Stormwatch

I just had to trace back the origins of The Authority, so I borrowed Stormwatch last weekend. The first collection I read, "Lightning Strikes", was a little of expected disappointment: less sophisticated story, not-so-attractive drawing, and characters are more stereotyped.

Still, I got to know more likeable characters like Winter and Jackson King before and while he was still the Weatherman. I was little disappointed to see that Jack Hawksmoor and Jenny Sparks were not given any major roles.

All these changes as the story continues. I especially like the story arc with The High. Probably this is the first time Ellis introduced the concept of a team with a Doctor and an Engineer, a concept brought forward into The Authority.
The final moments in the story have sooo much potential to be a comic-book tragedy. I think somehow the panels and drawing did not succeed in conveying this. I can still see the tragic circumstances, but it could have been better.

The end of Stormwatch, though, is really cataclysmic. Almost everyone dies. Guess I am fortunate enough to read The Authority first before reading this end. It is such a cliffhanger, I don't think I can survive it had I read the story in the proper order :D

Anyway, I think The Authority is a good evolution from Stormwatch. There is another story branch with Jackson King called The Monarchy. I have not got my hand on it yet, but Wikipedia says story telling is confusing and fan reactions are so bad that the series got cancelled. Probably I don't miss much :)

I certainly develop a lot of respect to WildStorm after reading these 2 series. Marvel universe seem much tamer compared to WildStorm universe. Superheroes, even protagonists, die. Arguably this reduces the concept of a superhero into a supersoldier, partially dispensible in a battle. But I think it reminds me that that's how life is.