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 with 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.
New vs. Old
Science City Zero vs. U.S. Science City Zero
When Bendix is telling Lauren about the reason for the I.O./Skywatch treaties we find out about Science City Zero. While there were a few science cities in the old WSU (a Russian one was seen in an issue of “DV8”) the main one was U.S. Science City Zero ran by Dr. Dowling in “Planetary.” This new one was run by the new version of John Lynch. Science City Zero is funded by I.O. and Russia, unlike U.S. Science City Zero which was just an American science city. It’s where Dr. Dowling would perform experiments on people, resulting in superpowers for some, but mostly just messed them up. Also, U.S. Science City Zero was eventually abandoned, unlike Science City Zero which got blown up by Skywatch.
Cole & Lucy’s Relationship
At the end of this issue, we find out that this version of Cole and Lucy have a past. Much like the old WSU where Cole and Zannah were a couple for several years, but broke up and continued to work together. In both cases it seems that Cole was trained in battle by Lucy/Zannah, but “the Wild Storm” version of the couple seemed to have gone their separate ways quite a while ago. In both cases, it seems that Cole still harbors a crush on the lady, and in both cases, the lady does what she wants despite that. The old Zannah would sometimes just kiss Cole out of nowhere and wonder why he’d get upset because he knows it isn’t going to work out. Lucy just full on tells Cole that he belongs to her! Woah!
New & What We Don’t Know
What Exactly Science City Zero is For
Right now we’re not sure what John Lynch, I.O., and the Russians were up to at Science City Zero. Something big enough to fight Skywatch over to keep hidden at least.
Answers
SkyWatch & I.O.’s Treaty
Bendix lets Lauren in (and the readers) in on why the treaty between I.O and SkyWatch was created. It is basically to keep them from destroying each other or from the rest of the world from finding out about either of them. See, if the public finds out about either it’ll be bad news for both organizations and possibly the world in general.
John Lynch Info
Straight from Bendix’s mouth, the new John Lynch has a white eye just like the old one did! No mention of scars or kick-ass sideburns.
Angie’s Project
We finally see what Angie has been working on in Jacob’s secure location. It’s making her dry suit sleeker. Seems as if she removed much of the liquid interface from herself, upgraded it and then pumped it back into herself. Oddly (to her and to us) she doesn’t manage to get it all back in… I’m sure that won’t backfire in some way… She boots up the new dry suit and it looks a lot more like the old school WSU version of the Engineer, with a thin coating of silver encasing her. Then she armors up and looks like something out of “Bubblegum Crisis!” So yeah, she’s right, she looks very cool!
DCU Connections
Wonder Woman
When we see Jenny and Shen wake up in Jenny’s room, we see them under a bedspread with the Wonder Woman logo on it. I have to assume that the version Wonder Woman in “the Wild Storm” is also a fictional character which is very much the same as the one in our world and aptly marketed as such. Just a guess though.
Ambush Bug
We see Lucy check her phone and it reads “Ambush Bug : Target Device is Listening for You.” We can guess that this is an app that you can use to set up a listening channel on another device. It seems that Mitch’s phone is Lucy’s target considering that we see this right after Mitch is on his phone. Later on, when back in contact with his phone Mitch and Jackie mentions Cole and how they think he’s an operative for Skywatch. That’s the exact info that Lucy passes to Cole later, so yeah, it’s an app that bugs other electronic that can listen. Oh, yeah, and in the DCU Ambush Bug was a character that used small electronics that he could teleport between to get a jump on whoever he was fighting. He started out as a kind of mischievous villain but then got more comical, less villain-y and even broke the fourth wall, Deadpool style.
One Last Thing
I said it last time we saw the two of them together for an extended amount of time, but I live for Bendix and Lauren hanging out and talking. Their work relationship and demeanor towards each other cracks me up. I literally laughed out loud reading this book, much to the confusion and annoyance of my cat, Mr. Pants. (Who unlike Streaky, is not history’s greatest monster.)
More issue comparisons of the old WildStorm Universe to “The Wild Storm.”
weathering wildstorm 