stormwatch #9 Preview/Discussion

[JaggedFel]

IMO, interesting cannot date anyone outside of Stormwatch otherwise the Shadow Lords order a hit.

[Rakzo]

This first issue from Milligan is really promising. He's already doing what I was expecting from him, getting into the characters' psyche and checking their motivations. The team acted pretty competent too, defeating a really imaginative villain.

Also, Midnighter Vs. Batman needs to happen.

[JaggedFel]

This first issue from Milligan is really promising. He's already doing what I was expecting from him, getting into the characters' psyche and checking their motivations. The team acted pretty competent too, defeating a really imaginative villain.

Also, Midnighter Vs. Batman needs to happen.

IMO, the fights don't have much teamwork. Midnighter defeated the Red Lantern. Jenny caught the Man then Midnighter took him out. However, good clean up with Martian Manhunter mindwiping everyone, got to see the Engineer's intelligence and Jack putting the city back together.

[Dr. Hurt]

Midnighter alone could take out everyone in the JL except maybe Superman and Wonder Woman.

Huh? Does he have superpowers?

[Christopher Cross Is God]

I think I'm just not a fan of Cornell

Then you must have loved this issue, since Cornell hasn't been on this book since issue #6.

[JaggedFel]

Huh? Does he have superpowers?

Yes, IMO, he is similar to Pre 52 Deathstroke although more brutal.

[Jabare]

Midnighter alone could take out everyone in the JL except maybe Superman and Wonder Woman.

Doubt it. Maybe he could take down GL with a surprise attack, but if Hal keeos his distance its over. Flash certainly has the advantage. Not that Midnighter couldn't best him, but odds are Flash should take him. And Batman is Batman and this is the DC universe. People thought Captain America should take Batman in a fight but we know how that turned out.

This Midnighter also doesn't seem as impressive as the Wildstorm incarnation.


One of the original Justice Leaguers would give him a world of trouble.


I could see him taking out Green Arrow but Ollie would make him work for it.

[Jabare]

Huh? Does he have superpowers?

Midnighter was basically the equivalent of Deathstroke physically, with the addition of a super powered intellect in that he could predict all possibly opponent moves and attacks before they happened. going by battle board logic he is held in pretty high esteem by certain comic fans.

[BohemiaDrinker]

Huh? Does he have superpowers?

Yup. His powers are basically "can`t loose". And this is not a joke.

Midnighter was basically the equivalent of Deathstroke physically,

Not really. We don`t know much about THIS Midnighter, but the WildStorm version could kick over Tanks and dodge or actually "send back" bullets. He has several back up organs (two Hearts! (y)) and a regenerative abilities said to have "beaten AIDS in a week".

with the addition of a super powered intellect in that he could predict all possibly opponent moves and attacks before they happened.

Not intellect. Onboard super-computer installed into brain. It calculates ten million possibilities and feeds him back the counters, along with other stuff. It has been implied that he can`t read Apollo though, and that`s part of why he fell in love with him.

going by battle board logic he is held in pretty high esteem by certain comic fans.

Well, the point of Midnighter - actually all Authority characters, but specially Midnighter - is that he is over the top; if someone looks at him and see the standard bad-ass supersoldier, they`re missing the point, really. But not much has been done in the way of demonstrating this before this issue, so it`s uhndertandable for anyone new to the character.

Midnighter alone could take out everyone in the JL except maybe Superman and Wonder Woman.

If this was the Pre Flashpoint DCU, I`d disagree strongly wit this. The current JL incarnation, however, yeah, pretty much. Personally, I`d prefer if this team never faced the JL, though I know it`s impossible, since a meeting would pretty much defeat the purpose of one those teams.

(See DC/Wildstorm: DreamWar, where the entirety of the WildStorm universe look like buffoons so the JL presence could be somewhat justified).

[GokaiRed]

I don't think the issue was perfect. There was still a lot of expository dialogue that I just feel like nobody needed, including people that have never read an issue in their lives. Everything was self-explanatory with the art, and thus a lot of that stuff isn't needed. Even referring to Jenny as "Jenny Quantum" in casual conversation was just awkward to me. Again, if we really NEED to keep explaining these things, just put up a narration box that shows their names/powers instead of forcing it into dialogue bubbles that don't sound natural.

Aside from that, the issue was mostly pretty awesome. Loved the Midnighter focus. The action sequences were well done, and I liked the clever disarming (heh) of the Red Lantern. Also, it's nice to see an elaboration on the craziness of the Shadow Lords, who are bound to become a bigger part of the story as we move forward.

I also really appreciate that, even though the story probably isn't completely over, it still feels like a satisfying end when we get to the last page. I don't feel like I've just been dragged along through the first five minutes of a movie and forced to wait a month to get the next five minutes. This issue alone was a solid story in and of itself, while still promising a lot of interesting drama in future issues. Excellent.

I will confess that I wish we had been allowed to keep Engineer's ponytail from the previous arc. There's something about the way she was drawn there that gives more of a sassy look, which she could really use, to be honest.

