Worldstorm Watch

[shaxper]

I'm starting this thread for anyone out there that's approaching Worldstorm the same way I am. I don't know any of these characters. I've never read their comics before. So I'm starting off reading every Worldstorm title and then dropping whichever ones I don't like.

I'm both nervous and excited about this undertaking because I have no idea if I'll keep reading any of these, but I'm excited by the birth (or rebirth) of an entire superhero universe.

Here are my thoughts thus far:

The Authority - Great first issue. Loved the art, as well as the eerie "Abyss"-like feel, but I still have no idea who the characters are or what the premise is. No idea whether I'll be reading this beyond issue #2.

Deathblow - With a name like "Deathblow," my first impression is automatically that this is gonna be a bloodthirsty, shoot-em-up, tough as nails dude with nothing more deep than that going for his character nor the plot. We don't get inside Deathblow's head at all in this issue, but learn he was locked up in a POW prison for years and freed practically by accident. All this leads me to believe my first impression was correct. I'm really not sure I'm coming back for issue #2 but, if I do, his personality had better wow me.

Gen13 - Incredibly awesome. I love Simone's writing, and these characters are just priceless in how real and rich they are. I'm still having trouble pegging exactly who Caitlin is - a dork with no friends who has the body of a supermodel? Somehow this just doesn't add up. Sometimes she's drawn as an awkward kid, and sometimes she's clearly made out to have serious sex kitten potential. The two just don't mix in a believable way for me. Aside from that though, amazing characterization, great plot, awesome writing. This title has everything that made me a fanatic fan of Valiant's Harbinger fifteen years ago, only it's even better. I'll be reading this one loyally.

The Midnighter - I didn't want to like this one. A solo title for a character who's team is still unproven in sales. It felt overly confident. Still, I was surprised by how strongly the characterization came through in this one. I didn't understand half of what was happening, but Midnighter came out as a truly unique character amongst it all, and I think I'll continue to read his adventures.

Stormwatch PHD - Great introductory first issue, but that doesn't really tell us what the monthly adventures will be like. Obviously, this writer is capable of turning out some quality work though, so I'll stick around to see.

Tranquility - Fascinating premise, but can it sustain itself? I'll give it a try when it comes out.

Wetworks - Seemed like a potentially interesting premise at first (a little too Underworld, but then didn't Wetworks come first?). However, by the second issue, it became clear to me that Portacio was doing nothing to make this title accessible to new readers. I had no idea who these people were, nor did I find them particularly interesting. Wetworks is the first to fall from my pull list.

Wildcats - Why don't I recall this first issue at all? I'll have to go back and recheck. Seems like Morrison should have been more memorable than this.

Worldstorm - A nice preview of the universe, but it's a bit insulting to have paid $2.99 for twenty pages of advertisement. I really thought this book would feature more actual stories leading up to the #1s.


That's my synopsis for now. How about you?

[Chris Thomas]

interesting impressions. my comments:

1. totally agree with wetworks. I WANT to like this but it reads like a the third book in a trilogy when I haven't read the first three. and the art is fantastic but doesn't lend much to explaining the series.

2. gen 13-missed the second issue. but first was decent. I think this title also would benefit from reading prior incarnations.

3. midnighter--as expected. very promising.

4. deathblow--no idea yet. first issue was interesting but again felt like I picked up in the middle of a series. but has potential for more accessibility

5. authority. typical morrison. I feel I am gonna love this--but first issue was bizzare--to say the least.

6. wildcats -- not as oblique as authority but less 'promising' due to no prior knowledge of these characters.

7. stormwatch--unbelivably fantastic. by far the best first issue of the bunch.

8. tranquility --- no issue to review yet.

[nihil_domini]

2. gen 13-missed the second issue. but first was decent. I think this title also would benefit from reading prior incarnations.

Doing so will make you very confused, and even possibly garner an extensive "What The @#$%??". I'm liking what's going on so far, however there are just way too many significant conceptual changes. I'm not sure how comfortable I feel with it.

[Fatguy]

I'm starting this thread for anyone out there that's approaching Worldstorm the same way I am. I don't know any of these characters. I've never read their comics before. So I'm starting off reading every Worldstorm title and then dropping whichever ones I don't like.

I'm both nervous and excited about this undertaking because I have no idea if I'll keep reading any of these, but I'm excited by the birth (or rebirth) of an entire superhero universe.

Here are my thoughts thus far:

The Authority - Great first issue. Loved the art, as well as the eerie "Abyss"-like feel, but I still have no idea who the characters are or what the premise is. No idea whether I'll be reading this beyond issue #2.

Deathblow - With a name like "Deathblow," my first impression is automatically that this is gonna be a bloodthirsty, shoot-em-up, tough as nails dude with nothing more deep than that going for his character nor the plot. We don't get inside Deathblow's head at all in this issue, but learn he was locked up in a POW prison for years and freed practically by accident. All this leads me to believe my first impression was correct. I'm really not sure I'm coming back for issue #2 but, if I do, his personality had better wow me.

Gen13 - Incredibly awesome. I love Simone's writing, and these characters are just priceless in how real and rich they are. I'm still having trouble pegging exactly who Caitlin is - a dork with no friends who has the body of a supermodel? Somehow this just doesn't add up. Sometimes she's drawn as an awkward kid, and sometimes she's clearly made out to have serious sex kitten potential. The two just don't mix in a believable way for me. Aside from that though, amazing characterization, great plot, awesome writing. This title has everything that made me a fanatic fan of Valiant's Harbinger fifteen years ago, only it's even better. I'll be reading this one loyally.

The Midnighter - I didn't want to like this one. A solo title for a character who's team is still unproven in sales. It felt overly confident. Still, I was surprised by how strongly the characterization came through in this one. I didn't understand half of what was happening, but Midnighter came out as a truly unique character amongst it all, and I think I'll continue to read his adventures.

Stormwatch PHD - Great introductory first issue, but that doesn't really tell us what the monthly adventures will be like. Obviously, this writer is capable of turning out some quality work though, so I'll stick around to see.

Tranquility - Fascinating premise, but can it sustain itself? I'll give it a try when it comes out.

Wetworks - Seemed like a potentially interesting premise at first (a little too Underworld, but then didn't Wetworks come first?). However, by the second issue, it became clear to me that Portacio was doing nothing to make this title accessible to new readers. I had no idea who these people were, nor did I find them particularly interesting. Wetworks is the first to fall from my pull list.

Wildcats - Why don't I recall this first issue at all? I'll have to go back and recheck. Seems like Morrison should have been more memorable than this.

Worldstorm - A nice preview of the universe, but it's a bit insulting to have paid $2.99 for twenty pages of advertisement. I really thought this book would feature more actual stories leading up to the #1s.


That's my synopsis for now. How about you?

Nice, I agree on most of your points. I love the Wildstorm universe, and the more that read it the better :)

I have read them all except the 1st issue of Authority, and have enjoyed them all, though I still need some time on Wetworks. Gen13 has been my favorite so far, with Midnighter and Deathblow coming in second. You should check out Deathblow #2 if you're into darker concepts, see if #2 will go into his character more deeply. Deathblow can be a haunting character and Azzarello seems to be the perfect writer for the series. I just read the Stormwatch title too, and it looks VERY promising. After reading his interview on this site, Christos Gage seems to be very enthusiastic (sp?) about Stormwatch, and when the writer is excited, it usually means good things ;)

All in all, I have been very pleased with the quality of the titles so far.

[hex111]

you know what... I'm going to scan the 2 prequel WetWorks stories and post them online so I don't have to keep hearing about "I don't know what's going on" anymore...

In case you feel like picking up the issues where the whole idea for the new WetWorks book came from, they are as follows:

Eye Of The Storm: Annual
Coup D'Etat: Afterword

both of these books contain 8 page stories that follow one another and lead directly into WetWorks (Vol. 2) #1

if you read those 2 stories, you'll have no problem understanding what's going on in the first 2 issues of WetWorks... and you'll probably really like it too (I hated Vol. 1, but am LOVING Vol. 2, but only because I knew what was going on leading into the first issue)

[SKETCHSANCHEZ]

I
Gen13 - Incredibly awesome. I love Simone's writing, and these characters are just priceless in how real and rich they are. I'm still having trouble pegging exactly who Caitlin is - a dork with no friends who has the body of a supermodel? Somehow this just doesn't add up. Sometimes she's drawn as an awkward kid, and sometimes she's clearly made out to have serious sex kitten potential. The two just don't mix in a believable way for me. Aside from that though, amazing characterization, great plot, awesome writing. This title has everything that made me a fanatic fan of Valiant's Harbinger fifteen years ago, only it's even better. I'll be reading this one loyally.



This goes for the original series but it seems to apply in the reboot as well: Caitlin was a skinny, little dork who, when her powers manifested, suddenly became an amazonian mega-babe.

So she is a huge dork on the inside but mega hottie on the outside. Often she would be oblivious to how hot she had become.

In the original series it was pretty obviuous that she had changed, but not so much in this series. When her powers kicked in in issue 1, it didnt seem like anybody noticed that now shes this huge, strong, chick but she must've changed because in her flashback she was this nerdy petit girl.

