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StormWatch (Collected Editions) #3
StormWatch, Vol. 3: Change or Die
176 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1999
1 person is currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,972 books5,771 followersWarren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 9, 2013
StormWatch always was one of those series which was constantly overlooked even at the height of its strength. Having a beginning in the Dark Age of comics which was the early 90s, the series really never garnered serious attention for being one of many dull xtreme antihero clones which saturated the market. Even when it got good once Warren Ellis took control, many of its stories suffered from low sales and were overshadowed by its more popular successor: The Authority.
What we’re looking at today is one of the best collections of the series: Concluding the biggest arc of Ellis’ tenure, foreshadowing the future and giving some insight into what would follow.
The High, one of the three most powerful metahumans ever to have lived, suddenly re-emerges from exile with one goal: To completely rip down all of society and start anew. Combined with a band of superpowered individuals with the same goal, the High seems unstoppable even when facing the United Nations metahuman taskforce: StormWatch. However, as they prepare for battle many of its members begin to ask the same question: Are they really on the right side in this conflict?
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Change or Die on the whole is its antagonists, the Changers. While far from being deep or complex characters, with more than one obvious Justice League analogue among their number, their methods are what make them stand out. Rather than being the usual “nuke everything and god will sort it out” mentality which comes from fresh starts (or worse the “technology is the root of all evil” tripe) the Changers methods are ultimately peaceful. Rather than focusing upon destroying governing bodies, the group utilises simple facts and desires to win over the public through far more effective means than usual. Simple acts which proceed to undermine the need for religious faiths, positions of authority or even a class system which required specific individuals and decades of planning.
The way the High’s plan unfolds and what ultimately happens to it as a result of his optimism is what makes this a truly fascinating comic to read. There’s no ulterior motive here, no malice on the High’s part and its failure openly gives reasoning for the actions of Jenny Sparks. Both her ideals to forcibly change the world for the better, StormWatch’s later efforts following the arc and the more violent approach of the Authority. The natural progression of the story is for the High to fail, but Ellis highlights the ideas behind the team well enough to make them memorable despite a very short appearance.
Also assisting in the comic is artistic talent of Tom Rany and Oscar Jimenez who give an interesting mixture of styles to the comics. While there are some obvious 90s influences in the art beyond just the costumes, the semi-realistic appearances of the characters and detailed tones lend well to the tale. It definitely helps readers take the story of themes more weighty than the average supervillain story and gives the comic an oddly distinctive look.
While the biggest point of interest might be the Changers themselves, StormWatch leaves a good impression as a team. Unlike previous writers, Ellis made an active effort to utilise their link to the world’s governments and resources on hand. The only time they are ever seen rushing into things head first is due to the desires of weatherman Henry Bendix and an opportunity which would quickly slip them by. Beyond that they operate far less like a superhero team and more like a paramilitary force, planning each action in turn with active use of various military support teams, reconnaissance and scouting prior to launching attacks.
StormWatch as an organisation and its tactics are better examined in the accompanying tale Strange Weather. While feeling odd accompanying Change or Die in the volume, it does serve its purpose in displaying how the characters reacted to the upheaval and change in the status quo which was the conclusion to the last arc. It does far more to show the politics the group has to deal with, the resources on hand and the sorts of procedural investigations they occasionally had to follow. More importantly, it actually introduces the characters and gives better insight to their personalities. As great as Change or Die was, it was an event different to the usual sort StormWatch dealt with and little of it was focused on the characters beyond Jenny Sparks and Henry Bendix. As such it makes for a very good accompanying tale and, despite following on from it, helps make Change or Die feeling more meaningful for those involved.
Beyond the odd hiccup in the art and lack of real character focus upon StormWatch’s members, there is very little to genuinely criticise here. The volume definitely works better if you read the proceeding instalments of Ellis’ work, but that is the point of it. It’s supposed to have been something built up towards, and even then when reading this volume alone the story is still very good.
As both a prequel to The Authority and a display of what stories can be told by governmental teams like StormWatch, Change or Die is definitely a collection worth getting. Seek this one out if you have the time or any plans to start looking into the Wildstorm universe.
What we’re looking at today is one of the best collections of the series: Concluding the biggest arc of Ellis’ tenure, foreshadowing the future and giving some insight into what would follow.
The High, one of the three most powerful metahumans ever to have lived, suddenly re-emerges from exile with one goal: To completely rip down all of society and start anew. Combined with a band of superpowered individuals with the same goal, the High seems unstoppable even when facing the United Nations metahuman taskforce: StormWatch. However, as they prepare for battle many of its members begin to ask the same question: Are they really on the right side in this conflict?
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Change or Die on the whole is its antagonists, the Changers. While far from being deep or complex characters, with more than one obvious Justice League analogue among their number, their methods are what make them stand out. Rather than being the usual “nuke everything and god will sort it out” mentality which comes from fresh starts (or worse the “technology is the root of all evil” tripe) the Changers methods are ultimately peaceful. Rather than focusing upon destroying governing bodies, the group utilises simple facts and desires to win over the public through far more effective means than usual. Simple acts which proceed to undermine the need for religious faiths, positions of authority or even a class system which required specific individuals and decades of planning.
The way the High’s plan unfolds and what ultimately happens to it as a result of his optimism is what makes this a truly fascinating comic to read. There’s no ulterior motive here, no malice on the High’s part and its failure openly gives reasoning for the actions of Jenny Sparks. Both her ideals to forcibly change the world for the better, StormWatch’s later efforts following the arc and the more violent approach of the Authority. The natural progression of the story is for the High to fail, but Ellis highlights the ideas behind the team well enough to make them memorable despite a very short appearance.
Also assisting in the comic is artistic talent of Tom Rany and Oscar Jimenez who give an interesting mixture of styles to the comics. While there are some obvious 90s influences in the art beyond just the costumes, the semi-realistic appearances of the characters and detailed tones lend well to the tale. It definitely helps readers take the story of themes more weighty than the average supervillain story and gives the comic an oddly distinctive look.
While the biggest point of interest might be the Changers themselves, StormWatch leaves a good impression as a team. Unlike previous writers, Ellis made an active effort to utilise their link to the world’s governments and resources on hand. The only time they are ever seen rushing into things head first is due to the desires of weatherman Henry Bendix and an opportunity which would quickly slip them by. Beyond that they operate far less like a superhero team and more like a paramilitary force, planning each action in turn with active use of various military support teams, reconnaissance and scouting prior to launching attacks.
StormWatch as an organisation and its tactics are better examined in the accompanying tale Strange Weather. While feeling odd accompanying Change or Die in the volume, it does serve its purpose in displaying how the characters reacted to the upheaval and change in the status quo which was the conclusion to the last arc. It does far more to show the politics the group has to deal with, the resources on hand and the sorts of procedural investigations they occasionally had to follow. More importantly, it actually introduces the characters and gives better insight to their personalities. As great as Change or Die was, it was an event different to the usual sort StormWatch dealt with and little of it was focused on the characters beyond Jenny Sparks and Henry Bendix. As such it makes for a very good accompanying tale and, despite following on from it, helps make Change or Die feeling more meaningful for those involved.
Beyond the odd hiccup in the art and lack of real character focus upon StormWatch’s members, there is very little to genuinely criticise here. The volume definitely works better if you read the proceeding instalments of Ellis’ work, but that is the point of it. It’s supposed to have been something built up towards, and even then when reading this volume alone the story is still very good.
As both a prequel to The Authority and a display of what stories can be told by governmental teams like StormWatch, Change or Die is definitely a collection worth getting. Seek this one out if you have the time or any plans to start looking into the Wildstorm universe.
July 9, 2019
Some parts of this were very good and then some parts just got really boring and I couldn't wait for it to be over.
July 2, 2022
Reprints Stormwatch (1) #48-50, Stormwatch: Preview, and Stormwatch (2) #1-3 (May 1997-December 1997). Something is corrupt within Stormwatch. When a group led by a long forgotten superhero named the High vows to fix the world, Bendix and Stormwatch won’t take it sitting down…and the war that erupts will lead to event that will change Stormwatch forever!
Written by Warren Ellis, Stormwatch Volume 3: Change or Die is a DC Comics superhero comic book released under the Wildstorm label. Following Stormwatch Volume 2: Lightning Strikes, the collection features art by Tom Raney, Oscar Jimenez, and Michael Ryan. Issues in the collection were also released as part of Stormwatch—Volume 2.
Ellis lit a fire under Stormwatch. While most of the Image launch teams were rather generic, all the pieces were there to make something interesting. Ellis already started to establish his version of the team in the previous volume, and now it starts to pay off. Ellis really starts playing with those pieces in this collection and the storyline in Stormwatch: Change or Die affects future issues of the book in a big way.
The story is divided into two storylines. The first storyline destroys Stormwatch. Bendix is mad and the superheroes led by the High are out to save the world at any cost…which ends up being their lives. The model of the High is later adopted by the Stormwatch Black team following the events of Stormwatch Volume 5: Final Orbit and results (for better or worse) in the formation of the Authority.