[grifter78]

Peter Milligan comes on as writer this month and he brings with him some baddies he's familiar with as he pits Stormwatch against the Red Lantern, Skallox! Series regular artist Miguel Sepulveda also returns and his time off seems to have stepped up his A-game for this new direction for the title.
Stormwatch as a title seems to always attract good writers. Ever since Warren Ellis had his hands in this title back in the day, each incarnation of the team has always been unique and interesting. Even though there are many elements of The Authority here, each of the three writers that have handled this title so far have given the team its own flavor so it's not exactly an Authority title in disguise. It is subtle, I'll admit, but it's still there.
With the origin of the team already told by Paul Cornell and a short adventure courtesy of Paul Jenkins last couple of issues, the team is in a "business as usual" mode as they're hopping the globe dealing with various threats. But Milligan reminds us that this latest incarnation of the team is still in its infancy as we have team members questioning The Engineer's leadership and Midnighter questioning whether or not he should be part of this team at all. These kind of conflicts are nice to see because it makes for a more interesting read. It's a more realistic approach than expecting a group of strangers to get along just because they have superpowers.
I also like that Milligan brought in a Red Lantern. It's smart not only because he's been writing the Red Lantern title but it also continues the inter-connectivity of the New 52. It's always cool to see characters from different books interacting. Plus, it was done in a such a way I didn't feel this Red Lantern was forced into the title.
I have to say Miguel Sepulveda's art is at its best. I had to double-check that he was still the artist as I read. I enjoyed his early art but it wasn't my favorite. I think he's gotten really comfortable with this title and it seems he's starting to feel free to take some artistic liberties. This was evident in a scene where Apollo drops Midnighter into a field and Sepulveda does a motion-shot which shows Midnighter doing a hand-stand, performing a flip, and finally landing. It's the little details like this that separate good art from great art.
Milligan is off to a strong start in a story that seems deceivingly self-contained. I feel he's setting up some great stuff here and I for one am hooked with this new writer. Stormwatch continues to be one of the stronger titles of the New 52.

[BohemiaDrinker]

Now, for the issue itself, I really liked this.

Midnighter has been "fixed" in several ways. His attitude as the quiet, brooding, hyper-efficient is at the core of the character and I`m glad to see it back. Inner monologues were never his thing, but the way Milligan did it here was actually pretty effective. "See the situation at hand- cut an arm/break a neck" is pretty much his thing and it was done pretty in character in this issue. The art make his new costume work much better, though I still miss the coat.

I find it weird seeing Appolo so green still, but it`s completely consistent with this new version;*though I expect/hope that it doesn`t take too long before we see his status as the powerhouse restored, flying head first into stuff and making them explode, or using his body as a bullet against giant opponents. I miss that.

Back in the WS universe we never got to see Apollo and Mdnighter flirting with each other, and Cornell did it in a creepy way, but here and find it really funny. Angie was pretty much back to her old self was was Jack, even if Angie seems a little more ruthless and Jack has a better mood. Again, completely functional given their new positions. And I like that Angie is actually the "smart one" again. It suits her. (Well, it`s her whole point, actually. )

Jenny seemed a little off, but this incarnation of Jenny (Quantum) was never as developed as her predecessor (Sparks), and her only real development was under Brubaker, so I think any direction is valid. Making her kind of a regular, contemporary kid may work, and I actually think it was a smart move.

The Vitruvian Man and the insight into Stormwatch`s past was cool; Milligan seems to be mixing up 'The Authority" concepts and characters with "Secret Society", super-natural/sci-fi elements that remind me of John Hickman`s "SHIELD" and the Assassin Creed games (Okay, it may be just the Leonardo Da Vinci reference that made me jump to the association, but I really found it really similar to both of my examples in both tone and concept). I was never crazy about the Shadow Lords and all of that, but the way it`s being dealt here, it may actually work in NuDC.

Sepulveda`s art improved a great deal in this issue, probably because of the lead time; or he could also be paying attention to what people have been saying on the net, because I kind of see a conscious effort to address what people has been complaining about. Nice.

My only minor nitpicks would be some awkward pieces of dialogue by Apolo at the beginning and Martian Manhunter near the end, but this kind of stuff is normal in first issues and pretty forgiveable when in small doses, like here. The use of "Transportation Door", or "Teleport Door" or whatever still rives me crazy, but I can look the other way, And it will be a while before I get used to this "Andrew" and "Lucas" stuff, but that`s just me, and there`s actually nothing wrong with Apolo and Midnighter having actual names this time around.

Overall, great first for Milligan. It has much of what I was expecting to see from the beginning of the series, some nice surpises and iot actually made curious to see where he`s going.

PS: Waiting for Raye`s comments to see if he agrees with me.

[ArnoldoAAD]

this issue was excellent
definitely worth reading

[FIFTY-TWO (52)]

Maybe DC should put Batman on Stormwatch then, that would be make it important

You either work on this book or you're a prophet.

[JaggedFel]

So what former members return next issue? IMO 2 kinda makes me think of the Blade Guy and the Internet Chick but if not them then some WSU Authority Alums would be nice. King and Winter being my picks.