Wildstorm Observations

Skyhawke · Post by **Skyhawke** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:07 pm

Going through Previews the last couple of months I have started to realize that Wildstorm is turning into DC license property line and slowly the Jim Lee universe of characters are being put aside. Which I can totally understand, without Jim Lee's guiding hand on the Wildstorm universe it hasn't been the same from when he started it up in the 90's.

It has been restarted so many times that the product has become diluted and no one cares anymore, let alone trust Jim Lee to draw two consecutive issues in a row (i.e. the WildCATS fisco and All Star Batman). Coupled with the "news" bits being told on Lying in the Gutter article about the Wildstorm management being let, moved elsewhere, quiting, etc..., anyone that might of had Jim Lee's ideas/vision for the Wildstorm universe no longer exist.

And lets be honest about the management, they weren't that good of caretakers of the Wildstorm Universe if the orders are any indication. But an unanswered question for now is were their hands being tied so they couldn't move the universe where they saw fit?

Things published under Wildstorm now includes Heros (the TV graphic short stories), World of Warcraft, Chuck, and now Gears of War (based on the video game).

One final question about the future of Wildstorm, how will this affect its place in the Multiverse of the DC Universe. In the series 52, it was revealed to be Earth 50.

If the Wildstrom is being phased out, where will the characters go?

comicm · Post by **comicm** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:30 pm

I personally think there books have been fantastic of late. I have really enjoyed all of the six issue mini's, Number of the Beast and Dreamwar. I am also really enjoying the monthlies as well. I think the quality is there its just that no one is buying them.

Skyhawke · Post by **Skyhawke** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:56 pm

There is no marketing behind them anymore. The license properties are getting the marketing dollars.

Steeven · Post by **Steeven** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:29 am

I tried to get into Wildstorm back when they did the big push a couple of years ago when they brought back Wetworks, Gen 13, Wildcats, and all that.

The only two titles I tried to pick up at that time were Wetworks, which didn't do anything for me, and Wildcats, and we all know how that turned out.

So I just gave up on Wildstorm.

Though I have been reading Chuck Dixon's Storming Paradise, which is pretty dang awesome.

Post by **JohnMayo** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:24 am

The "classic" Wildstorm line up doesn't really seem to be getting pushed aside. They are continuing to put the books out but as you mentioned, nobody seems to really care. The sales are well under 10,000 and that doesn't seem like it would be enough to support the Wildstorm infrastructure.

The core problem seems to be a lack of a "vision" or identity for the line. I mean, really, what does it mean for a comic to be a Wildstorm comic?

I'm getting the impression that the multiverse will remain although maybe not limited to 52 universes. I suspect that the Wildstorm Universe will remain around. But if sales don't increase, it may not have any ongoing titles and become just another one of the universes in the multiverse.

I've got all of the Wildstorm comics from the post-Captain Atom reboot waiting to be read. But I've had them sitting around for a while and they will probably remain unread for a while longer. So, at the moment, I can't really comment on the quality of the comics. I will say that the DC/Wildstorm Dreamwar series hasn't really gotten me the least bit excited about the Wildstorm universe (or the DC universe for that matter).

The big problem right now with Wildstorm may be a lack of faith in the imprint and Jim Lee on the part of readers and retailers and that is something that could take years to regain.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:42 am

I'm really underwhelmed by the "Wildstorm classic" stuff, and I really don;t care for the licensed stuff either.

My favorite things coming from Wildstorm have been the unique books that are a bit too adult for mainstream DC, but not really good fits for being Vertigo books.

Things that fall/fell into this category:
* Ex Machina
* Storming Paradise
* Highwaymen
* Red Menace

Post by **JohnMayo** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:41 am

FYI, there is an article about the state of the Wildstorm universe over on CBR.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:58 am

Interesting article. It seems to focus on what everyone focuses on, the intrinsic failure of the several relaunches of "Wildstorm Universe" books.

I think they should just abandon the WildstormU & focus on being an umbrella publisher for books that fall between "core DC" & Vertigo. Stuff that fits in neither of those imprints, but which is still solid quality stuff (like the books I named above).

