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Final issue of Planetary headlines “creator-driven” Wildstorm initiative

March 20th, 2009
Author David Pepose

It’s been years in the making, but Planetary #27 may make its triumphant return in 2009!

Wildstorm announced a new “creator-driven” series of books at the ComicsPRO conference in Memphis that will make their way into stores in 2009.

One of the questions discussed is the legacy of Grant Morrison, whose WildC.A.T.S. and Authority relaunches were left unfinished. Hank Kanalz of Wildstorm said that WildC.A.T.S. “will be completed as a graphic novel, and will be solicited when it’s complete.”

The Authority, meanwhile, will be completed by Keith Giffen and a number of different artists.

In addition, Kanalz announced several new series.

PS238′s Aaron Williams will team up with Fiona Staples to create North 40, which deals with a Midwestern town and its hidden book of nightmares; Red Herring, by Dave Tischman and Philip Bond, will be a series of miniseries logged as “Daily Show meets X-Files”; David Lapham will create Sparta, a magical story about a town built around a football team; and Jeff Mariotte will mastermind Garrison, an FBI procedural tracking down a serial killer.

[Via Nerdage in Memphis.]

 
29 Responses to “Final issue of Planetary headlines “creator-driven” Wildstorm initiative”
  1. Charles Knight Says:

    I guess this is wildstorm’s last gasp their last creator controlled titles debutted at about 5000 issues, some of those could be lower.

  2. Dan Coyle Says:

    I guess it’ll end by Snow giving up when his mortgage is due and going to work for the Four?

    BECUASE THAT’S WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

  3. JC Says:

    No offense intended against the writers and artists, but why do all these creator driven books and other media property titles wind up on Wildstorm’s lap while it’s own true titles flounder? I’m genuinely liking the World’s End saga spearheaded by Christos Gage but why do I have the feeling that it all won’t survive more than another year. Didio has no love for this label and it’s own creator has essentially abandoned it; when will DC figure out what they want with Wildstorm?

  4. sidewinder Says:

    I would rather them focus on the Wildstorm Universe titles!! Those titles seem to be dying out, while in actuality they are very good. Wildcats, Authority, Stormwatch, these are great characters. I don’t mind the creator-owned stuff, I’ll check out whichever ones looks good when they come out. But really, the WU is so dope, why can’t DC make them sell??

    Planetary is almost like a creator-owned property set in the WU! Other creators should try to do that. But thats just my opinion.

  5. Nod Nolan Says:

    If any of these creator owned titles are as good as the incredibly brilliant “Mysterius the Unfathomable” then I’m all over them.

  6. Robb Welch Says:

    okay…. it mentioned Planetary #27 for about a second and then it talked about something else. Weird.

  7. ED Says:

    Yeah, why can’t DC figure out what to do with a line they have no editorial control over?

  8. Jacob Says:

    Haven’t they BEEN focusing on their main titles? They have good talent on it. They have a direction. What else do you want?

    More creator-owned stuff is never a bad thing, imo. This industry is dying. You can’t rely on the “same ol’.”

    And is DiDio in charge of Wildstorm? I thought Jim Lee is, and DiDio has no control over Wildstorm? Just like with Vertigo and Karen Berger.

  9. Chris Striker Says:

    @Nod Nolan
    Mysterius is an excellent title that seems to be flying under most peoples radar, which is sad cause its a very awesome mini series so far.

    I’ve digging the Worlds End direction for the WSU and all the creative teams behind the core titles and the back-up stories and I’m looking forward what’s planned for December and beyond in ’10

  10. Charles Knight Says:

    “”’m looking forward what’s planned for December and beyond in ‘10″

    Will there even be a wildstorm universe by 2010? The way the titles are losing thousands of readers a month clearly more of the same Mad Max stuff isn’t the answer.

  11. Jack Harkness Says:

    Well played, Coyle. Well. Played.

  12. Scott Says:

    “Didio has no love for this label and it’s own creator has essentially abandoned it; when will DC figure out what they want with Wildstorm?”

    Didio has no more say over WildStorm than he does over Vertigo (that is, none at all). I love how people blame Didio for everything short of the end of the world. He must be one powerful guy. :P

  13. Chris Striker Says:

    @Charles Knight “Will there even be a wildstorm universe by 2010?”

    As far as I’ve heard in various interviews and the ones I’ve dont for my site (http://theauthority.ws) they’ve got plans for ’10 – Who knows what they’ve got planned… I’m guessing we’ll get a sense of it at this years SDCC.

  14. Jacob Says:

    Will there even be a wildstorm universe by 2010? The way the titles are losing thousands of readers a month clearly more of the same Mad Max stuff isn’t the answer.
    ———–

    With the sales they have now, they should have cancelled it already. I think they’ll be around for a bit.

  15. Doctor Whiskey Says:

    its turning into the USA network…

  16. devilguy Says:

    I lay full blame on Jim Lee (who’s work I love) and partly on Grand Morrison for both abandoning and not finishing what they started!!!!! (Wildcats, the Authority). And for abandoning the characters!!!!! Wildcats, Gen 13, Divine Right, Authority, Stormwatch, Wetworks all had great potential but.. where are they now??

  17. Nod Nolan Says:

    I hate the fact that most of the people who comment on the numbers of the Wildstorm Universe haven’t read recent Issues.

