Mon Aug 18, 2008 — by Rick Marshall

Wildstorm's "World's End" Relaunch Examined

Will Wildstorm finally find its niche with new dynamic?

Over at io9, the website's resident comics expert Graeme McMillan has put together a nice analysis of the events leading up to the current "World's End" relaunch of DC's Wildstorm line. I was pleasantly surprised by the recent issues #1 of Wildcats and The Authority -- mainly because I've been a fan of both these series for quite a while and been both terribly excited and subsequently disappointed by prior attempts at re-establishing the universe around each series.

The new Wildstorm status quo places its superheroes in a world ravaged by events that they share much of the blame for, and this dynamic provides the opportunity for stories that have always been relegated to one-shot or "What If?" status elsewhere. So, I guess you can color me intrigued.

Here, McMillan provides a quick assessment of recent Wildstorm history:

This isn't the first time that the Wildstorm line has gone all out for change; in 2003, their Coup D'Tat series had the Authority depose the US Government and set themselves up as dictators of the United States, before they realized that they couldn't be bothered with all the paperwork. But with fans still hurting about 2006's failed Worldstorm relaunch (which died when Grant Morrison's core two series Wildcats and The Authority disappeared after one and two issues, respectively), will even the end of the world get them interested in checking out the series again?

Like McMillan, I'm impressed with the decision to change the Wildstorm Universe so dramatically -- and I'm also hoping there isn't a deus ex machina in the works at this point. For more on the new Wildstorm U and some thoughts from creators on why it was necessary, head over to io9.

Be the first person to comment!