What do you think?
Rate this book
WildC.A.T.s I #1
WILDC.A.T.S. Covert-Action-Teams. (Wild C.A.T.S. CATS), Compendium June 1993
VOID came to Earth to prepare it for the coming of a mysterious man who covets an ORB of great power. If he gets it, it will destroy the Earth.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
1 person is currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Choi
252 books17 followersBrandon Choi is an American comic book writer who wrote several titles for Wildstorm Comics with his friend Jim Lee.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 8, 2025
An indelible snapshot into the excesses of 90’s pop culture and Image Comics, this hardcover may not come with a hologram, chromium, die-cut or lenticular cover, it does have WildC.A.T.S. issue zero shrink-wrapped with it.
Like other previous Image launches, WildC.A.T.S. by Jim Lee and company was brash, bold and sexy. It was an ambitious work, if not in concept, but in the future applications of the property. There were spin-offs, toys and animated series. The early 90’s was definitely a great time for comics.
This volume collected the first four issues of the Jim Lee's follow up of his year-long run on the adjective-less X-Men which he premiered with a record-breaking number one issue. This was Lee at the height of his powers. Though the script was forgettable, the art was action-packed. (October 6, 2025)
As I mentioned earlier, this came with an "issue zero" packed with the book. Read the collection then read issue zero which sets up the next storyline.
Recent compendium books collecting this series placed zero in front of issue one, which doesn't really work and the fact that the first issue of this series was one of the strongest Image number ones of its vintage.
Like other previous Image launches, WildC.A.T.S. by Jim Lee and company was brash, bold and sexy. It was an ambitious work, if not in concept, but in the future applications of the property. There were spin-offs, toys and animated series. The early 90’s was definitely a great time for comics.
This volume collected the first four issues of the Jim Lee's follow up of his year-long run on the adjective-less X-Men which he premiered with a record-breaking number one issue. This was Lee at the height of his powers. Though the script was forgettable, the art was action-packed. (October 6, 2025)
As I mentioned earlier, this came with an "issue zero" packed with the book. Read the collection then read issue zero which sets up the next storyline.
Recent compendium books collecting this series placed zero in front of issue one, which doesn't really work and the fact that the first issue of this series was one of the strongest Image number ones of its vintage.
February 9, 2024
I discovered Wild C.A.T.S. in the .25¢ bins at a local comic con, and I am enthralled by this time capsule of the early 1990s and reading about the growing pains of brand new (at that time) Image Comics.
This series was one of the first published by Image and was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, with further pencils by Lee. Originally envisioned as a three-parter, it was expanded to four. It established a new superhero group, with the moniker Covert Action Teams. This team concerned themselves with the battle between aliens called Kherubim and Daemonites. The team was a motley group of heroes, with not a great deal of backstory to explain their origins. When Vice President Dan Quayle (OMG- how awesome is that!) is overtaken by the evil Daemonites, the group works together to avoid world chaos. Image’s flagship superhero group Youngblood shows up too, not understanding that Quayle has been possessed and is not truly himself. This was the first combining of Image universes, showing that the two teams coexist together. While there’s more to the story obviously, a recap is hard to explain. This story must be experienced to appreciate it. You can also have fun matching up these heroes with who you think they would match in the Marvel/DC universes.
Now let’s talk about the art! Lee is a talented artist, but God, the excesses of his drawing made me laugh. The issues came out in 1992-93, right during that time frame when the superhero genre was at its most superlative. Women especially were drawn so amazingly out of proportion to be comical, and unfortunately, that continued to be the case with this series. At times the art overpowered the already somewhat confusing story, with a myriad array of panels. There were a few times you had to flip the story sideways to follow the panels, one time just so they could show a full-length view of the hyper-sexualized Voodoo. A nitpick I had with the covers of the first four issues is that the art always covered some of the words. I found that odd and not very appealing. For the compendium cover, they fixed that problem.
