StormWatch, Vol. 5: Final Orbit

StormWatch (Collected Editions) #5

by Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch (Illustrator)

Presenting Stormwatch's most crucial - and most tragic - chapter: its ending, and the demise of some of the most beloved members of the team. A rogue asteroid makes its way to our solar system, holding a secret so dark and horrific it threatens the entire Earth. Naturally, the first line of defense is Stormwatch - and Weatherman Jackson King's superpowered team of global guardians.
They never had a chance . . .
STORMWATCH: FINAL ORBIT reprints STORMWATCH Vol. 2 issues #11 and #12, bookending the shocking and historic WILDC.A.T.S/ALIENS crossover, which had a lasting and devastating impact upon the WildStorm Universe, and planted the seeds for the birth of both THE AUTHORITY and THE MONARCHY.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Dc Comics

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Warren 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.

Reviews

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aiiiieeeeee so much .....death and other stuff

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still as slapdash as I remember. The writing feels like it was rushed, not pondered; the art is fine, but does nothing to improve upon the source material. The best part of this is the cryptic ending of the book, but we all know by now what that led to, so while it's cool it doesn't age well. It's a necessary book, but not a particularly good one. L

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si bien la miríada de cruces entre personajes licenciados por compañías varias en el comic-book estadounidense no tienen más objetivo que explotar el morbo del lector, hay casos donde la propuesta argumental, el mérito artístico o su implicancia en la continuidad de dichas licencias resulta meritorio. En este apartado, el especial Wild C.A.T.S./ Aliens (1998) resulta una jugada astuta del guionista Warren Ellis, quien aprovecha a los letales xenomorfos para cerrar su etapa en los guiones de Stormwatch (grupo de superhéroes pertenecientes al estudio Wildstorm) según el estilo que impuso en el título: Mezcla de ciencia ficción, terror política e intriga con énfasis en sus protagonistas. Y no sólo se permite bajar la cortina eliminando - villanos invitados mediante - a casi todo el elenco regular de la serie, sino que también rescata a sus propias creaciones para conformar un nuevo supergrupo - The Authority - cuyo planteamiento (respaldado en los dibujos de Bryan Hitch) trajo una dinámica copiada, criticada y parodiada por otras cabeceras y editoriales. Por supuesto que Stormwatch regresó posteriormente... pero aquí es donde cerró a la perfección. Y que bien envejece en sus relecturas.

[boofykins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for the WildC.A.T.s / Aliens #1 issue that was left out of StormWatch by Warren Ellis, Vol. 2 due to legal issues stemming from rights issues for the Aliens franchise.

It was an enjoyable issue. It's nice(?) to know what exactly happened to the team. The beginning of the story could be referred to as CSI: WildC.A.T.S and the latter part of the story could be referred to as AVW: Aliens vs. WildC.A.T.S or How I Learned to StormWATCH MY OWN ASS and Love the Crossover.

This wasn't an entirely necessary read but it was good nonetheless. Most of the fates of the StormWatch team occured "off-camera" but seeing Winter's destiny was worth the price of admission.

[Silvere · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glorious, yet mean-spirited ending to StormWatch. The off-camera deaths of beloved characters in an Alien cross-over is kind of bitter pill to swallow. Movie cross-overs with comics tend to be non-cannon, but for for some reason this is cannon. Due to the Alien IP changing hands over the years, the xenomorphs cannot even be properly referenced in flashbacks. Someone in DC legal was probably just didn't care when proof-reading the contract to this story. Once again, Warren Ellis is blazing a path for The Authority. The ending is rushed and StormWatch could have enjoyed another excellent run with another creative team. The end of an era.

[Stanislav R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Завершение второго тома очень странное. Делать в качестве финала кроссовер с проперти другой компании? Да, основная команда героев гибнет за кадром в комиксе про WildCats - другую команду Вайлдсторма - и гибнет от "рук" Чужих! WTF?! Очевидно, что Эллису просто надоели эти персонажи, и он свернул все по-быренькому, чтобы перейти к двум из лучших проектов своей карьеры: Плэнетари и Авторити, соответственно.
Хотя сам кроссовер очень норм. Крис Спраус хорошо стилизуется под Трэвиса Чареста.

[Max Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ending of a run. I don't much care for any crossovers but somehow seeing Aliens from the movie Aliens wiping half of the Stormwatch team which resulted in the project closure was unusually satisfying on all levels.

[David Palazzolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m surprised Warren Ellis actually in canon killed major characters and wreaked incredible destruction on Stormwatch infrastructure in a franchise crossover that Wildstorm may not have rights to reprint in future collections of this team. Gutsy move.

[Koen Claeys · Rating 1 out of 5]

pfff…

[Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 stars
Quick read that concludes the series, nothing spectacular.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great, but still kind of worth looking at for the novelty of being a crossover with another licensed property where things actually happen and there's long lasting effects afterwards.

[Μιχάλης · Rating 4 out of 5]

WildC.A.T.S./Aliens was pretty good. The rest... as good for its time but not today as the rest of Ellis's run.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I wish the Aliens crossover issue had been included in this collection. The final issue doesn’t make a lot of sense without it.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

That WILDC.A.T.s Aliens crossover... just damn heartbreakinginly good!

[Dallas Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't tell if this is brilliant or a terrible idea. This will be one of the most unique ends for a continued series you will ever experience!

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson's decision to not intervene in the parallel universe doesn't sit well with Winter. Jackson starts to doubt himself and his past actions. He regains focus when an asteroid Skywatch was tracking turns out to be a ship - it feels like a revisit of the event that killed the heroes in the parallel world. Later we see Flint drop from the station onto the New York streets in an escape pod. She carries a message from Jackson that Skywatch is infested by an alien lifeform.

The Wildcats believe the aliens to be Daemonites. The video logs reveal the aliens to be something else that has killed off most of the Skywatch staff and the SPBs. Coming face to face with the adult aliens nearly claims the Wildcats' lives as well. They find Jackson, Christine, Winter and the remaining staff. Together they escape the station, but Winter remains behind to fly Skywatch into the sun.

With Skywatch destroyed and all but team Black left behind, Jackson and Christine answer to a comitee. Jenny finds and kills Bendix, but not before he sends the go ahead for his plan to destroy what is left of Stormwatch with IO's help. Team Black prevent them from carrying out their plan. Still, the UN decides to discontinue Stormwatch, paving the way for Jenny's Authority.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the blurb on the back cover of this volume, I was ready to be disappointed. Lucky for me, the Aliens and WILDCATS were brought in in such a way that Stormwatch was able to die, respectfully. This was a great series.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, Ellis does something genuinely interesting here. Not only does he kill off pretty much all of his 'heroes' in this book - he gives them the ultimate humiliation by having them die offscreen. No big battles, no stand-up fights, just carnage. Applause.

[Anchorpete · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARREN ELLIS WRITING ABOUT THE ALIENS FROM THE MOVIE "ALIENS" TAKING OUT THE MEMBERS OF STORMWATCH.

Do I really need to write anymore?

Ok, one last tidbit.... THIS LEADS DIRECTLY INTO THE CREATION OF THE AUTHORITY.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

An abrupt but brave end to Stormwatch.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Aliens issue is probably the best crossover ever!! (well one of the best...). Great end to Warren Ellis's run after a bit of a mixed bag in earlier volumes.

[TK · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.somanyofus.com/

[Trey Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was sad that this was the end of this series, though it sets up The Authority well. Unfortunately, this ends up being a cross-over with the Alien movie series characters.