DAYS OF THE BEAST I: AERONAUT

**MattBrady** · 03-28-2008, 11:57 AM

In the ashes of Revelations comes the forgotten heroes of the WildStorm Universe. It breaks wide open with the upcoming eight issue miniseries Number of the Beast. Written by Scott Beatty and illustrated by Chris Sprouse, the series follows a hereto unknown group of heroes known as the Paladins, who were an unrevealed until now.

The first issue of Number of the Beast hits shelves on April 9th, and we’re counting down to what could be WildStorm’s doomsday with exclusive character sketches of each of these mystery heroes, along with commentary by Beatty and Sprouse.

Kicking things off, we have the high-flying hero Aeronaut.

Scott Beatty: In the first issue, he's called Aero-Nut and Jet-Jerk in just a few pages. You'd have to be arrogant and self-assured to strap a mini fighter jet to your back for a little solo-flying.

Chris Sprouse: He thinks he's cool, funny, and irresistible to the lady-superheroes, but he's just a type-A jerk! Design-wise, he was one of the harder characters to nail down, since there are already a few rocket-pack powered guys out there and I didn't want to make him too terribly similar to any of them. In the end, We settled on a sort of old-fashioned US Navy pilot flight helmet and flight suit look.

Stay tuned on Monday for Day 2, and the hero known as the Black Anvil!

C_Striker · 03-28-2008, 12:10 PM

Sweet, with Wildstorm: Revelations finishing up I can't wait for Number of the Beast to hit

klockwrk · 03-28-2008, 12:20 PM

Love the Wildstorm Universe!
Love Chris Sprouse's artwork!
BUT...I can't get over how much this character bears a strong resemblance to Tony Stark. Ironman (circa 30s-40s ala Rocketeer) + DC's Elsewhere series = Wildstorm's Aeronaut.

LunarDaydreamer · 03-28-2008, 12:26 PM

Why is an artist as good as Chris Sprouse slumming it in the neither regions of the oh so dead Wildstorm Universe?

He deserves far better. Wonderful artist.

JoeZhang · 03-28-2008, 12:28 PM

I see nothing of interest in this. Some talented creators but nothing in any of the PR for this stuff makes me want to pick any of it up - maybe TPB if the reader feedback is good.

JoeZhang · 03-28-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunarDaydreamer

Why is an artist as good as Chris Sprouse slumming it in the neither regions of the oh so dead Wildstorm Universe?

He deserves far better. Wonderful artist.

Beats me - he should be on more high-profile work.

Skinshark · 03-28-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeZhang

Beats me - he should be on more high-profile work.

A high-profile book...is in the hands of the readership.

Besides maybe it's more fulfilling than being the 1225th person to draw Batman. If you guys really cared to look at Chris's work history, you'll notice he's gravitating toward work that has a unique voice.

I'm not sure why that's considered "slumming"?

JoeZhang · 03-28-2008, 01:42 PM

What's with the passive aggressive use of size?

C_Striker · 03-28-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klockwrk

Love the Wildstorm Universe!
Love Chris Sprouse's artwork!
BUT...I can't get over how much this character bears a strong resemblance to Tony Stark. Ironman (circa 30s-40s ala Rocketeer) + DC's Elsewhere series = Wildstorm's Aeronaut.

It's the mustache

painters_eye · 03-28-2008, 01:58 PM

Was the most recent attempt at publishing The Authority from Wildstorm, too? What's with the lateness? Is it canceled. Was Sprouse on Midnighter? That is tanking/canceled right?

seems like some bad juju at that company...

Jeremy Williams · 03-28-2008, 02:01 PM

"we liked the take on Batman and Superman so much that we're gonna introduce another version of Iron Man"

that said, Chris Sprouse rocks.

Jeremy Williams · 03-28-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunarDaydreamer

Why is an artist as good as Chris Sprouse slumming it in the neither regions of the oh so dead Wildstorm Universe?

He deserves far better. Wonderful artist.

If all the best creators would be on the top books it would be a perfect World, isn't it?

C_Striker · 03-28-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painters_eye

Was the most recent attempt at publishing The Authority from Wildstorm, too? What's with the lateness?

You'll have to ask Grant Morrison where the Authority is...

Quote:

Originally Posted by painters_eye

Was Sprouse on Midnighter?

Sprouse was on Midnighter, but left to take on Number of the Beast

smitch · 03-28-2008, 02:27 PM

Cliff Secord would totally kick the Aeronaut's ass...

BanMan · 03-28-2008, 04:45 PM

I gotta say, the WSU sure does have a lot of forgotten heroes. They just keep coming out of the woodworks.

MAO · 03-28-2008, 10:39 PM

Actually the partial explanation they gave for that in the last issue of revelations was actually kind of cool and fit the whole WSU mentality when you consider what characters were behind it.

JoeZhang · 03-28-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAO

Actually the partial explanation they gave for that in the last issue of revelations was actually kind of cool and fit the whole WSU mentality when you consider what characters were behind it.

Wildstorm still publishes comics?

sure you didn't just dream this?

MAO · 03-29-2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeZhang

Wildstorm still publishes comics?

sure you didn't just dream this?

Well... honestly after reading it I did suddenly find myself in front a class while in my underwear, but I don't think the two things are related.

I.M.C. · 03-29-2008, 01:01 AM

I like the look to the Aeronaut. Reminds me of what we'd end up with if Timothy Dalton had ended up with the jet pack in the Rocketeer. Already plan to check this out.

Burnt Frog · 03-29-2008, 01:39 PM

Once again DC's attempts to shove uninspired "Silver Age" heroes into the WSU in a ridiculous retcon goes completely unnoticed and uncared about by its aging fanbase. Whilst fans who actually enjoyed the previous mature readers posthuman comics are left with nothing.

I don't care about a goddamn Iron Man ripoff. WildStorm already has dozens of brilliant characters that DC isn't using, or is determined to use in cliche, predictable ways. The feeling of pushing boundaries and exciting experimentation WS had during Eye of the Storm is dead, shot through the heart by stale hacks like Levitz and Morrison.

Please don't buy this everyone. The idea is poorly thought out, it insults your intelligence, and it ruins a classic StormWatch story. DC's material at the moment is all worthless dreck drowning in the past with a blinder to any new innovations. The only way things will change is if the sales give them a message.

Scott Beatty · 03-31-2008, 11:02 PM

Wow, I'm constantly surprised at how a new series is so negatively pre-judged before anyone has a chance to read it.

For the record, Burnt Frog...

NOTB doesn't "ruin" STORMWATCH: CHANGE OR DIE. I have much appreciation for that story. Chris and I pay homage to it in quite a few ways.

And I think--given a fair shake--readers will like what we've concocted. We've been working on NOTB for over a year, and I can say with some confidence that we're not out to insult anyone, especially longtime fans of the Wildstorm Universe.

Scott B.

zombiekid · 04-01-2008, 03:43 PM

jeez, burnt frog, relax. it's almost like you dis-like dc or something? but didn't wildcats 3.0 and sleeper (two of the books you listed as how comics should be done) come out while wildstorm was shackled to dc? personally, i was never a fan of a lot of the image wildstorm stuff.
personally, i like the sound of this and will give it a try. lots of comics have superheroes based on models of other heroes, such as powers. it's generally so they can do things with characters everyone likes that they wouldn't normally be allowed to.