Tag Archives: wildstorm

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Sins of Sinister #1

It’s one of two new comic book days! What are you getting? Whare you excited for? Sound off in the comments! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.

ICv2 – Unfortunately, DC’s AI Mess Is Just the Beginning – Think it’ll get worse before it gets better?

The Beat – Former Wildstorm editor/Real World cast member Sarah Becker dies at 52 – Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and fans.

Reviews

The Beat – Sins of Sinister
ComicMix – Spider-Man: Cosmic Chaos

Underrated: Thundercats (Wildstorm’s 2002 Series)

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This is a column that focuses on something or some things from the comic book sphere of influence that may not get the credit and recognition it deserves. Whether that’s a list of comic book movies, ongoing comics, or a set of stories featuring a certain character. The columns may take the form of a bullet pointed list, or a slightly longer thinkpiece – there’s really no formula for this other than whether the things being covered are Underrated in some way. This week: Thundercats

ThunderCats Wildstorm
Version 1.0.0

In another case of “Alex brought something to read just for this column” we have the Thunder Cats miniseries from Wildstorm that I found in the dollar bin at my LCS. Previous iterations of this theme in Underrated have often been a success (aside from Holy Terror which was a terrible comic, but a great column if I do say so myself), but will this one?

Well… kinda. I read the five issues of the miniseries with no context whatsoever which is par for the course when you find something in a dollar bin with no real idea when it was released (2002 is the answer to that). Assuming that you, dear reader, are like me and have some basic familiarity with the 1980’s cartoon, or one of the later iterations.

The thing is with this miniseries is that there is almost no hint given toprevious events, so if you pick this up hoping for a gentle introduction into the world of the Thundercats then you’ll be a touch disappointed. However, the story is still remarkably easy to follow because although Thundercats is a five issue miniseries it feels more like five episodes of a cartoon show with at best a slim plot that leads from the first to last issue. While this may lead some to claim that is leaves the series feeling like a vapid and disjointed mess, I’ll make the case that it invokes a powerful sense of nostalgia that allows children of the 80’s or 90’s the opportunity to easily reconnect with a treasured piece of your childhood.

I would give you a plot summary, but it basically boils down to “the Thundercats are trying to make a new home and are being opposed by villains.” Which is fine. I enjoyed the overly implistic nature of the main plot almost as much as I enjoyed the feeling that each comic was an episode of the show.

Why, then, does this make an appearance in this week’s Underrated? Because I had never heard of the series before, and made an assumption that if you found this in a dollar bin then you’dlikely pass it over as licensed tat. It isn’t tat at all, and was certainly enjoyable enough to spend a half hour or so with for a column that’s supposed to highlight unsung gems, and at best this is a moderately shiny dollar bin gem (unfortunately I had left it too late to read something else for the column so here we are).

Maybe next week I’ll find an actual gem?

Join us next week when we look at something else that is, for whatever reason, Underrated.

DC announces Jenny Sparks a six-issue DC Black Label series by Tom King and Jeff Spokes

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DC has announced a new six-issue DC Black Label comic book miniseries launching in August, Jenny Sparks. The Spirit of the 20th Century returns for the 21st in this action-packed new DC adventure by writer Tom King and artist Jeff Spokes!

But who is Jenny Sparks? Readers of DC’s WildStorm comics will know that Jenny has always worked outside of the Justice League establishment to find anomalies in the superhero community, is subtle enough to dig into the lies of the most powerful people on the planet, and is strong enough to fight back when these fallen heroes discover who’s digging. She can, if only for a moment, light up the darkest nights. In DC’s new Jenny Sparks, Jenny is the Spirit of the 20th Century, resurrected for the 21st.

Kicking off the action in Jenny Sparks #1, what could four strangers have to do with the fate of the world? Find out as Captain Atom goes rogue, threatening to destroy the planet he once swore to protect. It may take the most unconventional hero of them all to stop him…Jenny Sparks, the one woman tasked with keeping all the heroes in line, no matter the cost. With a snap of her fingers, she’s entered the fray and won’t quit until the job is done!

Jenny Sparks #1, written by King with art and main cover by Spokes and lettering by Clayton Cowles, will have variant covers by Guillem March, Homare, and Saowee (1:25). Jenny Sparks #1 will hit local comic book shop shelves on August 21, 2024. Jenny Sparks is a DC Black Label comic book series and carries an Ages 17+ content descriptor (for mature readers). Each issue of Jenny Sparks will be 40 pages, with 28 story pages per issue.

Scott Dunbier departs IDW to launch his own publishing company

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Scott Dunbier

It’s a new venture for Scott Dunbier who has announced that not only is he leaving IDW Publishing but will be launching his own publishing company later this year.

In his departure letter, he mentioned he has two jobs in the past 29 years, with IDW and Wildstorm and his leaving is his decision alone. He had been the Special Projects Editor for IDW for the past 16 years and he is well known for his work on IDW’s Artist’s Editions which he is credited with inventing.

He has dipped his toes into self publishing having crowdfunded two projects, both raising over $175,000. Comics: For Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds and John Paul Leon’s The Winter Men Artist’s Edition were both launched on Zoop as fundraisers and you can purchase the Ukraine book through the Zoop store. Can we expect more of this in the future?

You can read Dunbier’s full post below:

Hello Everyone,

First, let me once thank everyone for the incredible support I have received since announcing I would be leaving IDW Publishing after 16 years. It was a tough choice, in the past 29 years I have had two jobs, first at Wildstorm Productions (later DC/Wildstorm), then at IDW. I do not make changes like this lightly.

A couple of things I would like to say.

Leaving IDW was my decision alone. I will always have a soft spot for the company that has been my home for so long. I will miss most of my former co-workers a great deal. The work they do is outstanding, and I care enormously for them. But it was time to go.

As of today, I am excited for the future. I have decided to do something that may be a bit crazy, I will be starting my own publishing company. I will not speak direclty about my publishing plans, or even divulge the name of my company. In the weeks to come I will be filing paperwork to create it and I will periodically update via social media.

My goal is to announce my fist books, assuming things go as planned, at San Diego Comic-Con in July.

More soon.

All the best,
Scott Dunbier
Unemployed Editor

Preview: Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

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Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

(W) Matthew Rosenberg, Brandon Choi, J. Scott Campbell, Brett Booth, Ed Brisson and others (A) Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Bryan Hitch, Brett Booth, and others
In Shops: Nov 29, 2022
SRP: $7.99

In 1992 Jim Lee changed the course of comics history with the founding of WildStorm Productions, which would revolutionize the business and launch the careers of so many top creators. To this day, 30 years later, the impact of the imprint, its characters, and its creators is still felt! In honor of this legacy comes a 100-page giant that pays homage to the past…and looks toward the future! Part of this mammoth special will be reprinting–for the first time in periodical form!–short stories from the acclaimed WildStorm: A Celebration of 25 Years hardcover, including stories by Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Brett Booth, Dustin Nguyen, and more…plus new stories featuring WildStorm characters in the DC core line, charting their future in the DC Universe…

Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

Preview: Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

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Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

(W) Matthew Rosenberg, Brandon Choi, J. Scott Campbell, Brett Booth, Ed Brisson and others (A) Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Bryan Hitch, Brett Booth, and others
In Shops: Nov 29, 2022
SRP: $7.99

In 1992 Jim Lee changed the course of comics history with the founding of WildStorm Productions, which would revolutionize the business and launch the careers of so many top creators. To this day, 30 years later, the impact of the imprint, its characters, and its creators is still felt! In honor of this legacy comes a 100-page giant that pays homage to the past…and looks toward the future! Part of this mammoth special will be reprinting–for the first time in periodical form!–short stories from the acclaimed WildStorm: A Celebration of 25 Years hardcover, including stories by Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Brett Booth, Dustin Nguyen, and more…plus new stories featuring WildStorm characters in the DC core line, charting their future in the DC Universe…

Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

Preview: Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

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Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

(W) Matthew Rosenberg, Brandon Choi, J. Scott Campbell, Brett Booth, Ed Brisson and others (A) Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Bryan Hitch, Brett Booth, and others
In Shops: Nov 29, 2022
SRP: $7.99

In 1992 Jim Lee changed the course of comics history with the founding of WildStorm Productions, which would revolutionize the business and launch the careers of so many top creators. To this day, 30 years later, the impact of the imprint, its characters, and its creators is still felt! In honor of this legacy comes a 100-page giant that pays homage to the past…and looks toward the future! Part of this mammoth special will be reprinting–for the first time in periodical form!–short stories from the acclaimed WildStorm: A Celebration of 25 Years hardcover, including stories by Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Brett Booth, Dustin Nguyen, and more…plus new stories featuring WildStorm characters in the DC core line, charting their future in the DC Universe…

Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special

DC rewinds to the 90s in November with WildC.A.T.s. and Wildstorm

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The 1990s brought about some of the greatest moments in comics, including Wildstorm’s debut, Batman/Spawn crossovers, The Death of Superman and amazing covers that were reflective of the unique time in history. This November, DC is celebrating everything 90s with new Wildstorm and WildC.A.T.s comic series, special variant covers, reprints of classic comics and more.

Spinning from the pages of Batman: Urban Legends, writer Matthew Rosenberg and Artist Stephen Segovia are bringing back WildC.A.T.s for the first on-going series in over a decade! The team must work together in the shadows of the DC Universe to make the world a better place but they quickly come across one of their biggest threats, The Court of Owls!

WILDC.A.T.S. #1

Spinning from the pages of BATMAN comes the senses-shattering new series! The HALO Corporation has gathered a motley crew of operatives, led by Cole “Grifter” Cash, who are going to make the world a better place…no matter who they have to kill! Working in the shadows of the DC Universe, this new covert team has been tasked with gathering an elite group of scientists for the first phase of their plan…but the ‘Cats mysterious leader, Void, might have other plans!

Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG
Art and cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Variant covers by JIM LEE, STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU and BEN OLIVER
1:25 connecting variant cover by JEFF SPOKES
1:50 variant cover by ALAN QUAH
1:100 variant cover by DAN HIPP
1:150 pencil variant cover by JIM LEE
‘90s Cover Month variant cover by BRETT BOOTH and SANDRA HOPE
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 11/8/22

WILDC.A.T.s# 2

The mission has gone sideways for the ‘Cats team as they inadvertently run afoul of the LAST group they wanted to cross paths with…the Court of Owls! It’s the fight of the year with Talon vs Zealot!

Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG
Art and cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Variant cover by BEN OLIVER
1:25 connecting variant cover by JEFF SPOKES
1:50 variant cover by HOWARD PORTER
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/6/22

The celebration of the WildStorm anniversary continues with the four-issue Waller vs. WildStorm miniseries from DC’s Black Label. Deep in the heart of the American intelligence apparatus, an ambitious young woman named Amanda Waller has some dangerous ideas about how metahumans can help to end the Cold War, and she’s willing to cut straight through Stormwatch’s Jackson King—and investigative journalist Lois Lane—to make them a reality. Waller Vs. WildStorm teams up national-security reporter Spencer Ackerman (The Daily Beast, Reign of Terror) with comics and video game writer Evan Narcisse (Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Gotham Knights) and veteran artist Eric Battle (Aquaman, Kobalt) for a story that combines the tone of pitch-black spy thrillers like Sleeper and StormWatch with DC’s Deathstroke, Checkmate, and Suicide Squad!

WALLER VS. WILDSTORM # 1

In the early 1980s, as the Cold War stubbornly refuses to thaw, a new battle heats up…for the soul of the intelligence agency Checkmate. As the agency’s super-heroic public face, Jackson King—a.k.a. The armored Battalion, former leader of Stormwatch and the symbol of American might—has long suspected that Adeline Kane is up to dirty tricks overseas, engineering horrors that betray everything he believes about service to one’s country. But King doesn’t know that Kane has a clever new ally—an ambitious young woman named Amanda Waller. She has her own ideas about how metahumans can serve their country. And honor, dignity, and long lives don’t factor into them… National-security reporter Spencer Ackerman (The Daily Beast, Reign of Terror), comics and video game writer Evan Narcisse (Black Panther, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Batman: Gotham Knights -Gilded City), and veteran artist Eric Battle (Aquaman, Kobalt) celebrate WildStorm’s legacy of espionage-flavored superhero morality plays, pitting Stormwatch against the deadliest people in the DCU—including Deathstroke himself!

