Back when DC Comics launched the New 52 in 2011, they folded the Jim Lee-created WildStorm imprint characters into the DC Universe, to somewhat mixed results. When DC Rebirth began earlier this year, there were no WildStorm characters in the initial lineup of titles at all, although Apollo and Midnighter eventually received their own mini-series. This led many fans to speculate that DC had given up entirely on the WildStorm label and characters.
Well, not so fast. In a pre New York Comic Con announcement, via ComicBook.com, the publisher has revealed that WildStorm will soon be back with a vengeance in the form of a new “pop-up” label, curated by none other than legendary writer Warren Ellis. DC will take a similar approach to WildStorm as it has with its new label “Young Animal,” which is being curated by writer Gerard Way; Ellis will write the lead WildStorm book and oversee the other titles in the line.
The new WildStorm label will debut mid-February 2017 with a regular monthly comic titled The Wild Storm, written by Ellis with art by Jon Davis-Hunt (Vertigo’s Clean Room). The new ongoing series will “reset the known WildStorm universe and introduce new iterations of WildStorm characters such as Grifter, Voodoo, The Engineer, Jenny Sparks and others.”
The Wild Storm will serve as a launching pad for several future series: Michael Cray, WildC.A.T.S., and Zealot. No creative team announcements have yet been made for any of these titles, although expect some to be made at NYCC. You can see early designs for new versions of WildStorm characters from artist Jon Davis-Hunt in our gallery below.
In statement, Warren Ellis said, “After long reflection, I couldn’t turn down the invitation to renovate the house that Jim Lee built, and refit its unique combination of cosmic paranoia and paramilitary conspiracy for the post-political space madness of the ‘twenty teens.’ Looking back to look forward.”
On the topic of Ellis stepping in to care for his babies, DC co-publisher Jim Lee said, “There are precious few visionaries in our business and fewer still like Warren who can elevate mythos with both stylistic panache and idiosyncratic spectacle. His work at WildStorm remains the tone which best defines and reflects the WildStorm Universe.”
The real question about this “reset” to the characters is whether or not they will exist in a universe separate from the main DCU. It’s fair to say the integration of the WildStorm characters into the main DCU was a mixed bag, Midnighter and Apollo being the exception to the rule. It might be best if they have their own Earth in the DC Multiverse, but either way, I expect we’ll get a solid answer at NYCC.
What do you think of the return of the Wildstorm characters? Are you excited, or should they have remained relics from the ’90s? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.
Images: DC Comics
