This, along with the day they announced Animal Man, is probably the coolest day to be a fan of defunct books DC no longer publishes. Why? Because today is the day DC has announced their brand new integrated Wildstorm universe! But before I fanboy out all over the place, let’s look at what we have in the new batch:
- Stormwatch #1, written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda
- Blackhawks #1, written by Mike Costa and illustrated by Ken Lashley
- Sgt. Rock and the Men of War #1, written by Ivan Brandon and illustrated by Tom Derenick
- All-Star Western #1, written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and illustrated by Moritat
- Deathstroke #1, written by Kyle Higgins and illustrated by Joe Bennett and Art Thibert
- Grifter #1, written by Nathan Edmondson and illustrated by Cafu and Bit
- OMAC #1, written by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen and illustrated by Giffen and Scott Koblish
DC moving Stormwatch into the DCU, bringing back Apollo and Midnighter and teaming them up with Martian Manhunter is a fantastic move on the publishers part. Putting Paul Cornell on as writer is even better. This, along with whatever they have planned for Morrison, is definitely my favorite announcement so far.
The rest of the announcements are pretty interesting. With Voodoo we now have three Wildstorm properties, and Cafu/Bit are moving to Grifter, which means that book will be gorgeous. DC is also giving some of their older books/properties repreives, with Jonah Hex surviving the culling and the Blackhawks, Sgt. Rock, and OMAC all getting their books in new forms. It should be interesting to see how some of these play out.
For all the synopsis bits and pictures, check behind the cut. Now excuse me while I smile infinitely at the Stormwatch announcement.
Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.
Blackhawk is an elite group of mercenaries made up of brave men from around the world equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us. A set of contemporary tales that battle the world’s gravest threats, BLACKHAWKS #1 will be written by Mike Costa and illustrated by Ken Lashley.
The grandson of the original Sgt. Rock assumes the command of Easy Company, a team of crack ex-military men financed by a covert military contractor, as they brave the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DC Universe’s super-villains. SGT. ROCK AND THE MEN OF WAR #1 is contemporary military story fighting under modern conditions, and will be written by Ivan Brandon and illustrated by Tom Derenick.
Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant — and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex’s special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer? Featuring back-up stories starring DC’s other western heroes, ALL-STAR WESTERN #1 will be written by the fan-favorite Jonah Hex team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and illustrated by Moritat.
A metahuman mercenary who made a living taking out the toughest targets, Deathstroke will reclaim his fearsome legacy by any means necessary in DEATHSTROKE #1, a new series from rising star Kyle Higgins (Batman: Gates of Gotham) and artists Joe Bennett and Art Thibert.
Ex-black ops agent Cole Cash is a charming grifter that few can resist. And yet he’s about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form — creatures only he can see. Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he’s gone over the edge? Find out in GRIFTER #1, written by Nathan Edmondson with art by CAFU and BIT (the team behind T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS).
A man loses control of his life as the omnipresent Brother Eye transforms him against his will into a powerful killing machine OMAC #1, written by DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and co-written and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish.