Written by SPENCER ACKERMAN and EVAN NARCISSE
Art by ERIC BATTLE
Cover by JORGE FORNÉS
Variant cover by ERIC BATTLE
1:25 variant cover by MIKE PERKINS
$5.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 4 | Prestige Plus 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″(all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 11/15/22

WILDSTORM 30TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL # 1

In 1992 Jim Lee changed the course of comics history with the founding of WildStorm Productions, which would revolutionize the business and launch the careers of so many top creators. 30 years later the impact of the imprint, character and creators is felt to this day! In honor of this legacy comes a 100 page giant that pays homage to the past…and looks toward the future! Part of this mammoth special will be reprinting–for the first time in periodical form!– short stories from the acclaimed WildStorm: A Celebration of 25 Years hardcover, including stories by Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Brett Booth, Dustin Nguyen and more…and also included will be new stories featuring WildStorm characters in the DC Core line, charting their future in the DC Universe.

Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG, JOSHUA WILLLIAMSON, BRANDON CHOI, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, BRETT BOOTH, ED BRISSON, and more!
Art by JIM LEE, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, BRYAN HITCH, BRETT BOOTH, and more!
Cover by JIM LEE
Variant covers by SOZOMAIKA, BRYAN HITCH, JOSHUA MIDDLETON, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, and LEE BERMEJO
1:25 Glow in the Dark cover by JEFF SPOKES
1:50 Foil Variant by SOZOMAIKA
$7.99 US | 96 pages | Prestige | One-shot (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 11/29/22 

This November, DC will feature over 15 ‘90s themed variant covers across its line of comics, including five fully embossed covers (marked in bold), from some of the top cover artists.

  • Action Comics #1049 by ROGER CRUZ
  • Batman #129 by RYAN BENJAMIN
  • Batman Incorporated #2 by CHRIS BURNHAM
  • Batman vs Robin #3 by CARLO BARBERI
  • Batman/Superman World’s Finest #9 by CHIP ZDARSKY
  • Batgirls #12 by PAULINA GANUCHEAU (to be revealed)
  • Black Adam #6 by CARLO BARBERI
  • Catwoman #49 by JIM BALENT
  • Detective Comics #1066 by KYLE HOTZ
  • Harley Quinn #24 by JONBOY MEYERS
  • I am Batman #15 by KHARY RANDOLPH
  • Nightwing #98 by BRIAN STELFREEZE (to be revealed)
  • Superman: Son of Kal-El #17 by STEVEN BUTLER
  • The Flash #788 by TODD NAUCK
  • The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #2 by KELLEY JONES
  • Tim Drake: Robin #3 by TODD NAUCK
  • WildC.A.T.s #1 by BRETT BOOTH and SANDRA HOPE
  • Wonder Woman #793 by JEN BARTEL

Batman/Spawn: The Classic Collection

An ancient evil has arisen in Gotham City. The last time it appeared, an entire colony was wiped clean from the face of the Earth, leaving only one clue: Croatoan. Whoever or whatever Croatoan is, it’ll take all of the Batman’s investigative skills and the supernatural abilities of an ex-soldier turned Hellspawn to save Gotham’s citizens from the hell that is about to be unleashed on our world. For the first time in three decades, this edition of the classic meeting between comics’ caped avengers of the night reprints Batman/Spawn: War Devil #1 by legendary Batman writers and artists Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, and Klaus Janson…plus the Spawn/Batman one-shot by Batman: The Dark Knight Returns writer Frank Miller and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, which brings Batman to Spawn’s home turf of New York City! Two heroes with different methods in two very different tales. Capes will clash.

Written by DOUG MOENCH, CHUCK DIXON, ALAN GRANT, and FRANK MILLER
Art by KLAUS JANSON and TODD McFARLANE
Cover by GREG CAPULLO and TODD McFARLANE
$19.99 US | 112 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″
Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-150-7
ON SALE 11/15/22

Batman/Spawn: The Classic Collection

Brian Augustyn’s epic vampire comic CRIMSON will make you want to read more comics

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Crimson

The passing of any great creator always prompts a revisiting of the works they leave behind. Upon hearing about the unexpected death of author and editor Brian Augustyn (the writer of the classic Gotham by Gaslight) at the age of 67, I was immediately reminded of one of the first series I ever followed as a kid: Crimson.

Crimson is a vampire book steeped in lore and guided by a deep love for the vamp movies and TV series of the late 1980s, The Lost Boys and Near Dark (both released in 1987) chief among them, along with a bit of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer (1997) and Kindred: The Embrace (1996) added for flavoring.

The series follows a newly turned vampire called Alex Elder as he learns to live as a new fanged creature while also struggling with the prospect of being some kind of chosen one. The first three issues run on pure vengeance and denial. Alex wants to find the vampires that killed his friends on the same night they also turned him against his will, but he goes about this resisting his new reality. After that matter is settled, though, the story veers into vampire politicians, a centuries old war between the original vampires and angels, and what it means to be a vampire in New York City.

Crimson ran from 1998 to 2001, with the first seven issues originally published by Image and the remaining 17 by DC/Wildstorm. The story concept was developed by Humberto Ramos, Oscar Pinto, and Francisco Haghenbeck. Ramos served as the series’ artist. Augustyn was brought in to script the story.

The comic is a visual marvel. Ramos illustrates a dangerous and unhinged version of New York governed by a laissez-faire attitude that still manages to capture the brightness of its nightlife and the seediness of its darkest corners. Knowing vampires roam the city at night serves to remind us of the amount of chaos each street can dole out at any given moment, and how deadly walking them at night could be.

Augustyn’s scripts made sure all that chaos had some well-developed characters at the center of it. Alex Elder starts out as an angsty teen that would’ve fit in perfectly in any Nirvana music video, but he’s never allowed to be static. Augustyn keeps his character in a constant state of evolution, forcing him to grow up fast without sacrificing any of the growing pains that come with the process.

Alex’s place in the coming struggle against all vampires moves at a breakneck pace as well. Once the doors to the world of undeath are opened, you’re not so much ushered in as you’re kicked in with the expectation you hit the ground running. This goes for the comic’s grand sense of mythology.

The very first issue of the series starts with an extensive and detailed explanation of the creation of humanity and how vampires came out of it in defiance of that process. It’s quite indulgent and does ask for a bit of patience in getting through the initial lore dump, but the narration is never dull and, once it wraps up, readers are left with a sense of big things to come. From that point on, Augustyn and Ramos flex their storytelling muscles in every way imaginable to produce a world that lives and breathes magic, culture, and violence.

While the story does possess many classic horror elements, the overall narrative finds a larger piece of its identity in the realm of fantasy. Augustyn’s approach to this sprawling world of magic and blood sucking creatures is more interested in how a potential war between different factions of vampire hunters, angelic forces, werewolves, and vamps will come about rather than staying on the more intimate aspects of the characters’ lives one expects from classic horror stories.

Augustyn’s character work shines in this regard, especially with Alex’s core unit: a Mexican Indian vampire called Joe who acts as his street mentor and guide, a vampire hunter called Scarlet, and an ancient vampire (who is also the source of all vampirism) called Ekimus. They each form a vital part of what can essentially be called of fellowship, complete with their own roles to play in the final confrontation.

Joe is a particularly well written character that helps readers understand the world and its rules. In a way, Joe is Sam to Alex’s Frodo, if Sam were wiser and with a more adventurous thirst for life. Their exchanges are a highlight and remain fresh throughout the series.

Having come across Crimson when I was kid, I can’t think of another vampire comic that pulled me into the medium as completely as this one did. Ramos’ art and Augustyn’s words were a perfect storm then and, upon rereading the series for this piece, they’re a perfect storm still.

I’d still recommend Crimson to anyone who asks what makes comics so special. Not many creators get to leave a book behind with such a strong gravitational pull. Brian Augustyn has Crimson, and now is as good a time as ever to give it a read.

Warren Ellis says “Wildcats isn’t coming out”

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Wildcats

In May, DC Comics announced a new Wildcats series written by Warren Ellis and featuring art by Ramon Villalobos, and color by Tamra Bonvillain. Now, that project “isn’t coming out” according to Ellis.

The series solicitations were recently canceled leading speculation of a delay but Ellis in his most recent newsletter writes something a bit more dire with blame seeming to focus on Villalobos’ schedule and missed deadlines.

From the newsletter:

Oh. yeah.  WILDCATS isn’t coming out.  There is hope that it will be resolicited at a later date, but, for right now, it’s cancelled.  As you know, I was two scripts into it, with chunks of other parts done and a full and lengthy treatment for six issues, so it’s kind of frustrating for me too. (RIP my bills.)  But, here’s DC Co-Publisher Jim Lee:

So there’s hope for the future of the title.  Maybe someone will want to draw my tired old man shit, who knows.

Villalobos Tweeted:

So, there’s hope we’ll eventually see the series with the original creative team attached. Better than a few issues out and long delays between issues.

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