The second storyline shows that Stormwatch is becoming increasingly isolated. Jackson King takes over as Weatherman following Bendix’s betrayal and Stormwatch find themselves pitted against the United States. The storyline doesn’t hold much weight in comparison to the first story, but it shows a new set-up and angle for Stormwatch (plus, it shows Swift, Jenny, and Jack in action…which becomes the core of the Authority).
Ellis is kind of hit or miss with his writing but he is strong when he hits. Stormwatch was one of his hit titles. The ideas and concepts of Stormwatch and later The Authority filtered out into different comics and different teams. I loved the idea here of maximizing the effectiveness of a team, but I also dislike the overall effect of what a targeted team does to the fun of comic books. Stormwatch 3: Change or Die is followed by Stormwatch 4: A Finer World.
Written by Warren Ellis, Stormwatch Volume 3: Change or Die is a DC Comics superhero comic book released under the Wildstorm label. Following Stormwatch Volume 2: Lightning Strikes, the collection features art by Tom Raney, Oscar Jimenez, and Michael Ryan. Issues in the collection were also released as part of Stormwatch—Volume 2.
Ellis lit a fire under Stormwatch. While most of the Image launch teams were rather generic, all the pieces were there to make something interesting. Ellis already started to establish his version of the team in the previous volume, and now it starts to pay off. Ellis really starts playing with those pieces in this collection and the storyline in Stormwatch: Change or Die affects future issues of the book in a big way.
The story is divided into two storylines. The first storyline destroys Stormwatch. Bendix is mad and the superheroes led by the High are out to save the world at any cost…which ends up being their lives. The model of the High is later adopted by the Stormwatch Black team following the events of Stormwatch Volume 5: Final Orbit and results (for better or worse) in the formation of the Authority.
The second storyline shows that Stormwatch is becoming increasingly isolated. Jackson King takes over as Weatherman following Bendix’s betrayal and Stormwatch find themselves pitted against the United States. The storyline doesn’t hold much weight in comparison to the first story, but it shows a new set-up and angle for Stormwatch (plus, it shows Swift, Jenny, and Jack in action…which becomes the core of the Authority).
Ellis is kind of hit or miss with his writing but he is strong when he hits. Stormwatch was one of his hit titles. The ideas and concepts of Stormwatch and later The Authority filtered out into different comics and different teams. I loved the idea here of maximizing the effectiveness of a team, but I also dislike the overall effect of what a targeted team does to the fun of comic books. Stormwatch 3: Change or Die is followed by Stormwatch 4: A Finer World.
April 2, 2023
As I finished Change or Die, Tom Raney's character designs proved 1990s costumes could be edgy without entering the realm of pure cringe. Warren Ellis introduces us to a team which is more or less a forerunner to The Authority. The status quo versus changing the world are themes which will appear in The Authority. The political intrigue and high-octane action sequences are excellent as usual. Did I mention I really miss Tom Raney's art?
October 4, 2022
Последняя арка "первого сезона" (номера 48-50) охрененная. Грамотное, интересное противостояние двух суперкоманд, плюс уже очень неплохо начинают просматриваться предпосылки к Авторити. И здесь рассказывается история Джона Камберлэнда - Супермена из параллельного мира - который упоминался в Плэнетари.
May 29, 2024
The Change or Die story is the best story to come out of Stormwatch by this point! Quite the masterpiece of using Superheroes to tell a story! Surely will be very memorable for any read versed in superhero media or not!
The remaining stories are fun, although convoluted. Good showcase of the characters and interesting direction.
The remaining stories are fun, although convoluted. Good showcase of the characters and interesting direction.
May 20, 2017
This book contains two very separate arcs - the conclusion of the previous run and the first arc of the next run. While both are excellent, it still feels like they should be in separate volumes for story reasons.
March 11, 2021
Stormwatch #48-50 = really good
Stormwatch volume 2 #1 -3 = really bad
Stormwatch volume 2 #1 -3 = really bad
September 14, 2021
Ellis run of Stormwatch in a nutshell:
Interesting ideas, changed how superhero comics got written in the 00's, still, way too many and uninteresting characters and rushed plots.
Interesting ideas, changed how superhero comics got written in the 00's, still, way too many and uninteresting characters and rushed plots.
July 24, 2020
A dangerous being called the High has left his self-imposed isolation. He has been monitored by Skywatch for years and Weatherman believes he may take some action against society. He tasks Winter, Fuji and Hellstrike with finding High and apprehending him if possible. If this fails, they are ordered to kill him.