[nihil_domini]

Deathblow - With a name like "Deathblow," my first impression is automatically that this is gonna be a bloodthirsty, shoot-em-up, tough as nails dude with nothing more deep than that going for his character nor the plot. We don't get inside Deathblow's head at all in this issue, but learn he was locked up in a POW prison for years and freed practically by accident. All this leads me to believe my first impression was correct. I'm really not sure I'm coming back for issue #2 but, if I do, his personality had better wow me.
Deathblow has always been my favorite character in the WSU simply because he is a much more diverse character than a gun toting militiaman. And I honestly think he has the most thoroughly fleshed out personality in the WSU. I always got the feeling that despite his role in the armed forces, he was always an incredibly nice guy, who put loyalty, friendship, goodwill, and brotherhood above all things.

Now if this doesn't really come through in the characterization, I'll probably drop the book.

[shaxper]

This goes for the original series but it seems to apply in the reboot as well: Caitlin was a skinny, little dork who, when her powers manifested, suddenly became an amazonian mega-babe.

So she is a huge dork on the inside but mega hottie on the outside. Often she would be oblivious to how hot she had become.

In the original series it was pretty obviuous that she had changed, but not so much in this series. When her powers kicked in in issue 1, it didnt seem like anybody noticed that now shes this huge, strong, chick but she must've changed because in her flashback she was this nerdy petit girl.

That explains a lot. Thanks!

[shaxper]

you know what... I'm going to scan the 2 prequel WetWorks stories and post them online so I don't have to keep hearing about "I don't know what's going on" anymore...

In case you feel like picking up the issues where the whole idea for the new WetWorks book came from, they are as follows:

Eye Of The Storm: Annual
Coup D'Etat: Afterword

both of these books contain 8 page stories that follow one another and lead directly into WetWorks (Vol. 2) #1

if you read those 2 stories, you'll have no problem understanding what's going on in the first 2 issues of WetWorks... and you'll probably really like it too (I hated Vol. 1, but am LOVING Vol. 2, but only because I knew what was going on leading into the first issue)


Seems like a foolish idea when an entire universe is being rebooted. The majority of new people to the title are going to start with Wetworks (vol. 2) #1 (or maybe Worldstorm #1). They're not going to begin with these prequels. I feel no desire to go pilfering through back issues to make this story make sense. If the writer can't make the title accessible to the general audience with the first issue, then he hasn't done his job right.

All the same, I appreciate the tip! Wish I cared enough to pursue it...

[Aaron King]

Well, I think that part of the problem is that Wetworks volume two was originally supposed to launch after these prequel stories. However, as has always happened with Wetworks, it was delayed.

Seriously, Mike Carey is a good writer. He was great with Lucifer, he was good with Ultimate Fantastic Four. Hopefully he'll pull this property together.

[Alex L]

Doing so will make you very confused, and even possibly garner an extensive "What The @#$%??". I'm liking what's going on so far, however there are just way too many significant conceptual changes. I'm not sure how comfortable I feel with it.

I'm kind of torn on that.

I did read the original Gen13 and even from the get-go noticed some significant changes, probably the most standout being that the kids were all raised by secret government operatives in order to garner a specific personality type.

But then again, it's Gen13. Hardly a book with a strong, unflexible lineage and hardly the kind of book that was taken stone cold seriously back in the day.

[hex111]

Seems like a foolish idea when an entire universe is being rebooted. The majority of new people to the title are going to start with Wetworks (vol. 2) #1 (or maybe Worldstorm #1). They're not going to begin with these prequels. I feel no desire to go pilfering through back issues to make this story make sense. If the writer can't make the title accessible to the general audience with the first issue, then he hasn't done his job right.

All the same, I appreciate the tip! Wish I cared enough to pursue it...

Blame DC and Wildstorm, not the writer... he made the story perfectly accessible for when it was supposed to be released... it's not his fault that editorial decided to sit on the book for 2 1/2 years before releasing it... and the fact that DC wouldn't let the 2 prequel stories be reprinted as an issue 0 before #1 came out isn't his fault either... Whilce wrote in his blog that both he and Mike begged and pleaded for them to be reprinted and DC/Wildstorm said "no"...

plus, no one ever said the whole universe was being rebooted... it was being reLAUNCED... the only title so far that has been a complete reboot was Gen13... everything else has kept virtually all the past in continuity... even Deathblow could easily be explained away (Deathblow #29 could have been a fever dream after waking up in the Iraqi desert after falling through that portal in the end of Fire From Heaven)... and even Gen 13 could easily be explained away as something else entirely if Gail decides to do it (clones is perfectly acceptable in this case)... a "soft reboot" is pretty vague and leaves a boatload of "outs" for the writers to use if they don't like having things out of continuity...

[NewChad]

I've been totally underwhelmed by the whole thing.

I'm glad Morisson has chosen to continue some of the threads from Casey's underrated Wildcats. But the delays are going to kill this title. Wait for the trade I think

The Authority intrigues me, but has to pay off in the end.

Stormwatch PHD - interesting, but not enough for me to keep buying.

Gen13 - blah... i hate this new beginning. I feel like we're treading water - i've read this story before.

Wetworks - blah... Didn't do anything for me.

Midnighter - interesting, but i don't know if I can bother on a monthly basis. Why an ongoing? Why not just a mini?

[shaxper]

plus, no one ever said the whole universe was being rebooted... it was being reLAUNCED... the only title so far that has been a complete reboot was Gen13... everything else has kept virtually all the past in continuity... even Deathblow could easily be explained away (Deathblow #29 could have been a fever dream after waking up in the Iraqi desert after falling through that portal in the end of Fire From Heaven)... and even Gen 13 could easily be explained away as something else entirely if Gail decides to do it (clones is perfectly acceptable in this case)... a "soft reboot" is pretty vague and leaves a boatload of "outs" for the writers to use if they don't like having things out of continuity...

It's my understanding that the entire universe has been altered, somewhat similar to the after-effects of Infinite Crisis - something related to a major storyline involving Captain Atom (I never read it). So yes, it is a soft reboot, but that doesn't change the idea that this is when each book is supposed to be as accessible as possible to new readers. This is when you make your best effort to bring in the new fans, much like DC's One Year Later attempted to do. You don't start in the middle when that happens.

If Wetworks #1 wasn't Whilce's fault, then I apologize and hope I didn't hurt his feelings. Whoever's fault it was, this title is entirely inaccessible to a new reader as is.

[Neneng Asoy]

I wonder if they can revamp Backlash... kinda like him :o

http://www.picsaway.com/uploads/bio_backlash-d9e526c9e3.jpg (http://www.picsaway.com/view/bio_backlash-d9e526c9e3.jpg)

[Shawn Carman]

I wonder if they can revamp Backlash... kinda like him

Slayton was always the biggest badass on Team 7, in my opinion.

[Neneng Asoy]

Slayton was always the biggest badass on Team 7, in my opinion.

There are Deathblow on his own series, Grifter in Wildcats, and Dane in Wetworks. I hope Slayton will be the element of surprise... :D

[Neneng Asoy]

Slayton was always the biggest badass on Team 7, in my opinion.

There are Deathblow on his own series, Grifter in Wildcats, and Dane in Wetworks. I hope Slayton will be the element of surprise... :D

[Alex L]

Slayton was always the biggest badass on Team 7, in my opinion.
In the Team 7 series, he was also the member most loyal to Craven (possibly the only one). :(

[nihil_domini]

And kind of a secondary character till the third series.

[Dizzy D]

The Authority - Very mediocre first issue, I get that Grant is building up to something, but a little more speed in the story would be appreciated. I'll give it a few issues.

Deathblow - I rather enjoyed the first issue; its dark humor is a bit odd, but I like it. Keeping it.

Gen13 - It's not bad, but not great either (maybe with a better artist it would work for me). Giving it a few issues.

The Midnighter - Good first issue, but I'm expecting more from Ennis. Keeping it.

Stormwatch PHD - I really enjoyed the first issue. The new characters seem interesting and the concept is promising. Keeping it.

Wetworks - Didn't buy it. Wasn't impressed with the introductions in Coup D'Etat and Eye of the Storm years ago.

Wildcats - My favourite so far, but pet-peeve: is crappy german a requirement for comic book writers? Definitely keeping it.

[dancj]

pet-peeve: is crappy german a requirement for comic book writers? Definitely keeping it.
Ya - Eeet eeez

[herozero]

I wonder if they can revamp Backlash... kinda like him :o

Couldn't agree more. Most of the other members have shown up so I would expect to see him soon. Maybe in Stormwatch: PHD

As for the relaunch in general, I'm most impressed at this point with Stormwatch: PHD and Wildcats. Stormwatch would have to get the #1 vote though. Wildcats' delays are a bummer but nothing I can't easily get over when the next issue comes out. Really digging Gen 13 too, just ready to get things moving a little beyond the escape. Like most everyone else I guess, I wasn't thrilled with the first issue of The Authority but the art was spectacular and I trust Morrison's skills enough to believe that the story will impress me before all is said and done.

Wetworks and Deathblow were both passed over, not because of any lack of interest of the characters or creative teams. As much as I love everything in the Wildstorm U these two found themselves at the bottom of my extremely high admiration and therefore lost out to the budget constraints. However, thanks to the Wildcats delays Deathblow will be coming home the next time I make it to the store. Also, I don't have any intentions really of buying Tranquility. It seems like a cool concept and Gail is the cat's pajamas but just not interested enough for it to defeath the over bearing budget.