Wildstorm Trades

**SpartanX** · 12-18-2005, 02:27 PM

What trades do you recommend for a newbie in Wildstorm? I would like Planetary and Ex-Machina. Also The Authority.

**Strannik** · 12-18-2005, 04:38 PM

Depends, mate. If you're interested in exploring Wildstorm Universe. a continuity where both Authority and Planetary are set, I can reproduce my tried and true "Essential WSU" trade paperback list. If you are interested in Wildstorm output in general, I'm sure others would be able to answer your question better then me.

**ElijahS23** · 12-18-2005, 05:12 PM

I haven't read Ex Machina, but I've only heard positives about it. Planetary & Authority, as you mentioned, are Must-reads IMHO. They took Wildstorm out of the funk of an "Art-only" publisher. I'd also rec Ellis' STORMWATCH tpb's which lead into the AUTHORITY trades, as well as his DV8 series (NEIGHBORHOOD THREAT)...

Going in the opposite direction of PLANETARY & AUTHORITY's grand scale and into a more black ops / deep cover world, I'd rec WILDCATS 3.0, some of Joe Casey's best. The two trades are BRAND BUILDING and FULL DISCLOSURE. It's even worth pickin' up the individual issues that followed F.D. It's just too bad it ended prematurely and kinda fizzled out at the end...

In the same vein as above, the SLEEPER tpbs (including its "intro" series POINT BLANK) are wonderful reads.

Also, the 1st TEAM 7 mini is a nice read (not sure if they made a tpb) and gives background on some of the foundation characters of the Wildstorm Uni. They pretty much branched out as field leaders / major players of the early Wildstorm teams.

Those "earlier teams" are GEN 13, WILDC.A.T.S, WETWORKS, STORMWATCH and the like. Some folks love 'em, some see 'em as just eye-candy comics but to each his own... they're worth checkin' out if ya just want historical background and a sense of "who's who" in the Wilstorm Uni. You can probably find these issues in bargain bins or better yet buy in bulk on Ebay where you'll hopefully save even more $$ and get (more) complete runs.

Hope this helped a bit... :)

**Strannik** · 12-18-2005, 07:53 PM

My Wildstorm Universe Trade List

Authority

Relentless (1-8)
Under New Management (9-16)
Earth Inferno and Other stories (17-20, Authority Annual 2000)
Transfer of Power (22-29)
Human on the Inside (Original Graphic Novel)
Harsh Realities (0-5)
Fractured Worlds(6-10)
Authority: Revolution (Book 1)
Authority: Revolution (Book 2)

Comments: Spin-off/sequel to Stormwatch. Quite arguably, one of the most popular titles Wildstorm Productions ever published. The continued success of the title was hindered by corporate mismanagement. The quality of the story depends on the writer. The events in Authority triggered the Coup D'etat line-wide crossover. Connections to Stormwatch, Planetary and, to the lesser extent, Wildcats, Gen 13 and ongoing WSU-wide black-ops plots. Personally, I was never too keen about Authority until the Revolution maxi-series (though I liked how it was portrayed in other titles), but I seem to be a minority here ;)

Divine Right (Limited Series)

Volume 1
Volume 2

Comments: Medium Importance. Connections to events of Gen13, Wildcats, as well as some long-running WSU-wide black ops subplots.

Gen 13

Gen 13 (5-issue mini)
Starting Over (1-7)
I Love New York (25-29)
We’ll Take Manhattan (45-50)
Superhuman Like You (60-65)
Meanwhile (43-45, 66-70)
September Song (Vol 2: 0-6)
Science Friction
London, New York, Hell

Comments: One of WSU's core titles. Was somewhat reduced in significance when Authority took center stage. Contains connections to 21 Down, DV8, Team 7, Wildcats and Sleeper (by the virtue of the fact that John Lynch, one of the principle characters in this book, is also a principle character in Sleeper). Quality varies widely depending on the writer.

Majestic

Mr. Majestic (Mr. Majestic 1-6, Wildstorm Spotlight 1)
Strange New Visitor (4-issue mini, Action Comics 811, Adventures of Superman 624, Superman 201)
While You Were Out (1-7)
Meanwhile, Back on Earth... (8-12)

Comments: Includes a mini of medium importance, a trade collecting Majestic's adventures in DC Universe and the first seven issues of his current series. At the moment, the Majestic series is one of the core titles, with events there suggesting consequinces for the rest of Wildstorm U. Connections of Wildcats.

Other Titles/Minis/Crossovers

21 Down (1-7)

Comments: Marginal importance to overall WSU. Loosely connected to the most recent Gen13 series. Still, it's an interesting story in it's own right.

Black Ops (Mini)

Comments: Fairly fun story with marginal connections to ungoing WSU-wide conspiracy plots.

Coup d’Etat (Inner-line Crossover)

Comments: A line-wide crossover between Sleeper, Authority, Wildcats 3.0 and Stormwatch: Team Achilles. Important for Authority: Revolution maxiseries and, to the lesser degree, all the other series involved.