Stormwatch continues to fight terrorists with Jackson as Weatherman. The most recent mission investigates secret testing with superhuman DNA. The US is upset about their interventions on US soil and bans them. Jackson resorts to sending team Black to investigate.
Stormwatch continues to fight terrorists with Jackson as Weatherman. The most recent mission investigates secret testing with superhuman DNA. The US is upset about their interventions on US soil and bans them. Jackson resorts to sending team Black to investigate.
December 10, 2009
A super hero team that's an obvious' Justice League' clone has decided it can fix the world and sets out to do it.
Unfortunately, due to various political factions and heroes in both teams with their own agenda, the 'Changers' and Stormatch are instead pushed into being on opposite sides of the conflict.
Decent story where Warren manages to keep a good balance of cynicism and hope regarding super heroes and the world in general.
One of his super hero stories with a 'message', but the characters keep the story from getting too heavy handed.
Warren used Stormwatch to say something interesting things about super heroes and politics, while still providing lots of larger than life action.
If you enjoyed his 'Authority' stories you'll like this series.
Unfortunately, due to various political factions and heroes in both teams with their own agenda, the 'Changers' and Stormatch are instead pushed into being on opposite sides of the conflict.
Decent story where Warren manages to keep a good balance of cynicism and hope regarding super heroes and the world in general.
One of his super hero stories with a 'message', but the characters keep the story from getting too heavy handed.
Warren used Stormwatch to say something interesting things about super heroes and politics, while still providing lots of larger than life action.
If you enjoyed his 'Authority' stories you'll like this series.
January 3, 2016
This is where Ellis really hit his stride. The main story featuring The High is the Superman story we always should have had. There have been many takes on iconic character, massively powerful man raised on midwestern values to live up to the ideal of America, many great, even more completely awful... but this is the first politically tragic take. Why fight crime, when it is a symptom of a harsh and imperfect human existence? If you could, why not change humanity to be better and elimante any impetus for crime?
This is a story about superhumans trying to raise up humanity to join them, not lord over them as saviors. Great stuff that would set the tone for the brilliant Authority comic in the years to come.
This is a story about superhumans trying to raise up humanity to join them, not lord over them as saviors. Great stuff that would set the tone for the brilliant Authority comic in the years to come.
August 2, 2013
This is the point when the series starts getting interesting for me. We see more of the tensions within the group, and how they fit into a larger world. Again I suppose this just lays some of the foundations for what Ellis would later do in Planetary and The Authority.
I'm marking the Stormwatch volumes down, largely because I've just finished reading my way through the whole lot, including those two later series - and the art in Stormwatch is nowhere near what John Cassiday and Laura DePuy acheived in those books.
I'm marking the Stormwatch volumes down, largely because I've just finished reading my way through the whole lot, including those two later series - and the art in Stormwatch is nowhere near what John Cassiday and Laura DePuy acheived in those books.
March 13, 2009
This volume is actually two stories, "Change or Die" and "Strange Weather". The rating only applies to "Change or Die". "Strange Weather" is only three stars, and for the most part is pretty standard Warren Ellis superhero stuff.
"Change or Die" on the other hand, is a fantastic story, which mixes up it's heroes and villains, as two superteams fight over who will save the world, and whose vision of a "saved" world will prevail.
"Change or Die" on the other hand, is a fantastic story, which mixes up it's heroes and villains, as two superteams fight over who will save the world, and whose vision of a "saved" world will prevail.
September 22, 2010
The Change or Die storyline is awesome, depressing and very poignant. Fascinating run-up to a major crisis of authority and survival for the team. Great stories of intrigue, black ops and bleeding edge sic-fi for the near future. Love the homage to Cronenberg - that's some fun, slightly obscure cocktail onions to throw in my drink from the well of twisted souls. Art is keeping up with Ellis' whacko imagination quite nicely.
March 6, 2023
"Change Or Die" is one of the greatest (fake) Superman stories ever told. In addition to the larger comment on humanity's baffling/angering relationship with greatness, it can also be interpreted (or over-interpreted) as the superhero genre in particular constantly putting rote Big Two soap-opera over actual imagination & actual reading experiences, mindless 'badassery' at the expense of morality and meaning...
March 13, 2009
What happens when two superhero groups have differing opinions of how the world should be run? Add a psychopath director to the mix and tell me.
March 25, 2011
More coherent, story-wise, than the last volume, this book clearly details Bendix's descent into madness. Interesting read, but there's better to come.
March 20, 2012
Best StormWatch arc - which is saying a lot.
July 12, 2013
Ellis' Stormwatch at its strongest with plots finally moving and events becoming world-changing.
December 12, 2017
This is the height of this series.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews