Comic Review: The Wild Storm #16

The Wild Storm #16

Writer: Warren Ellis

Artist: Jon-Davis Hunt

DC Comics

We’re in the eye of the storm now, as this month’s issue of Wild Storm takes a break from falling diamonds in the sky, teams of assassins trying to kill each other and man-eating aliens. Instead, we get two separate, character-driven story-lines that continue the run-up to a worldwide conflict. The first plot sees the long-awaited return of Angie Spica and takes on a lighter tone as we catch up with the original heroine of the series. The second has us continuing to follow John Lynch’s investigation into Thunderbook. The extra focus on just two threads of this intricate plot gives them both a little more breathing room and provides a welcome opportunity to sit with a couple of the more likable characters.

While we’ve been following the conflict between IO and Skywatch, Angie has been locked away in a room exploring the seemingly limitless potential of her “transkeletal drysuit”. She develops a couple of new abilities throughout the issue which are stylishly represented by Jon Davis-Hunt. Normally, I’d be a little worried that they’re making her character too powerful but that has always been the point Wild Storm. Warren Ellis doesn’t hold anything back from his characters potential and, as we draw ever closer to the inevitable war, it’s great to see Angie is almost ready to take on the mantle of The Engineer again.

More importantly, she finally meets Jenny Sparks! No time is wasted as they seem to quickly realise they are kindred spirits and quickly get over their suspicions of each other. They’re two of the most independent characters and both are incredibly powerful due to their affinity with technology. This seems to make them natural friends and it’s refreshing to have a moment with two characters embracing how crazy their lives have become. While nothing too substantial comes from the meeting, fans of Ellis’s run on the Authority will no doubt be happy to see this new take of the team slowly coming together. Even new readers will find it hard not to enjoy their chemistry.

We also see more of John Lynch and in his next visit, he meets Gloria Spaulding, the mother of Roxy Spaulding from Freefall. In this universe, she’s another experiment from Thunderbook and appears to have changed even more than the other subjects.

While we’re not told too much we don’t already know about the main alien threat, it’s the artwork that really brings the character and scene to life. She’s kept entirely in shadow, with red eyes, a tiny smile and curly hair which is reminiscent of Medusa. It makes her seem more like a creepy spirit than a person and gives her a more supernatural presence than the previous subjects. She jumps and floats around in the panel with childlike movements which only add to her sinister nature.

A major part of their conversation takes place in a particularly creative series of panels which has Lynch upside down and surrounded. For the first time, he appears a little out of his depth. Even though the two appear to be on better terms than his previous encounters, he is clearly faced with someone more powerful and perhaps more knowledgeable than him which makes for a great and memorable introduction to Gloria in this universe.

As with the previous issue, the story doesn’t leap ahead but continues to advance slowly and in segments. The suspense is building up nicely and it feels as if all the pieces will soon be in place.