Crossing Worlds (Planetary/Authority, Planetary/Batman, Planetary/JLA)

Comments: Contains an in-continuity Planetary/Authority crossover and two other crossovers those continuity is questionable. Good reading in it's own right.

Deathblow: Sinners and Saints (1-12)

Comments: Originally a core WSU title which ended with the demise of it's main character. Best known for the more experimental, Sin-City-esque Jim Lee art. Ties in with Team 7.

DV8: Neighborhood Threat (1-6)

Comments: Spin-off of Gen13. The first six issues were pan by Warren Ellis. After that, the quality takes a slight but noticable dive.

Monarchy: Bullets Over Babylon (Authority #21, 1-4)

Comments: Spin-off of Authority. Features Wildstorm mainstrays such as Jackson King, Christine Trelane and Union.

Point Blank (Mini)

Comments: Prequel to Sleeper. Ties in with Wildcats and, to the lesser degree, Gen 13, Authority, Team 7 and Divine Right. Recommended for the first-time WSU reader, since, in spite of heavy continuity, it remains fairly comprehensible to the uninitiated (this was my first WSU book). It's pretty well-written, too.

Team 7 (Mini)

Comments: Prequel to virtually every major Wildstorm title. All characters featured in it wild up being important players in WSU (even though it may not be apperant at the time). Connections to Wildcats, Gen13, Deathblow, Wetworks and, to the lesser extent, Stormwatch and Sleeper. A decent story in it's own right.

Voodoo (Mini)

Comments: Spin-off of Wildcats. Marginal importance. Was written by Alan Moore.

Wetworks: Rebirth (1-3)

Comments: Once a WSU core title. It faded into obscurity do to frequient delays. Currently slated for revival in 2006. Until then, only marginal interest. Connections with Team 7.

Wildstorm Rising (Inner-Line Crossover)

Comments: The first WSU inner-line crossover. The quality is uneven and, at times, painfully poor. The most important thing it does is it sets up Alan Moore's run of Wildcats. Connections with all WSU titles published at the time.

Planetary

All Over the World and Other Stories (1-6)
The Fourth Man (7-12)
Leaving the 20th Century (13-18)

Comments: Originaly firmly rooted in WSU, it has since taken on a more perifiral approach, to the point where some fans have wondered if it was still in WSU. None the less, Planetary was referenced in the most recent Wildcats mini. An interesting work in it's own right, especially because of it's extensive meta-textual analysis of American pop culture. Ties in with Authority and, to the lesser extent, various other aspects of WSU.

Sleeper

Out in the Cold (1-6)
All the False Moves (7-12)
A Crooked Line (Vol. 2: 1-6)
The Long Way Home (Vol. 2: 7-12)

Comments: Like Point Blank, this book does not require advanced knowledge of WSU (everything you need to know is explained on the page), though it certainly doesn't hurt ;). A great work in it's own right. Ties in with Alan Moore's run of Wildcats, Gen13 and, to the lesser degree, Authority and the ongoing WSU-wide conspiracy plots.

Stormwatch

Forces of Nature (37-42)
Lightning Strikes (43-47)
Change or Die (48-50, Vol. 2: Preview, 1-3)
Finer World (Vol. 2: 4-9)
Final Orbit (Vol. 2: 10-11, Wildcats/Aliens)

Comments: One of the original WSU core titles. It saw a great improvement in quality when Warren Ellis came onboard (his entire run is collected in above-mentioned trades). The events in the later issues Stormwatch affectively served as a launchpad for Authority. Has connections to Wildcats and some of the ongoing WSU-wide conspiracy plots.

Stormwatch: Team Achilles

Volume 1(1-6)
Volume 2 (7-12)

Comments: Concept-wise, a direct response to Authority. Had connections to DV8, Gen 13, Wildcats, Stormwatch and some of the ongoing WSU-wide conspiracy plots. Like Sleeper, it doesn't require knowledge of WSU (though many Authority fans take issue with how the series portrayed Authority.)

WildC.A.T.s

Covert Action Teams (1-4)
Killer Instinct (Cyberforce 1-3, 5-7)
A Gathering of Eagles (10-13)
Homecoming (21-27)
Gang War (28-34)

Wildcats

Street Smart (Vol. 2: 1-6)
Vicious Circles (Vol. 2: 8-13)
Serial Boxes (Vol. 2: 14-19)
Battery Pack (Vol. 2: 20-28)

Wildcats Version 3.0

Brand Building (Vol. 3: 1-6)
Full Disclosure (Vol. 3: 7-12

Interm Period

Wildcats: Nemesis

Comments: Wildcats was one of the original WSU core titles. Since it's conception, it went through several changes of directions. Originally known for poor writing, it improved under James Robinson, only to improve leaps and bounds during Alan Moore's run. Under Moore, the series went through a radical change of direction and established a number of subplots that would later pay off in subsequint incarnations of Wildcats and Sleeper. While the original series was action-orientated, the second series shifted torwards a gritty-noir sensibility as the heroes struggled to find purpose and direction. Wildcats 3.0 changed the tone yet again, moving torwards a more optimistic outlook. The heroes of the series now sought to change the world through post-human advancement (in other words, by exporting all the super-duper tech superhero teams always seem to accumulate for mass consumption). For the most part, the writing was great. The concepts introduced in various incarnations of Wildcats have appeared across WSU, emerging in Sleeper, Stormwatch, Gen 13, Planetary and Majestic (which was, actually, a spin-off of Wildcats). Has connections with Authority and Team 7.

