At this point, we are pretty far into Warren Ellis and Jons Davis-Hunt’s reimagining of The WildStorm Universe. DC’s former imprint is being built from the ground up in this ambitious series launched from the publisher. What started as a grounded power struggle between two factions has slowly turned into a planet-hopping interspecies affair. “The Wild Storm” has maintained a high quality in writing and art making it one of the very best books currently being published by DC Comics. The last few installments, in particular, have been groundbreaking pieces of work pushing the medium of comics to the limit. “The Wild Storm” #15 is no exception and it is close as we have gotten to any sort of endgame between the two factions in the story. War is coming to IO and Skywatch!
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Jon Davis-Hunt
Colored by Steve Buccellato and John Kalisz
Lettered by Simon BowlandMarc Slayton took his show on the road, as the thing inside him he called the Carer told him to. But whom is he hunting, and for what purpose? John Lynch is crisscrossing America to warn the other Thunderbook test subjects that IO might have discovered them, but IO might not be the only threat to their lives. The uneasy peace between IO and Skywatch has become a cold war—and there are plans for a hot war.
DC’s charming solicitation for “The Wild Storm” #15 points to the end of the uneasy alliance between IO and Skywatch for good reason. This installment of the story immediately has both sides threatening each other with acts of horrific physical violence. Plus, John Lynch is still continuing his tour of warning the Thunderbook test subjects about the threat from IO. Both plot threads are explored in this new issue of “The Wild Storm” and each is executed with a shockingly adept level of precision. Author Warren Ellis tailors his scripts towards incredible action sequences stretching the talents of artist Jon Davis-Hunt to his full artistic ability.
For those following the series, “The Wild Storm” #15 is going to be remembered for the inventive action scene towards the middle of the issue. In the scene, Ellis minimizes the dialogue and captions on the page to allow for Hunt to dazzle with his visuals. The issue does an excellent job of giving readers a solid introduction to the sequence with a strong emotional outburst from Jack Hawksmoor setting the stage. The sequence alludes there is something not quite right in the on with the tone of the comic. The pacing of the scene gets the reader’s attention right when it matters the most.
By the time John Lynch enters the bar where his next Thunderbook test subject is waiting, readers are already on the edge of their seat. Ellis and Hunt subvert the illusion of motion and slow time down. The team fills the issue with expansive page turns and sudden bursts of Quentin Tarantino-esque action. There are epic pages of nine-panel grids leading up to the big moment. Time slows to a crawl during the conflict as readers are waiting with bated breath for the next action. Moments like this sequence in the issue make me forget I’m reading a comic book entirely.
Following the conflict, Ellis continues examining the fallout from the recent violence within the series. This issue has a huge ensemble cast and lots of players are checked in on here. A minor moment from several months ago continues to carry a huge weight which changed the course of the series.
Comics are a visual medium and Ellis does a wonderful job using art Hunt to convey powerful emotion. Hunt’s characters are carefully composed and each expression is meticulous and intentional. Hunt’s backgrounds are extremely minimalistic with IO’s office space always looking particularly desolate in nature. The office spaces and cubicles which the team works at only feature the essentials for a space to have. However, the culmination of emotion and the structure of the panel layout and story are masterfully executed by Hunt.
Few creators would be able to execute some of the action sequences Ellis calls for in the script for the issue. Hunt also does a wonderful job framing each page with an interesting cinematic angle. The angles and body language from the cast members stand out and prove to readers “The Wild Storm” isn’t going to look similar to other titles on the shelf.
“The Wild Storm” #15 is an all-time series highlight with characters making fascinating decisions gearing the title up for an endgame. John Lynch’s newest Thunderbook test subject is just as interesting as past issues culminating in a deadly new action sequence. Ellis places his trust in Hunt to communicate the haunting action sequences on the issue. This creative team currently has one of the best relationships in the industry of comics and I cannot wait until the next installment is published.
Final Verdict: 9.3 – “The Wild Storm” #15 pushes the boundaries of comics with a wild action sequence you can’t miss!