There is no need for Wildstorm to publish 10 books, put out 2. Heck be like Icon over at Marvel & use Wildstorm as an imprint that gives more ownership & creative rights to the folks who put out books there.....

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:36 am

I was a big WS fan back in the day. I pretty much purchased all of their books and it was one of my favorite lines. Unfortunately, what made WS great were the creators not necessary the characters, as majority of the characters were derivative of existing DC/ Marvel characters. In their heyday, they had Jim Lee, JSC, Gary Frank, Alan Moore, James Robinson, Warren Ellis, Ed Brubaker, Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch, Frank Quietly, and etc.

With their best talent gone and the multiple of relaunches, the core line isn't the same anymore. What made the books special a long-time ago, I can get from reading a DC or Marvel super-hero book now. I honestly think the best thing for DC to do is merge the WS characters into the DCU and the only ones that could and should survive are ones that are different concepts from their other super-hero books, because at this point, the WS line is just another line of super-hero books.

I tried the latest Wildcats #1 and felt that the title and new direction isn't for me anymore.

Lobo · Post by **Lobo** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:34 am

They seem like DC's version of Dynamite, which is ironic consider The Boys left WS for Dynamite.

mguy1977 · Post by **mguy1977** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:58 pm

I liked Wildstorm for the Nightmare on Elm Street & Friday the 13th horror line. Plus catching up on Alan Moore's ABC line of books.

Matthew

Post by **JohnMayo** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:24 am

Lobo wrote:They seem like DC's version of Dynamite, which is ironic consider The Boys left WS for Dynamite.

That is a very good description of the current state of Wildstorm.

But isn'tthe irony that Wildstorm is bombing like dynamite (but not like Dynamite)?

Lobo · Post by **Lobo** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:41 pm

johnmayo wrote:
Lobo wrote:They seem like DC's version of Dynamite, which is ironic consider The Boys left WS for Dynamite.
That is a very good description of the current state of Wildstorm.

But isn'tthe irony that Wildstorm is bombing like dynamite (but not like Dynamite)?

Very punny.

Fnord Serious · Post by **Fnord Serious** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:24 am

While I have enjoyed certain runs of Wildstorm Universe books (Ellis on Stormwatch, Brubaker & Phillips on Sleeper), I've never been invested with the line as a whole. The initial WildCATS books got boring after 3 issues. I'm drawn to the books only when there is a creator I love working on them. I think the new take that has been appearing in the solicits of a post-apocalyptic setting for the line is an interesting approach for a whole line of books to take. They have some good creators on the books, but my comic dollar is already tied up. I'll grab some of these out of the quarter bins if I ever stumble across them, but I'm not moved to pay $3 a pop.

JLAFan wrote:I'm really underwhelmed by the "Wildstorm classic" stuff, and I really don;t care for the licensed stuff either.

My favorite things coming from Wildstorm have been the unique books that are a bit too adult for mainstream DC, but not really good fits for being Vertigo books.

Things that fall/fell into this category:
* Ex Machina
* Storming Paradise
* Highwaymen
* Red Menace

I agree that this is the strength of Wildstorm as an imprint. Some of the best books published by Wildstorm has been this kind of creator owned work.

HassanT wrote:With their best talent gone and the multiple of relaunches, the core line isn't the same anymore. What made the books special a long-time ago, I can get from reading a DC or Marvel super-hero book now. I honestly think the best thing for DC to do is merge the WS characters into the DCU and the only ones that could and should survive are ones that are different concepts from their other super-hero books, because at this point, the WS line is just another line of super-hero books.

I had this feeling after reading the Authority vol. 1 trade and the Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters vol. 1 trade back to back. There is a level of violence and "wide-screen action" going on in many of today's DC and Marvel books that seemed so revolutionary the first time you read the Authority. With that fresh approach co-opted by the majors, and it's recent attempt at a star-studded relaunch falling flat on it's face, the Wildstorm Universe only has long-time fans to rely on for sales.

As far as integrating them into the DCU, I'd be fine if they stay as their own Earth (#50, is it?), have the occasional classic JLA Crisis crossover story and maybe incorporate one or two of the characters into a book like JLA or Checkmate (RIP). Come to think of it, Midnighter in Checkmate sounds like a good fit.