Jim Lee started each issue with a letter to the readers, which I found fascinating, for it gave a window into what was going on behind the scenes at the company. I watched the DVD documentary about the founding of Image Comics, The Image Revolution, so I was already privy to the rough start of a now strong comic publisher. Lee was brutally honest in the acknowledgment that Image had a big problem with timeliness in getting their issues out. He also is kind enough to explain why Whilce Portacio, the first of the seven founders to leave Image, was MIA due to a family death. This went far in reinforcing my thought that the documentary didn’t explain enough what happened to Portacio.
I came away from this series smiling. While I might have criticized some aspects of the storytelling, this was a fun read. Image Comics remains a favorite of mine, so I enjoyed going back in time to read some of their first stories.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2017/09/1...
This series was one of the first published by Image and was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, with further pencils by Lee. Originally envisioned as a three-parter, it was expanded to four. It established a new superhero group, with the moniker Covert Action Teams. This team concerned themselves with the battle between aliens called Kherubim and Daemonites. The team was a motley group of heroes, with not a great deal of backstory to explain their origins. When Vice President Dan Quayle (OMG- how awesome is that!) is overtaken by the evil Daemonites, the group works together to avoid world chaos. Image’s flagship superhero group Youngblood shows up too, not understanding that Quayle has been possessed and is not truly himself. This was the first combining of Image universes, showing that the two teams coexist together. While there’s more to the story obviously, a recap is hard to explain. This story must be experienced to appreciate it. You can also have fun matching up these heroes with who you think they would match in the Marvel/DC universes.
Now let’s talk about the art! Lee is a talented artist, but God, the excesses of his drawing made me laugh. The issues came out in 1992-93, right during that time frame when the superhero genre was at its most superlative. Women especially were drawn so amazingly out of proportion to be comical, and unfortunately, that continued to be the case with this series. At times the art overpowered the already somewhat confusing story, with a myriad array of panels. There were a few times you had to flip the story sideways to follow the panels, one time just so they could show a full-length view of the hyper-sexualized Voodoo. A nitpick I had with the covers of the first four issues is that the art always covered some of the words. I found that odd and not very appealing. For the compendium cover, they fixed that problem.
Jim Lee started each issue with a letter to the readers, which I found fascinating, for it gave a window into what was going on behind the scenes at the company. I watched the DVD documentary about the founding of Image Comics, The Image Revolution, so I was already privy to the rough start of a now strong comic publisher. Lee was brutally honest in the acknowledgment that Image had a big problem with timeliness in getting their issues out. He also is kind enough to explain why Whilce Portacio, the first of the seven founders to leave Image, was MIA due to a family death. This went far in reinforcing my thought that the documentary didn’t explain enough what happened to Portacio.
I came away from this series smiling. While I might have criticized some aspects of the storytelling, this was a fun read. Image Comics remains a favorite of mine, so I enjoyed going back in time to read some of their first stories.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2017/09/1...
January 6, 2016
Leído de la edición de Archivos Wildstorm de Norma, que incluye también WildC.A.T.S Trilogy. Un comienzo simple pero efectivo, y bastante entretenido, para una serie a la que le tengo más simpatía que respeto. El guion es algo plano y predecible pero al menos está bien llevado y el dibujo es bonito, como casi todo lo que dibuja Jim Lee. Eso sí, por lo que veo este tomo no incluye el #0, así que tirón de orejas al nabo del editor que dejó el tomo rengo. Son sólo unas páginas pero emprolijan bastante el comienzo de la serie, así que no sé por qué se la saltearon.
March 27, 2019
Jim Lee did some amazing things at Marvel and then went over to Image and created this series. The art and storytelling are both top notch. You can tell that they put a lot of effort into creating a good backstory and depth for each character. I haven’t enjoyed a series this much in a while.
August 25, 2024
Pure '90's comic book excess. The art is good, but not his best. And the story is convoluted as all get out.
February 27, 2018
Loved the WildC.A.T.S in my youth (I collected every issue up to #34) and I've been rereading some of the early Image stuff lately . The writing is so-so, but Jim Lee is a hell of an artist. While his work here isn't as great as his later stuff with DC, it still pops off the page and the action scenes are fantastic. Yes, it's an X-Men knockoff. Yes, the dialogue ranges from cliche to atrocious. Yes early 90s comics have some ridiculous tropes (The fact that Voodoo's super hero costume is literally her stripper outfit tells you everything you need to know about this era) but I enjoyed revisiting these characters. I mean, there's a plot-line about Dan Quayle being possessed by an alien, how fun is that?
December 23, 2014
First time I have picked up a Wildcats book and fell staright back into it again. really good storyline and strong charatcers. Definately recommend as an alternative to X-Men.
June 13, 2020
Damn, these comics still look good. I've always loved detailed artwork and Jim Lee delivers in spades. Every character is ripped and/or big-boobed. They're superhero comics, so don't expect any life-changing revelations, just good, clean fun - even if a bit long-winded and bombastic. Times were so simple back then.
A war between the Kherubim and the invading Daemonites is brewing. Both the good guys and the Cabal are looking to recruit gifted ones. Their latest target is Voodoo who can see the Daemonites posing as humans. All hell breaks loose when the two sides duke it out.
A war between the Kherubim and the invading Daemonites is brewing. Both the good guys and the Cabal are looking to recruit gifted ones. Their latest target is Voodoo who can see the Daemonites posing as humans. All hell breaks loose when the two sides duke it out.
February 9, 2020
Una delle serie, la seconda o la terza, non ricordo bene, della neonata Image. Per fortuna Jim Lee non è Liefeld e i disegni sono quantomeno appaganti, per quanto anche lui abbia iniziato a semplificare un poco e a ridurre le possibili pose e atteggiamenti dei personaggi, puntando tutto e sempre su certi effetti che se ripresentati di frequente, stancano.
L'idea alla base della serie è però trita e ritrita, e in questa sequenza di albi non riesce a delineare nessuno dei protagonisti. La trama, anche qui come in Yougblood e in Spawn, assente o comunque risibile.
Due stelle giusto perché all'epoca ancora disegnava ad alto livello e non si era perso nella fama.
L'idea alla base della serie è però trita e ritrita, e in questa sequenza di albi non riesce a delineare nessuno dei protagonisti. La trama, anche qui come in Yougblood e in Spawn, assente o comunque risibile.
Due stelle giusto perché all'epoca ancora disegnava ad alto livello e non si era perso nella fama.
January 25, 2025
Nostalgia would dictate 4 stars, but in all fairness a 3 stars is the just rating. 90's Image Comics, in all of its glory and over the top edginess, is fully showcased here with bright colours, bravados, clones of popular characters like Deadpool, Wolverine, Nick Fury, Hulk and the whole X-men concept (well, this is Jim Lee afterall) and plots that are most of the time quite convoluted excuses for never-ending fights. There were better comics at the time, but not too many, and a lot worse ones too, and I have to add that the last section by Robinson and Seagle's eposodes are quite good and closer to the later more mature Wildstorm Universe. If you take this for what it is, you will enjoy a fun-ride. Just don't expect Watchmen
August 3, 2018
Primer arco argumental de cuatro números que levan toda la esencia de Jim Lee.
Una historia que demostró de manera contundente que se podía crear un universo superheroico más allá de Marvel y DC.
A pesar de mi admiración por Brandon Choi, la historia peca de algunos diálogos sobrecargados y de una narrativa gráfica donde se luce Jim Lee, pero se pierde el rigor narrativo en favor de las splash pages.
Un incunable para los seguidores de Jim Lee sin duda.
Una historia que demostró de manera contundente que se podía crear un universo superheroico más allá de Marvel y DC.
A pesar de mi admiración por Brandon Choi, la historia peca de algunos diálogos sobrecargados y de una narrativa gráfica donde se luce Jim Lee, pero se pierde el rigor narrativo en favor de las splash pages.
Un incunable para los seguidores de Jim Lee sin duda.
September 25, 2019
This was a quick read - the four issue mini series that introduced these characters. This is a very 90's title - from art to storytelling. Jim Lee does a fantastic job though fleshing out his corner of the Image universe. We get a lot of characters, including a guest appearance by Rob Liefeld's Youngbloods team. Still, you can see Lee has a vision and works towards it with some strong world-building.
December 16, 2017
This is a 90's superhero team book and it is rated as one.
Sure, all the tropes (excessive art, too little backstory, endless fight scenes full of exposition) but the story has good pacing, the character design is pretty interesting, they are easily distinguisable and act in character, art looks great and it all wraps up by the end.
A good pick if you are in the mood for early image comics.
Sure, all the tropes (excessive art, too little backstory, endless fight scenes full of exposition) but the story has good pacing, the character design is pretty interesting, they are easily distinguisable and act in character, art looks great and it all wraps up by the end.
A good pick if you are in the mood for early image comics.
February 15, 2019
Image started really bad. Like really really bad, but I guess they had to break up the norm somehow.
June 13, 2020
enjoy the fun but nothing more !!!
August 13, 2020
Big art, big characters, big ideas, but not a lot of depth.
I was there like so many young fans for the big Image launch in the early 90’s, and while I know I read this series back then, I remembered nothing about the story when I reread it.
Like so many comics of that time, this story is really lacking in substance. Lots of big splash-page fight scenes with only a minimal story to move from one fight to the next. As a kid, that was mostly ok. As an adult I really want more.
I was there like so many young fans for the big Image launch in the early 90’s, and while I know I read this series back then, I remembered nothing about the story when I reread it.
Like so many comics of that time, this story is really lacking in substance. Lots of big splash-page fight scenes with only a minimal story to move from one fight to the next. As a kid, that was mostly ok. As an adult I really want more.
September 23, 2020
Primer recopilatorio en castellano de los WildC.A.T.s, como parte de la colección Libros Image.
September 20, 2021
This was exhausting. Even the splash pages had splash pages. I can't tell you anything about the characters, not even their names, but former Vice-President Dan Quayle sure got a lot of play though.
December 6, 2022
Lindos toques por aquí y por allá, pero todavía faltaba para que la serie se pusiera buena en serio.
March 31, 2023
Good book never read a single issue at all before. I did know about it of course because I watched the cartoon as a kid. Nice story, art and introduction. I loved the cross over very nice overall.
April 3, 2025
This is the peak of 90s art (Jim Lee) very masculine. Seriously great. But I really don't like how the story goes, it's so overly action packed and has to much characters
November 25, 2016
For better or worse, comics in the 1990's were influenced by one event more than any other - the founding of Image Comics. In an unprecedented move, the industry's hottest artists all left powerhouse publisher Marvel to launch a new company and their own creator-owned titles. One of the more popular of the bunch was Jim Lee's Wildcats. The first four issues of that title are collected in the Wildcats Compendium.
Wildcats was a pretty standard superhero team book, and the characters weren't that far removed from the X-Men or Avengers. Still, there was something that made them stand out in a way that Silvestri's Cyberforce and Liefeld's Youngblood characters never did. That's why, more than a decade later, most comics fans can identify characters like Grifter and Zealot. The plot was pretty straightforward - covert superhero team battles the forces of evil to prevent a catastrophic event (in this case, head baddie Helspont's acquisition and abuse of the magical Orb of power). It was definitely a story designed to introduce the main players and not much else.
The story may be weak, but it did lay the foundation for what would be known as the WildStorm Universe. Most importantly, we get our first glimpse of Jack Lynch and International Operations, the secret government agency that played such a huge role in later WildStorm titles.