    Give e’m a go, they’re consistently fantastic.

    Maybe the Powers that be at Wildstorm could release the odd FULL issue of the World’s End issues to the various news sites (Maybe one to Newsarama, CBR, IGN and MySpace Comics) to give people a look at what they are missing.

  18. Chris Striker Says:

    @devilguy

    I’d lay more of the blame on Morrison since he was the writer on both the Authority and Wildcats, the artist can write what’s not scripted and it seems that WS gets all the blame for him abandoning the titles and leaving WS to pick up the pieces.

  19. Chris Striker Says:

    @devilguy

    (corrected)
    I’d lay more of the blame on Morrison since he was the writer on both the Authority and Wildcats, the artists can’t draw what’s not scripted and it seems that WS gets all the blame for him abandoning the titles and leaving WS to pick up the pieces.

  20. Cray_ws Says:

    People stop blaming Jim Lee or Grant Morrison every time there’s news about Wildstorm. There are plenty of good titles being published by Wildstorm right now.

    Check out AUTHORITY, yeah I know it’s not Morrrison’s but still its a damn fine book being written by Dan Abnett Andy Lanning.

    Christos Gage is writing WILDCATS, Again it’s not Jim Lee’s but there’s no reason why this book can’t considered to be enjoyable in its own right.

    STORMWATCH is being written by Ian Edginton and GEN13 is being written by Scott Beatty. Both are very capable writers and have done a great job with these titles.

    That’s just 4 books to follow the entire line. Best value for your money. Go check them out.

  21. Charles Knight Says:

    “Give e’m a go, they’re consistently fantastic.”

    I thought they were fairly average, I also didn’t like that if I didn’t buy all of the titles, the back-up strips made no sense or I didn’t see the conclusion, I thought that was a rip-off. The back-ups should have been self-contained to the individual titles.

  22. Jackson Flark Says:

    I have to say lately Wildstorm has lost some of it’s lustre. I do read Wildcats and the Authority regularly. Both are okay in my opinion nothing spectacular just okay.
    Lately it feels like WS has become a bit of a dumping ground for all the licensed titles that DC can’t really put anywhere else. The universe feels a little unfocused. I think they need some kind of cohesive leadership. I’m really hoping that with the new direction of core titles that they can refocus and really do something with their characters.

  23. RobRG Says:

    It’s a shame how the WU is falling into oblivion, it has so many great characters and stories…

  24. Cray_ws Says:

    Charles Knight,

    ‘Fairly average’ is what I would describe some comics that really don’t deserve the sales they are getting. At least you are not saying Wildstorm is putting out poor quality comics.

    I would have to agree that the mixing up the backup stories alienated many readers. Although it’s not a big deal if you are buying all 4 books. Keep in mind that Wildstorm is sorta in an ‘event’ mode with World’s End storyline, so you really should be encouraged to read the other books. The entire event only spans 4 books and still have their own identity and don’t leave you hanging like a missing chapter. Only the backups leave you feeling like that if you’re not buying all 4 books.

    I suspect Wildstorm will eventually release a collection of the backup stories.

  25. Robb Welch Says:

    “It’s been years in the making, but Planetary #27 may make its triumphant return in 2009!”

    Did you want to talk about this? Or did you just want an excuse to post that picture?

    Where DO I need to go to read about this?

  26. Tony Reese Says:

    I think the reason Wildstorm is having problems not getting readers is a stigma. When I hear anything about Wildstorm the first thing I think a lot of people get in their minds is “hmm, 90s comic explosion company”. A lot of people see those companies as the reason the comic industry imploded and have yet to fully recover from. Yes, I do think they are doing some of their best stuff, as are DC and Marvel and almost all other comic companies, Wildstorm just has to overcome the stigma.

  27. Jordan T. Says:

    the problem for me with Wildstorm right now is that it has drifted so far from its former glory as a place to go for a subversive take on superheroes, the innovative storytelling that Ellis, Millar, Casey, Brubaker and others brought to the books. at some point, though, after DC bought the imprint they didn’t support the books as much as they could have and censored a lot of the subversion that made it so great in order, i assume, to pacify higher ups at Warners or stock holders or some such corporate nonsense. the kind of bold visions and risks creators felt free to take in the WSU were stifled, lesser talent was brought on to books that once flourished, great books were cancelled and reverted to their more bubble gum roots and ever since then, starting with the truly awful Captain Atom: Armageddon, the whole line has suffered a string of false starts and reboots that aren’t appealing and have no promise of relevance or lasting consequences since another one’s probably just around the corner. to those who are enjoying it, more power to you and i’m glad it’s working for you. but at a certain point, i had to give up on watching these warmed over versions of characters and concepts i used to love being jerked around, neglected and misused. if they can get back to that bold and subversive vision that used to make it one of the more intellectually satisfying places to read superheroes, i’ll be back in a heartbeat. until then…once Planetary and Ex Machina finally wrap up, it’ll be a while before i pick up a Wildstorm book.

  28. WildstormisDEAD Says:

    Wildstorm needs to go back to the eye of the storm age. Now THAT was the REAL Wildstorm. Sleeper,achilles,Wildcats 3.0 really brought out the SOUL of the WSU.

    Now? We see them wearing capes (dc style), stupid eyemasks and it’s all censored. Bah. Wildstorm is dead. RIP.

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