite assassin working with IO (International Operations), but he's not wearing a mask and is designed to look and act much more like a real world killer.
Cray is already appearing in the pages of The Wildstorm and it's easy to see why his story is one that will require more space to tell. He's one of the best at what he does and has a past filled with secrets already being hinted at. Even with a boss in the frame, it's unclear who Michael Cray is really working for and what his role in Wildstorm will be by the time his series debuts.
prevnextWildC.A.T.S.
Creative Team: Unknown
Launch Date: Unknown
The WildC.A.T.S. may be the most recognizable set of characters in the 4 series announced so far, but they're also the biggest wildcard. In the first issue of The Wildstorm there presence is not yet made known to readers although famous figures like Grifter have been shown in teasers. It's difficult to guess how they might feature given Wildstorm's restrained design and lean towards realism.
There are a lot of great characters within this group though and the reinventions of Michael Cray and Zealot in The Wildstorm #1 lend excitement to see how someone like Maul or Warblade. For now we can only speculate on who the WildC.A.T.S. will be and what they will do, and hope to learn more very soon.
prevnextZealot
Creative Team: Unknown
Launch Date: Unknown
Zealot may be the last of the series to launch, but its her face that first appears in The Wildstorm #1. Davis-Hunt makes a clever allusion to her previous appearance, but the Zealot of this new imprint is unlike any previous incarnation. She's still super competent and a ruthless killer, but her style and methods are much more in line with the realities of assassins and spies.
That first scene in The Wildstorm provides all the reasons you might want for a Zealot series. Her ability to act and interact in this technologically-advanced world filled with secrets makes her one of the most powerful players in the game. She's cunning and has a wicked sense of humor that arises through understatements aplenty. Zealot may not have been the biggest character of the old Wildstorm, but she's bound to be the breakout star of this new imprint.
prev