STORMWATCH #26

[ SEASONAL STORMY SALE ] 

Hello people of Earth. My name is Extremax the Omega, and I would like to inform you that if you do not buy this amazing comic book, I will kill Jim Starlin, Yvel Guichet, plus the Publisher: DC Comics, sometime in December, 2013. Or alternately, I may just cry like a baby. Sob! See if I care.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this STORY entitled 'Legacy'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Once Stormwatch manages to get their act together, both Storm Control and A.I. sends numerous factions out on a universal fact finding mission, so they can investigate why the Kollective are de-powering all of the planets they have under their collective control.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: Yeah. Pretty much I'd say they were. And along the way, one thing, and thing alone, is acknowledged by all in sundry -- the bad-guys are looking for love. Bless em.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Again. Yes-sir-re Bob. Throughout numerous parts of this tale, we'll get to see Apollo and Midnighter take another trip back down memory lane. Jenny Soul and the Weird do something... errr... weird. Whilst Lobo and Hellstrike individually have a drink and have a good old moan.   
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With the Kollective instigating their devilish plan to conquer the Earth.

All in all, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

In that scene where the Weird was trying to explain to Jenny Soul why he doesn't use the brain housed within his not-so-mortal frame, I did like Jenny's response back to him...

'If I were you, Weird, I wouldn't go around bragging about that'

...mainly because I was thinking exactly the same thing at the time. Ha!

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Over the last couple of months I haven't been too kind about Yvel Guichet's artwork, as I've defined his style as either being very inconsistent or very static. This month though, I'm happy to say I can pluck the 'inconsistent part' out of the equation, because in my own estimations he has stepped up to the mark in a very big way. Granted, his art is still slightly too wooden for my own tastes, yet this time round there was a flow to his panel work -- a much more consistent flow -- which I really did dig.

(+) Compared to the rest of the teams scattered throughout the DCnU, I wouldn't call Stormwatch a family friendly bunch that all hung-out and talked shop. Instead, they're more like a reluctant collective of tortured and banished souls, who want to spread a little joy and pain amongst the shadows and the light. And to me -- personally -- that's what I like about this book the most. It's alternate take on a group that's not really a group.

(+) Ever since Jim Starlin has taken over the creative reigns, I've been more than happy with how he's managed to transform this series into a very thought provoking and cosmic title, which has touched upon such intriguing subject matters as 'time displacement', plus this more recent topic of note, 'the concept of a devolved society or city'. Hmmm. To be concluded in my conclusion methinks.

(+) Now me being a big fan of a 'day in the life' type tale, you would have thought I'd have loved that particular aspect about this adventure. And I did you know. I did love this aspect quite a lot. Cause it gave me the chance to see 'the gang' during their 'down time', whilst enjoying a parallel story on the side. Having said that though...  

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) ... it pains me to say that some of these personal-scenes did hinder the overall arc. Not only because it broke up the conceptual narrative relating to the Kollectives universal conquests. But also it took some time for me to figure out the true nature behind this installment, because at first it wasn't very apparent what it was all about.

(-) Another slight gripe I have with this adventure is that its two main bad-guys -- the Kollective and Extremax -- both look like second-rate 'Transformer' rip-offs. Take that comment however you so wish.

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, or add and extra dimension to it by default?

'RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW' BY FATBOY SLIM: Sorry, pal. Due to my primitive state, I don't seem to have the words within me to explain why I've compared this tune to this tale. I tell you what, though, play the following video clip and I'm sure that'll point you in the right direction. Ha!

If this story gave off a scent, what ODOUR would it be and why?

CRUDE OIL: Alright. I know that some of you out there call this slippery substance 'petroleum'. But hey! There's no love loss between us and this lubricating power source, is there? At the end of the day it's a constant in all of our lives, if we like it or not. Hint-hint!

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future' -- Winston Churchill

ANYTHING Else?

Hello, my friends. I am the Forcaster, and I would like to present you with a list of lost cities -- like the one's depicted in this comic book -- just to illustrate how man, society, and civilization, haven't always seen eye to eye.

* Ephesus -- Turkey -- Existed between 900BC to 1400AD -- This ancient location was abandoned after it was left in a state of disrepair for many-many years, only to make way for the modern Turkish City of Selçuk.

* Babylon -- Iraq -- Existed between 1894BC till the present tale -- OK. So this 'lost city' isn't a 'lost city' as such. But I tell you something, folks, it's not in a good condition at all. And had been used by many a divided faction throughout it's many years in existence.
* Pompeii -- Italy -- Existed between 6BC to 79AD -- This entire area was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the whole community under sixty feet of ash and rock over a constant two day period.
* Petra -- Jordan -- Existed between 1500BC to 363AD -- This Arabian yet biblical city was led to ruin by the overwhelming occupying Roman forces plus an earthquake that destroyed many of the buildings in the vicinity.
* Mohenjo-Daro -- Pakistan -- Existed between 2600BC to 1900BC -- Sorry, my friends. There's no known reason why the settlers who settled here abandoned this site when they did. Maybe they just didn't like the food, huh?

* Troy -- Turkey -- Existed between 3000BC to 500AD -- Just like the other places depicted on this list, this rustic location is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now I could go on, and present you with some more facts relating to presently-defunct locations. But you don't want me to do that, do you, dear reader? You want me to shut my own cake whole, and say that this issue of 'Stormwatch' reminded me of a school trip to a museum. Slow to begin with. A bit hectic on occasion. But all in all, the overall experience was well worth while.

Nuff said.