WSU vs. the Wild Storm 3

I know, the main point of this blog is to talk about the continuity of WildStorm Universe as it was from ’92 – ’11… but I really like doing this compare and contrast thing! Admittedly, I have no idea where Ellis is going with this new series, and honestly, I couldn’t be more on board for what he and his team are bringing. I just thought I’d have some fun, point out some of the references/differences from the old WSU to the new book “the Wild Storm” that came out last week.

To be fair, this week just might as well be called “DCU references in “the Wild Storm”” but we’ll get to that eventually. But let’s start out this entry in our usual way.

New vs. Old

Jenny?
Alright, I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that this a Jenny. You know, a woman who will live 100 years and be the spirit of that century. The most well known was Jenny Sparks. After her, we got Jenny Quantum AKA Jenny Quarx. We also had met, via some special Jenny Heaven craziness Jenny Fire, Jenny Steam and just a whole lot of other Jennys. The Jenny we have here, well, she reminds me a lot like Jenny Sparks, only from Mongolia in the 21st Century and not England in the 20th Century. She seems to be traveling via electronic screens, be they televisions, advertisement billboards, tablets or cell phones. Jenny Sparks used to travel by way of electricity wires, so that again leads me to think of her more as a Jenny Sparks type rather than a Jenny Quantum type. More to come for this young lady for sure! (I was thinking her name was most likely Jenny Media, but then I saw that Carl K. Li scooped me with that name. I’m sticking with it, but I have to give credit where credit is due, he said in a public way before I got around to it!)

Razors
Not sure why I didn’t mention this last issue, but the main team that I/O will send out to do field work are the Razors. In the old WSU they were called the Black Razors and were lead by both John Lynch and Ben Santini. In “the Wild Storm” they’re known as Razor C.A.T. as being a Covert Action Team is a much bigger deal in this new universe.

Whak! Supersoda
In the original WSU we had Whak Cola. It seems like there’s a newer version of this, and it’s a “Supersoda” vs. a regular cola. Although, the Drummer and Max Faraday seemed to like the original formula a lot more than Jenny seems to enjoy the new one.

New and What We Don’t Know

Jenny’s Conspiracy Board
Basically almost everything on our new Jenny’s board! So much new info. For real, just go check out Carl’s breakdown of the board, he’s done a better job than I ever could!

Who Ivana is Talking to
Who is Ivana on the phone with? Is this just a good way to get some exposition out, or will who she’s talking to come into play?

Craven’s Assistant
No confirmation on who it is, but based on how smart she is, and how she’s treating the proceedings, I still think it’s Alicia Turner. Also, Cole put on his mask as soon as the Razor’s popped in. Not sure if it was just to prevent effects of a gas attack, or because he thought that someone watching might recognize him. In the old WSU Cole and Alicia had a past, so if it is her, and they also share a past in the new continuity it would be one of many good reasons for him to put on the mask.

Answers

Ivana
I guess I was wrong about this version of Ivana not being as much of a schemer as the last one! She really seems to be after Craven’s job!

Mars Expedition 1955
Jenny has a lighter commemorating the Mars Expedition of 1955. Not sure if the former Jenny was there, and she got this lighter in memory of her, or if it was something she found while doing here conspiracy hunting.

John Colt
We can assume after seeing Jenny’s board that the John that Jacob and Cole were talking about last issue is most likely John Colt.

DCU Connections

Commander Steel
The DCU really does have a character named Commander Steel. In fact, there are three of them, it’s a family thing. But nowhere does it look like they’ve ever been drawn by Chris Ware as seen here.

Galaxy Network
In the DCU we have the Galaxy Broadcasting System or just GBS for short. Slight name change to Galaxy Network for “the Wild Storm.”

Crime Doctor
In the DCU the Crime Doctor is an old Batman villain, here it seems to be the basis of some kind of CSI type show.

Doom Patrol
Much like “Crime Doctor” being a television show in “the Wild Storm,” “Doom Patrol” are also real characters in the DCU whose name is being borrowed for some sort of formulaic show here. (In all honesty, Doom Patrol are some of my other favorite comics. Glad to see them get a tip of the hat here.)

KORD
Possibly related to Ted Kord, the second Blue Beatle. It’s possible in this reality he never had to save the world, inherit the Blue Beatle legacy and instead used his wealth along with his tech and business smarts to create a YouTube-like video company.

Martian Manhunter
This might be my favorite joke of the whole run. Instead of the self-serious strong green guy from Mars we all know as the Martian Manhunter, we have a green woman with a praying mantis type head, shouting catchphrases at a club, while holding a champs in one hand and a cell phone in the other, presumably on a Tinder-like application. It’s just too funny.

Dr. Mid-Nite
The name of a superhero who could see in the dark in the DCU, “the Wild Storm” reappropriates the name as a brand of cigarettes.

One Last Thing
Because there was so much action going on in this issue, we don’t get too much info on what is going down behind the scenes. This is fine. I mean, it leaves me wanting more, but it satisfies the lack of action in the last issue. I’m perfectly fine with that kind of give and take on that front. Also, I’ll love this issue forever, just because of this panel alone: