The Wild Storm #22
Nicolas Duncan
Recap
Jenny Mei Sparks was an active participant in keeping the peace between International Operations, I.O., an American intelligence agency and Skywatch, a secret space program. However, the debate process became too draining and drover to the brink of alcoholism. Jenny’s story does not end like most that are challenged by this disorder.
Jenny made an important discovery which causes tensions at I.O. and brings a new player into the field. Miles Craven and Ben Santini have plans to terminate some of their rivals. Skywatch may have a greater threat than I.O. Look over the horizon; it’s the people who escaped from the experimentation camps.
Last issue, mostly dialogue focused, the team grow closer than ever before, but still plenty of adolescent behaviors and misunderstandings that make these misfits more like a dysfunctional family. Apollo and Midnighter had a very touching moment that allows fans to think about difficulty relationships.
Review
Now at 22 issues, Warren Ellis and Jon Davis-Hunt are closing towards the endgame with this awesome series. It has been a rollercoaster ride with strategic setup and intrigue. With only two issues left, it is difficult to see how this epic storyline will wrap up. Many fans are experiencing mix emotions as we are excited to see how this plays out, but distraught about it coming to a close.
The Wild Storm #22 opens with a spy-type thriller as King leaves the IO base and stalked by an assassin. She unleashes her power that results in a graphic death of a familiar character. The artwork by Jon Davis-Hunt and colors by Steve Buccellato provided such excitement and gruesome that we could picture this in complete on-screen action. King now realizes the power of the Battalion and why it is so dangerous.
What follows is a fast-paced action with the most gorgeous scenes of the series. Apollo and Midnighter unite to make one last stand against Henry Bendix and Skywatch.
Engineer, Hawksmoor, Jenny Sparks and The Doctor quickly teleported to the scene, tensions are high as Midnighter and Apollo find difficulties in trusting others. I must add, that I can relate to Hawksmoor in this issue, lol. But the team just doesn’t have time to bicker like children as the spaceships of Skywatch arrive.
Ellis continues to focus on character growth and good one-liners. Unless, there’s are going to be surprise extensions to this two-year running story arch, I am wondering about such focus on certain characters so close to the end. Don’t get me wrong, I find this version of Apollo and Midnighter intriguing, along with Jenny Sparks. The Wild Storm #22 relies primarily on the visuals of Davis-Hunt and Buccellato’s work with heavy use of vibrant colors that feeds the readers appetite clear to the last page.
Final Thoughts
The Wild Storm has been a hurricane of a story and it’s exciting to see how this plays out in the remaining two issues.
The Wild Storm #22: Come Together, Right Now
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 8/108/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10