If the story was less than impressive, the artwork was nothing short of amazing. Jim Lee was one of the most dynamic and influential artists in the late 80's and early 90's, and this is arguably his best work. It helped that Image's approach to coloring was pretty revolutionary and made most of Marvel and DC's titles seem dull and lifeless by comparison.
On it's own, the initial Wildcats run wasn't very memorable, but given what authors like James Robinson and Alan Moore would build from this title, as well as the larger success of the WildStorm Universe, it is an important book that any Jim Lee and/or WildStorm fan should own.
NOTE: Early editions of this trade paperback came polybagged with a limited edition Wildcats issue #0, drawn by Brett Boothe. This little stunt compelled a lot of us who had already bought the individual Wildcats issues to buy the trade paperback.
Wildcats was a pretty standard superhero team book, and the characters weren't that far removed from the X-Men or Avengers. Still, there was something that made them stand out in a way that Silvestri's Cyberforce and Liefeld's Youngblood characters never did. That's why, more than a decade later, most comics fans can identify characters like Grifter and Zealot. The plot was pretty straightforward - covert superhero team battles the forces of evil to prevent a catastrophic event (in this case, head baddie Helspont's acquisition and abuse of the magical Orb of power). It was definitely a story designed to introduce the main players and not much else.
The story may be weak, but it did lay the foundation for what would be known as the WildStorm Universe. Most importantly, we get our first glimpse of Jack Lynch and International Operations, the secret government agency that played such a huge role in later WildStorm titles.
If the story was less than impressive, the artwork was nothing short of amazing. Jim Lee was one of the most dynamic and influential artists in the late 80's and early 90's, and this is arguably his best work. It helped that Image's approach to coloring was pretty revolutionary and made most of Marvel and DC's titles seem dull and lifeless by comparison.
On it's own, the initial Wildcats run wasn't very memorable, but given what authors like James Robinson and Alan Moore would build from this title, as well as the larger success of the WildStorm Universe, it is an important book that any Jim Lee and/or WildStorm fan should own.
NOTE: Early editions of this trade paperback came polybagged with a limited edition Wildcats issue #0, drawn by Brett Boothe. This little stunt compelled a lot of us who had already bought the individual Wildcats issues to buy the trade paperback.
October 20, 2015
I picked up this book because my local comic shop had it for a dollar so why not try it? Let me start out by saying that Jim Lee is one of my favorite artists despite the criticism that he just has hack work. So anyway the comic book had a number of really great bits, the uneven panels and bleeds is always cool to see pulled of, and the character design is great. I think that what happened here is a classic case of biting off more than you can chew, I know that this is a slightly less mainstream comic than a DC or Marvel so they usually push a little harder but I'll try to explain (without spoiling) why it didn't work, these first four issues expect you to know quite a bit about the team already, thankfully I do but if you're looking for their origin this isn't it. And if it is it happens on one page and the characters inexplicably know each other, the character development is absolutely amazing but any events that happen seem to go by so quick, I know that comics are different than movies in that you set the pace but seriously, main plot points will happen in a half panel. And I found myself putting it down and picking it up again to help my brain realize that we're changing scenes. Seriously though, Grifter is my all time favorite Image character and Maul is my second, the character's stories in this book are amazing but overall it just seems like they should've put the same amount of story in twice as many issues and they would've been fine.
April 24, 2008
Ugh... the early days of images comics... This was a company where all the artists were also the writers. this first groupd books was penciled and written by jim lee. He is the best comic artist of all time (in my opinion) but christ, the stories were lame. I know I need to stick with it though because Alan Moore takes over the writing for a good run. And of course when Wild C.A.T.s transfers from Image to Wildstorm it gets much better.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Alex
I'll let you know how it goes.
Alex
August 26, 2022
This is a fairly terrible book. The story is all over the place, the dialogue feels unnatural. The art is good, it’s peak Jim Lee but that only gets you so far without a capable storyteller behind the script.
Want to read
February 8, 2018Colección Libros Image dedicado a Wildcats.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews