Quick Summary

Pros: The plot is interesting and full of action right from the start. Multiple stories and characters are introduced, each with a potential to develop into interesting plot points. Despite being an introduction, things are not over explained or boring. The art is great and matches the story well.

Cons: Numerous introductions may be confusing for some readers.

Overall: This is a fantastic way to start a new series. Readers will be able to learn about the various different stories that are taking place in this world while satisfying their appetite for action as well. Things never slow down in this issue as each page pushes further and further into the wonderfully drawn world of The Wildstorm. This first issue is great and confirms that this series definitely has a lot of promise.

Story

Right from the start this book tosses readers into the middle of the action. The first page depicts a gruesome murder and things only proceed to get more interesting from there. Introductions are made as the story passes from character to character, yet it never feels like an introduction. The story never drags and things never feel like they are being over explained like in many introductions. Instead, this issue focuses on telling the beginning of several very promising stories. If the writing, mysterious story, and intriguing characters are any indication, then this is going to be a great series.

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At no point in time does this issue ever feel like an introduction, yet it does a pretty good job introducing things all the same. It avoids this trope by telling fragments of several different, yet interconnected, stories all at the same time. A character will be introduced, their story will start, the reader will start to learn about who they are and what their situation is, and then things will naturally shift to a different character. Many other introductions stick to the protagonist and proceed to paint their history through a series of boring flashbacks until readers know the character completely. This issue seeks to do something different by leaving histories vague, thus allowing the reader to discover them on their own, and by only revealing enough about the current story to keep things interesting.

Questions. A good introduction give you a glimpse at its characters and plot but will leave you with questions that you want to see answered: a reason to come back and keep reading. This book is packed to the brim with questions sure to leave readers dying to learn more. What is Zealot doing and what is her relationship with the Division? Who is Voodoo and what is her plan with Manhattan? What is the origin behind Angela’s ability to transform and what does Marlowe want with her? What is Michael Cray’s xenobiological relationship and why didn’t he tell his employers what really happened when he encountered Marlowe? This is just a sample of the questions evoked in what is only the first issue. Starting with this much potential gives readers more than enough reasons to stick with this series.

Keep in mind, while the start to a brand new series, this first issue does not spoon-feed readers. Introductions happen and the story moves on, readers are expected to remember what they learned. I personally had to go back a few times and re-read parts to make sure I was understanding everything correctly. This type of writing and introduction may not work well for everyone. However, for others, this will be just another positive for the book; it does not hold the readers hand and thus is able to tell a deeper and less obvious story.

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Art

Artist Jon Davis-Hunt and colorist Ivan Plascencia do a great job together in bringing this new universe to life. This universe does not have the gritty and drab look that many “mature” books have, yet it also does not have the colorful and idyllic look that many superhero books have. Instead it is depicted as a world not unlike our own, one where the city is bathed in shades of grey and the sky never truly looks like a robin’s egg. However, the people and the almost magical technology are colored more vividly and all stand out as being unique and full of life. This mix between the real world and comic book world makes the story a little more authentic; it almost feels like this world could really exist somewhere. This is where the art succeeds and where it helps this issue to stand out.

Continuity

This is the first volume of The Wildstorm, falling under the renewed Wildstorm imprint. This series revisits a lot of characters from DC’s prior Wildstorm imprint, however it does not follow any prior continuity. This means that, although there are stories that come before this, an in depth knowledge of the series is not required at all.

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