That about covers it, trade paperback wise.

If you guys want to adopt this list in a sticky thread (since recommendations question gets asked alot around here), please feel free to do so, so long as you give credit where it's due ;)

**SpartanX** · 12-18-2005, 08:06 PM

1. Do you own all that???

2. You rock man thnx

:D

**Strannik** · 12-18-2005, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by SpartanX

1. Do you own all that???

2. You rock man thnx

:D

I wish I owned all that... But I'm working my way up to it.

And you're quite welcome.

**Dizzy D** · 12-19-2005, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by Strannik

My Wildstorm Universe Trade List

First things first: *applauds* Very, very well done. And I agree with most of your assessments of these TPBs.

Deathblow: Sinners and Saints (1-12)

Comments: Originally a core WSU title which ended with the demise of it's main character. Best known for the more experimental, Sin-City-esque Jim Lee art. Ties in with Team 7.

Worth noting that only the first 2 or 3 issues were done by Jim Lee in this TPB, the remaining issues were done by Tim Sale. Ties in with Wildcats (appearance from Grifter), Stormwatch/Backlash (appearance from Backlash) and Wetworks (appearance from Dane) near the end of the TPB.

Monarchy: Bullets Over Babylon (Authority #21, 1-4)

Comments: Spin-off of Authority. Features Wildstorm mainstrays such as Jackson King, Christine Trelane and Union.

Worth noting that while it spun-off from Authority, most of the stories themselves spin out of Stormwatch (King and Trelane were main characters in Stormwatch and only made some small appearances in Authority). Teeny, tiny tie-in with Wildcats as the Halo Corporation is one of the funders for the Monarchy.

Point Blank (Mini)

Comments: Prequel to Sleeper. Ties in with Wildcats and, to the lesser degree, Gen 13, Authority, Team 7 and Divine Right. Recommended for the first-time WSU reader, since, in spite of heavy continuity, it remains fairly comprehensible to the uninitiated (this was my first WSU book). It's pretty well-written, too.
[list]

And great art by Colin Wilson.

Team 7 (Mini)

Comments: Prequel to virtually every major Wildstorm title. All characters featured in it wild up being important players in WSU (even though it may not be apperant at the time). Connections to Wildcats, Gen13, Deathblow, Wetworks and, to the lesser extent, Stormwatch and Sleeper. A decent story in it's own right.

Did they collect this one? I have the single issues. It's Chuck Dixon doing what he does best: military stories. Currently Team Zero is somewhat of a prequel to this series. Originally this was basically the backbone of the WSU, but with Authority and Planetary becoming the most popular, the Team 7-members have moved to the background. Only Lynch and Grifter remain big characters in the WSU.

Planetary

All Over the World and Other Stories (1-6)
The Fourth Man (7-12)
Leaving the 20th Century (13-18)

Comments: Originaly firmly rooted in WSU, it has since taken on a more perifiral approach, to the point where some fans have wondered if it was still in WSU. None the less, Planetary was referenced in the most recent Wildcats mini. An interesting work in it's own right, especially because of it's extensive meta-textual analysis of American pop culture. Ties in with Authority and, to the lesser extent, various other aspects of WSU.

I really wanted a crossover or at least some acknowledgement of the other series between Wildcats 3.0 and Planetary, because thematically there was so much there to work from: Planetary going after the Four for hoarding supertechnology, while Halo making supertechnology available to the public. I'm glad that Majestic picked up a bit on this theme, though I am cautious with the way they are working from that theme.

Stormwatch: Team Achilles

Volume 1(1-6)
Volume 2 (7-12)

Comments: Concept-wise, a direct response to Authority. Had connections to DV8, Gen 13, Wildcats, Stormwatch and some of the ongoing WSU-wide conspiracy plots. Like Sleeper, it doesn't require knowledge of WSU (though many Authority fans take issue with how the series portrayed Authority.)

The big downside is that this series was never finished. The single issues end in the middle of a story. If you go for the TPBs, you will have 2 finished stories.

**pennywisdom** · 12-19-2005, 06:29 AM

Damn, Strannik's got it down. Mods should seriously sticky this thread.

I'd just like to add that Silent Dragon is absolutely amazing. I don't think it's a WSU title, but it is published by WildStorm. It's not out in TPB format, but you can pick up all issues with ease. Check it out!

**aukevin** · 12-19-2005, 06:43 AM

That's awesome Strannik. Thanks a lot!

**Strannik** · 12-20-2005, 10:56 AM