Suggested Reading

One question we’re always asked is “If I want to get into Wildstorm, where do I start?”  I’m going to list below the Wildstorm series that, in my personal opinion, are worth checking out.  You can also choose where to start by reading the list below and simply picking a spot that sounds good.  As with any universe, it would be ideal to start at the beginning but the Wildstorm Universe has several key runs that you can enjoy without going all the way back to the beginning.  I’ve also added links to our Wildstorm Resource Wiki where appropriate.
- Joe

Ok, I guess we’ll start at the beginning as they say. The older Image stuff will probably be the easiest to find in discount bins.

#1-13 (Jim Lee’s run)

WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams

It’s not everyone’s favorite but it’s one of mine. It shows the team come together and introduces Majestic (known as Mr. Majestic then) and the villain Tapestry. Plus it has all that pretty Jim Lee art. (Collected in trades WildC.A.T.s: Compenduim, WildC.A.T.s/Cyberforce: Killer Instinct, WildC.A.T.s: A Gathering of Eagles)

#15-20 (James Robinson’s run) – A fun little run by James Robinson and Travis Charest that I feel is overlooked because of Alan Moore’s run that follows. (Collected in trade; Buy Now! James Robinson’s Complete WildC.A.T.s)

 

 

#21-34
(Alan Moore’s run)
This is the first critical point in Wildcats history because it’s the story that began to give the team an identity of its own instead of being considered “X-men rip-offs”. Also introduces the villain Tao who is later important to Ed Brubaker’s “Sleeper” and later in World’s End. It’s also noteworthy that Alan Moore did a story in #50 that features the death of one of the characters he introduced in his run. (Collected in trades Buy Now! WildC.A.T.s: Homecoming, WildC.AT.s: Gang War, Alan Moore’s Complete WildC.A.T.s)

Wildcats
#1-28 This run starts with Scott Lobdell and Travis Charest and it’s pretty cool then, but it really kicks into high gear when Joe Casey and Sean Phillips take over with #8 until the end. (Collected in trades Wildcats-Vol. 1: Street Smart, Wildcats-Vol. 2: Vicious Circles, Wildcats-Vol. 3: Serial Boxes, Wildcats-Vol. 4:Battery Park)

Wildcats 3.0
#1-24 This picks up directly from “Wildcats” and is considered to be the seminal Wildcats run. Also by Joe Casey. (Collected in trades Wildcats 3.0-Vol. 1: , Wildcats 3.0-Vol. 2: Full Disclosure, Wildcats 3.0: Year One and Wildcats 3.0: Year Two

Wildcats: Nemesis
9 issue mini. Introduces the character of Nemesis who plays heavily into the Armageddon storyline later. (Collected in Wildcats: Nemesis trade)

Wildcats: World’s End
The series that ended the Wildstorm Universe. (Collected in trade Wildcats: World’s End & Wildcats: Family Secrets)

Stormwatch Vol. 1
#37-50 (Warren Ellis’ run) This is where the seeds were planted for The Authority. Ellis does a good job of getting you up to speed on the characters.

Stormwatch Vol. 2
11 issue run. Warren Ellis completes his second arc which paves the way for The Authority. It’s important to note that the one-shot crossover issue WildC.A.T.s/Aliens is vital to understand what happens between Stormwatch Vol. 2 #10 & 11. (Vol. 1 & 2 Collected in Stormwatch-Book 1: Forces of Nature, Stormwatch-Book 2: Lightning Strikes, Stormwatch-Book 3: Change or Die, Stormwatch-Book 4: A Finer World, Stormwatch-Book 5:Final Orbit)

The Authority Vol. 1
Picks up directly from Stormwatch Vol. 2. #1-12 (Warren Ellis’ run). Warren Ellis completes his run and it is arguably the best of the series. The series gets a little iffy afterward. Mark Millar picks it up at #13-16 which introduces Jenny Quantum. After that, problems with scheduling really messed up the series. (Collected in The Authority: Relentless, The Authority: Under New Management, The Authority: Earth Inferno & Other Stories, The Authority: Transfer of Power)

The Authority Vol. 2
I personally think you can take or leave this series. It basically shows the team with Jenny Quantum growing up along side their adventures. (Collected in trades The Authority: Harsh Realities, The Authority: Fractured Worlds)

Coup d’ etat
4 issue mini-series that shows how The Authority takes control of the U.S. (Collected in Coup d’etat trade)

The Authority: Revolution
12 issue series that shows how The Authority loses control of the U.S. and shows Jenny Quantum becoming a teenager. (Collected in The Authority: Revolution Book 1 & Book 2)

The Authority: Prime
Not the best story in the world, but it shows what the team was doing right before Worldstorm. (Collected in trade The Authority: Prime)

The Authority Vol. 3: Worldstorm/The Lost Year
This is the Grant Morrison/Gene Ha series that got put on hold after the first 2 issues in 2006. But Keith Giffen took over writing it in 2009 and it has been re-titled “The Authority: The Lost Year”. This series is just ok as a whole. It’s a 12-issue mini that shows what The Authority was doing before World’s End. (Collected in The Authority: Lost Year-Book 1, Book 2 was cancelled)

The Authority: World’s End
The series that ended the Wildstorm Universe. (Collected in trade The Authority: World’s End & The Authority: Rule Britannia)

Stormwatch: Team Achilles
23 issue series. This one takes place just before, during, and shortly after Coup d’etat. It’s the non-superhuman answer to teams like The Authority. Interesting thing about this series is it was canceled one issue before the finale because writer Micah Ian Wright was fired for lying about being in the military. (Collected in trades Stormwatch: Team Achilles Vol. 1 & Vol. 2, unfortunately rest of series is currently not collected)

Stormwatch P.H.D. (Post Human Division)
This team kind of filled the void left by Team Achilles and is a great “superhero cop-drama” for the first 12 issues written by Christos Gage. At #13 it picks up the World’s End storyline. (Collected in trades Stormwatch: P.H.D. Vol. 1, Vol. 2, & Stormwatch: P.H.D.-World’s End)

Gen 13-Vol. 1
Original 5 issue mini-series that introduces the kids. (Collected in either trade, Gen 13: Collected Edition or Gen 13: Who They Are and How They Came to Be)

Gen 13-Vol. 2
#1-18 (J. Scott Campbell issues) Similar to the Jim Lee WildC.A.T.s issues in that they’re more for the fun stories and great art than anything else.(Collected in trades Gen 13: Starting Over, Gen 13: Lost in Paradise, Gen 13: European Vacation, Gen 13: Issue #13 ABC Collected Edition)

#60-71 (Adam Warren run) Most of the Gen 13 series isn’t that great, but if you like Manga inspired-stuff, Warren’s run is for you and it actually ends the series. (Collected in trades Gen 13: Superhuman Like You & Gen 13: Meanwhile)

Gen 13-Vol.3
You can pretty much disregard this series.

Gen 13-Vol. 4
Gail Simone did #1-13 and it is a decent re-introduction to the kids. #14-20 is a story arc called “15 Minutes” which I don’t think is very good but it’s important to note that #20 has a cliffhanger that leads directly into #21 (the 1st World’s End issue). (Collected in trades Gen 13: Best of a Bad Lot, Gen 13: Road Trip, Gen 13: 15 Minutes, Gen 13: World’s End)

And then the Armageddon Trilogy that leads to World’s End (all traded):
Wildstorm: Armageddon

Wildstorm: Revelations

Number of the Beast

I know it’s a lot so ask questions if you got them. Also, feel free to check out our Wildstorm Resource Wiki which has a timeline, publishing history, issues summaries, trade releases, etc.