NYCC '07/D3: WILDSTORM/CMX PANEL

[MattBrady]

Closing out their panel presentations at New York Comic Con, DC presented its Wildstorm panel Sunday at noon. Panelists included Hank Kanalaz VP, General Manager of Wildstorm; Christos Gage, writer of Stormwatch PHD and Worldstorm #2; Gail Simone, writer of Gen13; Marc Bernadin of Entertainment Weekly; Whilce Portacio, artist of Wetworks; Brian Azzarello, writer of Deathblow, Brian K Vaughan, and Asako Suzuki, director of CMX. The panel was moderated by Bob Wayne, VP, Sales.

Wayne opened the panel by asking the panelists to introduce themselves to the audience, and then began the slideshow. Many of the projects highlighted had already been solicited for shipping between now and May. Highlights included:

In speaking of Worldstorm #2, Gage said that the story in the issue is drawn by Ryan Sook and introduces the new, female Backlash. Together with Savant, the two are tasked with breaking into Stormwatch Prime HQ. The other story in the issue is by Keith Giffen and Phil Jimenez, as well as a double-page spread by Jimenez featuring the full cast of the Wildstorm Universe.

Speaking of The Highwaymen, Bernadin explained that the story is about two retired couriers who are called back into action by former President Clinton to transport a biological weapon called The Baker’s Dozen, against the odds. The series is co-written by Adam Freeman, and drawn by Lee Garbett.



Kanalz said that fans who were disappointed by not seeing the Authority in #1, will not be disappointed with issue #2.

Issue #5 of Stormwatch will reveal how Fuji, Winter, Hellstrike, and Fahrenheit who were thought to be dead (killed in Wildcats/Aliens) are still alive, according to Gage, and issue #6 will focus on John Doran, the leader of the team, in the start of a two-part story where Lord Defile decides to assemble a team of villains to crush Stormwatch before it has a chance to get up and fully running.

Andy Smith will join the series as regular artist with #8, Gage announced. Smith will be inking himself on the series, and, as Gage said, his work hearkens back to the Hitch/Neary material. Smith’s first issue features Stormwatch PHD meeting with Stormwatch Prime.

The Liberty Snots as well as a brand new team called The Authoriteens will be appearing in Gen13, according to Simone.

CMX will release a new editions of Gon beginning in July, in the original Japanese right to left format, with the color pages included for $5.99 per volume.

Samurai Commando: Mission 1549 launches in July from CMX, featuring a modern Japanese army squad going back in time to try and change the past to alter the present day.

Back to the Wildstorm side, Vaughan said that Ex Machina will conclude with issue #50, and things will pick up as the series moves towards that. The power outage of 2003 will be covered in the coming issues, while “Vaughan said that he would like to do a story in the series involving religion called “Ex Cathedra,” though Vaughan said that he has yet to pitch the story to Wildstorm. Additionally, a new Ex Machina special is in the works, though Vaughan declined to go into detail about it.

Wayne concluded the slideshow with an image of Wildcats, which, he said, will see issue #2 out soon.

Opening the floor to Q&A, Wayne said that audience members could ask about anything, but joked “except The Boys.” On the serious side, Wayne said that an announcement about The Boys should be coming shortly.

There will be more Absolute Editions containing Wildstorm material coming soon, first up, according to Wayne, the original issues of Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.S., originally published by Image. As with other Absolute Editions, the colors will be retouched and cleaned up.

Asked about issues of The Authority following #2, Kanalz said that Grant Morrison and both Jim Lee got overloaded last year, and are getting back on track, and hopefully, both Authority and Wildcats will be coming out this year. The other Worldstorm launches, Kanalz noted, have been shipping 100% on time.

Asked about Samurai Commando and how it fits into the larger CMX line which seems more geared to shojo manga, Suzuki said that the timing just happened in regards to the rest of the schedule and CMX isn’t trying to be strictly present one type of manga. The story is an older piece of fiction which has two movies in Japan. The story spans two volumes.

Kanalz said that one of the ideas behind relaunch of the imprint in Worldstorm was to go back to Wildstorm’s roots, pulling the series back from Mature Readers material, and more towards stories that are more PG-13 but still push the envelope as hard as they can without slipping into Mature Readers territory – much like, Kanalz said, the original Wildstorm titles would.

Asked if he’d ever writer a happy book, Azzarello said, “Deathblow is a happy book.”

Speaking of what he considers Azzarello’s happiest work, Wayne announced that Azzarello’s Dr. 13 back-up stories from Tales of the Unexpected will be collected into a single volume shortly after the miniseries concludes.

On the theme of happy stories, Wayne asked Vaughan to talk about his Midnighter issues, allowing the writer to talk about his story with Darick Robertson was really fun with a very weird structure that he’s very happy with.

Kanalz said that there will be several new projects announced shortly – a 12-issue maxi-series, some five issue mini-series and others, that will tell stories set outside of the main “Wildstorm Universe” group.

Asked if there will be implications of the Bleed’s appearance in a recent issue of Ion in the Wildstorm Universe, Kanalz answered simply, “All will be revealed.”

New York Comic Con 2007 coverage brought to you by Comicraft's ELEPHANTMEN #7, on sale right now from Image Comics!

[StifUpperLip]

Sure looks like the guy from BOP to me...

[skinnyboy23]

BKV Midnighter ISSUES!?! Sweeet!

Also, I friggin' love Welcome to Tranquility, but Gen13 has been a bit lagging for me, so seeing that the Liberty Snots will be appearing has me giddy. Also, Authoriteens? AWESOME!

[IronWolf]

There is a god......There will be more Absolute Editions containing Wildstorm material coming soon, first up, according to Wayne, the original issues of Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.S.,

[t0xin_ven0m]

What ever happened to Wildsiderz?

[skl183]

Worldstorm #3 coming in 2008.

One issue a year, the new record.

[deadjacket]

Backlash was great... (I especially loved J J Kirby's Run)....

This new one..... needs to get some clothes !!

FFS Wildstorm.... I thought we got past that kinda costume....

[deathshead2]

Originally Posted by t0xin_ven0m

What ever happened to Wildsiderz?

Scott got lazy and most likely won't finish it. Sense he is doing a spider-man project.

[anthony devl]

Nothing really new here cept for a few bits about Gen13 i guess. BKV's issue of Midnigher was revealed in the solicits.. i wish they'd have given us a bit more on the delayed Cats & Authority, like when we can expect it back on schedule, rather than simply stating what we already knew.

Originally Posted by IronWolf

There is a god......There will be more Absolute Editions containing Wildstorm material coming soon, first up, according to Wayne, the original issues of Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.S.,

my one hope is that we'll get an Absolute V3.0 out of this, or at least see the remainder of the run collected in trade.

[skinnyboy23]

Originally Posted by skl183

Worldstorm #3 coming in 2008.

One issue a year, the new record.

Worldstorm isn't a monthly. It's kinda like a special or an annual. They don't even have to do it annually if they don't want to.

[IronWolf]

Yeah i need the rest of V.3.0!

[IronWolf]

Originally Posted by anthony devl

my one hope is that we'll get an Absolute V3.0 out of this, or at least see the remainder of the run collected in trade.

Yeah i'm with you there

[Kolimar]

Some nice announcements.

[Mrsupertight]

Anyone know why Doug Mahnke's not pecilling Stormwatch anymore??

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Asked about issues of The Authority following #2, Kanalz said that Grant Morrison and both Jim Lee got overloaded last year, and are getting back on track, and hopefully, both Authority and Wildcats will be coming out this year.

Hopefully this year? Aye, carumba!

[bebopeva88]

How is Ryan Sook doing work for Wildstorm?!? He's a Marvel exclusive now, ditto for Campbell (minus his Wildsiderz which is creator owned...he has a Voodoo pic up here).

[sexyjesus]

Originally Posted by bebopeva88

How is Ryan Sook doing work for Wildstorm?!? He's a Marvel exclusive now, ditto for Campbell (minus his Wildsiderz which is creator owned...he has a Voodoo pic up here).

I think he might also be allowed to do covers for Danger Girl and Gen13 because he co-created them. I'm just glad Wildsliderz is finally over. It was what made me truly despise him as an artist.

[renodakota]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Speaking of what he considers Azzarello’s happiest work, Wayne announced that Azzarello’s Dr. 13 back-up stories from Tales of the Unexpected will be collected into a single volume shortly after the miniseries concludes.

This is terrific news.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Asked if he’d ever writer a happy book, Azzarello said, “Deathblow is a happy book.”

Heheheh

[astronato]

I was hoping for more Wildstorm British revival stuff as I enjoyed Thunderbolt Jaxon, Battler Britton and Albion. I know it didn't sell like hotcakes but still, I want more.

[pop monkey]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

hopefully, both Authority and Wildcats will be coming out this year.

Yeah, that has to be the single most ridiculous statement I've heard from these panels. "Hopefully" an issue of each of these books, which were supposed to be at least bimonthly, will be coming out this year!?!? Hopefully, you'll have at least a few people left who give a damn when they do. I will not be one of them. Sorry, Wildstorm, but you lost me.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by renodakota

This is terrific news.

Agreed.

[OcCaM]

"Speaking of what he considers Azzarello’s happiest work, Wayne announced that Azzarello’s Dr. 13 back-up stories from Tales of the Unexpected will be collected into a single volume shortly after the miniseries concludes."

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That announcement and the BUG/Groot/Rocket Racoon team from Marvel are about the only things of real interest to me so far from this convention.

[bebopeva88]

Originally Posted by sexyjesus

I think he might also be allowed to do covers for Danger Girl and Gen13 because he co-created them. I'm just glad Wildsliderz is finally over. It was what made me truly despise him as an artist.

Yeah, he is, but that pic in the article is of Voodoo and 2 other chicks, and he didn't create or co-create Voodoo -- Jim Lee did.

[sexyjesus]

Originally Posted by bebopeva88

Yeah, he is, but that pic in the article is of Voodoo and 2 other chicks, and he didn't create or co-create Voodoo -- Jim Lee did.

Ahhh...true, maybe these are stock images that he did before the exclusive. I forgot that he also did a Tranquility variant.