It’s time to map the DC Universe! In June, I’ll be joining with Near Mint Condition to launch the Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus 2nd Annual Poll! This post explains every WildStorm omnibus that does NOT exist – all of which will appear as options on the 2025 poll.
Through the end of May I’ll be covering DC entire publishing history by mapping missing omnibus volumes to fill in every gap in your DC oversize shelf! That’s all leading to the kickoff of the Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus 2nd Annual Poll on Near Mint Condition the first week of June.
In the past year DC has finally acknowledged that they have more WildStorm material to print beyond Jim Lee’s run on WildCATs, the first volume of The Authority, and Planetary. We got a second Authority omnibus, a WildCATs compendium that significantly expanded on the material in the Jim Lee Absolute Edition, and a Compendium of pre-Authority Stormwatch material!
That’s all great progress, but it still mostly collects material that has been collected before. There’s 30 potential omnibus volumes worth of WildStorm material that DC could still collect! While sales on the three recent books might be a good indicator of demand, it would be huge for a WildStorm book to make it into the on-air results of the Tigereyes poll this year.
If you’re not sure of what to vote for, stick around for a list of books vetted by a gang of the biggest mapping nerds on the internet with explanations from yours truly – keeper of the most-definitive guides to collected editions on the planet.
Or, if you don’t care about omnibuses, just use this post to learn about DC history and find some great comics to read!
This post covers the following speculated omnibus volumes:
- The Authority Omnibus
- WildStorm – Authority Companion: The Monarchy vs. The Establishment (2000 – 2002)
- WildStorm – Authority Vol. 3 (2006 – 2008) [Lost Year, Prime, Hawksmoore, World’s End]
- WildStorm – Authority: Midnighter Omnibus (2007 & on) [includes both Wildstorm and post-Flashpoint material]
- Gen13 Omnibus
- WildStorm – Gen13 Vol. 1 (1993 & on)
- WildStorm – DV-8 (1996 – 1999)
- WildStorm – Gen13, Armageddon & World’s End (2006 – 2010) [AKA by Gail Simone]
- Stormwatch Omnibus
- WildStorm – Stormwatch Vol. 1 by Ron Marz, Scott Clark, et al (1993 – 1996) [fits before Ellis]
- WildStorm – Stormwatch Vol. 2 AKA The Road to Authority by Warren Ellis (1996 – 1998) [fits before Authority Vol. 1]
- WildStorm – Stormwatch, The DC Years (2002 – 2011) [includes Team Achilles, PHD, World’s End]
- Stormwatch, The New 52 Omnibus (2011 – 2014)
- Team 7 Omnibus
- WildStorm – Team 7: The Beginning (1994 – 2006)
- Welcome to Tranquility Omnibus
- WildStorm – Welcome to Tranquility by Gail Simone (2006 – 2011)
- Wetworks Omnibus
- WildStorm – Wetworks Vol. 1 (1994 & on)
- WildCATs Omnibus
- WildStorm – WildCATs: Covert Action Teams Vol. 1 AKA by Lee, Robinson, & Charest (1992 – 1995)
- WildStorm – WildCats: Grifter (1992 & on)
- WildStorm – WildCATs: Covert Action Teams Vol. 2 (AKA by Alan Moore et al) (1995 – 1998)
- WildStorm – WildCats, The DC Years (1999 & on) [2.0, 3.0, Nemesis, thru World’s End]
- WildC.A.T.s & Grifter by Matthew Robinson (2021 – 2023) [includes Urban Legends stories]
- WildStorm Events Omnibus
- WildStorm – Event: Wildstorm / Valiant – Deathmate (1993 – 1994)
- WildStorm – Event: WildStorm Rising (1995)
- WildStorm – Event: Fire From Heaven (1996)
- WildStorm – Marvel vs. WildStorm (1996 – 1998)
- WildStorm – Event: Armageddon & Revelations (2005 – 2009) [all post-2004 mini-events: Captain, Dreamwar, Worldstorm, Armageddon, Number of the Beast]
- WildStorm – The Wild Storm by Warren Ellis (2017 – 2019) [includes Michael Cray series]
- WildStorm Solo Character Omnibus Mapping – Backlash, Deathblow, Majestic, Union, & more!
- WildStorm – Backlash by Brett Booth (1993 – 2001)
- WildStorm – Deathblow, The Complete Saga (1993 – 2008)
- WildStorm – Divine Right by Jim Lee (1997 – 1999)
- Grifter & Voodoo, The New 52 Omnibus (2011 – 2013) [also includes Team 7]
- WildStorm – Mr. Majestic (1994 – 2006)
- WildStorm – Union (1993 – 1997) [could include Monarchy]
- WildStorm – Companion Vol. 1 (1992 & on) [any continuity WildStorm book not explicitly on the poll]
Remember: These titles and mappings are a suggestion of how DC could assemble these books. Your vote on the poll is a vote in favor of DC creating a book with that title or covering that period, NOT an endorsement of a specific map. Maps are presented as a proof of concept and to help you build your personal reading list.
Want to check out all of the other voting options for the 2025 Tigereyes Poll? Check out my 2025 Tigereyes poll options overview page that explains the poll, how to vote, and every title that will appear – including links to all of the posts in this series.
Intensely researched posts like this one are made possible via the support of Patrons of Crushing Krisis. For less than the cost of a single comic issue a month you can fuel my in-depth comics coverage, plus gain access to dozens of exclusive collecting guides & reading orders – including all of the Crushing Comics Guide to DC Comics.
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: The Authority Omnibus
With the Authority due to make a big screen appearance in the upcoming Superman movie, DC quickly turned their attention on the teams omnibus status. They announced one massive 1500+ volume for July that will cover material we thought might be spread across 2-3 different books! What other omnibuses would we need to collect the rest of The Authority, plus its various tie-ins? Let’s take a look! Visit the Guide to Authority to see how all of this material is currently collected.
WildStorm – Authority Companion: The Monarchy vs. The Establishment (2000 – 2002)
The original run of Authority (1999) launched a pair of supporting series that have never been collected in full. That makes for a 27 issue omnibus, which is a fine size for a DC book!
The would collect The Monarchy (2001) #1-12 (Apr 2001 – May 2002), which spun out of The Authority (1992) #21, and The Establishment (2001) #1-13 (Nov 2001 – Nov 2002), which spun out of The Authority (1992) #24.
The Authority Vol. 1 runs alongside that omnibus. The, The Authority Vol. 2 collects everything from the team through 2007.
WildStorm – Authority Vol. 3 (2006 – 2008) [Lost Year, Prime, Hawksmoore, World’s End]
There are two more periods of Authority left to collect. With each weighing in at about 30 issues, it’s entirely possible that DC combines them into another massive book!
The first period of series are the main Authority titles from 2006 to 2008, one of which wasn’t completed until later 2010 (“The Lost Year”). They account for 24 issues.
Then, like many WildStorm titles, The Authority had one final run from 2008 to Flashpoint, which ran for 29 issues and an art preview special.
At 54 issues, that would make this on par with the recently-announced Volume 2 omnibus. While the Authority has some sales heat from the Superman movie, I don’t know if that’s enough heat to motivate DC to release this as two separate volumes. Plus, having all of this together resolves the question of how to map the remaining issues of The Authority: The Lost Year (2010).
This would begin by collecting The Authority (2006) #1-2 (Dec 2006 – May 2007) & The Authority: The Lost Year (2010) #3-12 (Jan – Oct 2010), The Authority: Prime (2007) #1-6 (Dec 2007 – May 2008), and Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor (2008) #1-6 (May – Oct 2008).
Then, it could continue to collect The Authority (2008) #1-29 (Oct 2008 – Jan 2011) and Wildstorm Fine Arts: Spotlight on the Authority (2008) #1
WildStorm – Authority: Midnighter Omnibus (2007 & on) [includes both Wildstorm and post-Flashpoint material]
This would be a “Complete” Midnighter omnibus that includes both Wildstorm and DC material.
It would primarily collect Midnighter (2007) #1-9, Midnighter Armageddon, Grifter & Midnighter (2007) #1-6, Midnighter (2007) #10-20, Midnighter (2015) #1-12 & Sneak Peek, and Midnighter and Apollo (2016) #1-6.
I think you could also have it extend past Rebirth to pick-up Midnighter’s back-ups from Action Comics (1938) #1029-1035 that concluded in Midnighter Annual (2021).
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: Gen13 Omnibus
Gen13 was a WildStorm title that broke containment of Image fans to find a much broader audience of 90s comics fans. It was a little bit X-Force and a little bit Teen Titans, but the youthful energy extended beyond the cast – co-creator J. Scott Campbell was a teenager himself when he started drawing the series!
Gen13 is also the WildStorm comic with THE MOST material to collect, with a plethora of one-shots, mini-series, and supporting titles. That makes it nearly impossible to accurately map past a first volume – because we have no idea how DC would treat that material.
WildStorm – Gen13 Vol. 1 (1993 & on)
Collecting Gen13 is so complicated that we can’t even predict the contents of its first volume!
Sure, you could simply look at the issue ranges and story break points and say that this would collect Gen13 (1994) #1-5, Gen13 (1994) #1/2, and then start their ongoing with Gen13 (1995) #0-1 to continue to somewhere around issue #30.
However, when it comes to Gen13, things are never simple because it includes so many comics! If we wanted an all-inclusive map of this title in reading order from this period, it would collect something more like this:
Stormwatch (1992) #8 (first appearance of Rainmaker), Gen13 (1994) #1-5, Gen13 (1994) #1/2 AKA (1995) #-1, Gen 13 Rave (1995) #1, Gen13 (1995) #0-1, Gen13: The Unreal World (1996) #1, Gen 13 (1995) #2, Gen13: Ordinary Heroes (1996) #1-2, Gen 13: (1995)#3-4, [material from Wildstorm! (1995) #1], Gen13 (1995) #5, Lynch (1997) #1 (released later around issue #19), Gen13 (1995) #6-7, [optionally: Deathblow (1993) #20-21 for Lynch], [Gen13/Maxx (1995) #1, if possible], material Wildstorm Swimsuit Special (1994) #1-2, Gen13 (1995) #8-11, and Gen13 Interactive (1997) #1-3.
That’s 31 issues, which ends before the launch of Gen 13 Bootleg (1996) makes things even more confusing! I think Bootleg would likely be integrated into the same Omni line, which makes mapping over the next handful of issues even more wild. Here’s a peek at that reading order, which differs slightly from release order:
[Bootleg #1-4], Gen13 (1995) Annual 1, Gen13: Magical Drama Queen Roxy (1998) #1-3, Gen13: Wired (1999) #1, Gen13 (1995) #12, [material from Overstreet’s Fan 5, The Gen13 Gals: Rack ‘Em], Gen13 (1995) #13A B C & 14-15, Wildstorm Halloween ’97 (1997) #1, [Bootleg #5-12], Gen13: Carny Folk (2000) #1, Gen13: Grunge Saves the World (1999) OGN, [Bootleg #13-16, Annual 1, & 17-18].
Yes, in 34 issues of content we only got through another four regular issues of the main Gen13 series… which is made more complex due to the fact that there are three versions of issue #13.
Like I said: Gen13 is complicated! And, making things even more complicated, that maps series in reading order, but some of those series came a year or more after their reading order placement.
Essentially, the best we can do is vote for a Volume 1 and hope DC does something smart with the mapping.
WildStorm – DV-8 (1996 – 1999)
DV-8 was a supporting title that was somewhat like “Dark Gen13.” While the cast were not outright villains, they were the bad kids, who made Gen13 out to seem like absolute angels!
This would likely collect Black Ops (1996) #1-5, DV8 (1996) #1-4, 1/2, 5-11, DV8 vs. Black Ops (1997) #1-3, DV8 #12-13, Annual 1, & Preview, DV-8 Rave (1996) #1, DV-8 #14-25, Gen13 (1996) Annual 99, DV-8 Annual 99, DV-8 #0 & #26-32, and Wild Times: DV8 (1999), plus material from Gen-Active (2000) #1-6.
WildStorm – Gen13, Armageddon & World’s End (2006 – 2010) [AKA by Gail Simone]
Even if we don’t know how we’d collect most of the original Gen 13 series, it’s easy to say howe we’d collect the end of the run prior to Flashpoint, since it was a single self-contained series.
This would collect Gen13 (2006) #1-13, Gen13 Armageddon (2007) #1, Gen13 (2006) #14-39, and material from WildStorm Fine Arts: Gen 13 (2008) #1.
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: Stormwatch Omnibus
After years of being ignored by DC’s collected editions department, Stormwatch finally received some love last year with a Compendium of the material that leads to the original team’s transformation into The Authority. However, Stormwatch still hasn’t been covered in omnibus with the exception of some Stormwatch: Team Achilles (2002) issues in Authority Vol. 2.
Stormwatch was effectively WildStorm’s co-flagship title, along with WildCATs. However, with Jim Lee drawing WildCATs, Stormwatch often felt like the red-headed stepchild of the WildStorm Universe back in the early 90s. Yet,early Stormwatch was a much more coherent, thrilling, and rewarding read. Unfortunately, those early years are often ignored by fans, who treat this title as if it didn’t really begin until Warren Ellis arrived and it became a “Prelude to Authority.”
Will Superman make The Authority popular enough that their demand bleeds over into Stormwatch? Even if it does, DC might simply stick to the Compendium route for this title unless your votes indicate that it’s in-demand. See Guide to Stormwatch for more details on all of these issues.
WildStorm – Stormwatch Vol. 1 by Ron Marz, Scott Clark, et al (1993 – 1996) [fits before Ellis]
This would collect the awesome early run of Stormwatch from Stormwatch (1993) #1-36, 0, Special 1-2, 23 1/2, Stormwatch Sourcebook (1994) #1, and Team One: Stormwatch (1995) #1-2.
While I wouldn’t include the entire “WildStorm Rising” crossover here, I do think a few of the supporting issues could be included – namely WildCATs: Covert Action Teams (1992) #17 & 19 and Wildstorm Rising (1995) #1-2.
WildStorm – Stormwatch Vol. 2 AKA The Road to Authority by Warren Ellis (1996 – 1998) [fits before Authority Vol. 1]
StormWatch had grown somewhat directionless after the fallout from issue #25, which lead to Warren Ellis taking over the title and significantly revamping it for a year before relaunching it in 1997, only to relaunch it again in 1999 as The Authority.
This would mirror the contents of the Stormwatch: The Road to Authority compendium by collecting collect Stormwatch (1993) #37-50 (to Jul 1997) and Stormwatch (1997) Preview & #1-11. That should include WildC.A.T.s/Aliens (1998) #1, but likely cannot due to rights issues. It can also add material from Wildstorm Spotlight (1997) #4.
WildStorm – Stormwatch, The DC Years (2002 – 2011) [includes Team Achilles, PHD, World’s End]
After the initial run of Authority, StormWatch returned – though, it was never the same kind of super-book again. This book could easily collect both of Stormwatch’s pre-Flashpoint returns into a single book, since they both ran for just 24 issues.
First, this would collect Stormwatch: Team Achilles (2002) #1-23, material from Eye of the Storm (2003) Annual 1, & Coup D’Etat: Stormwatch (2004) #1. Since all of the “Coup D’Etat” storyline is in the Authority Volume 2 omnibus it doesn’t have to be re-collected here, but it’s just a few more issues (Coup d’Etat: Sleeper (2004) #1, Coup d’Etat: Stormwatch (2004) #1, Coup d’Etat: Wildcats Version 3.0 (2004) #1, and Coup d’Etat: The Authority (2004) #1 – but not the “Afterword,” which rightfully belongs in the Sleeper omnibus).
Then, this would collect to collect Stormwatch: P.H.D. (2007) #1-12, Stormwatch: Armageddon (2008) #1, and World’s End: Stormwatch: P.H.D. (2007) #13-24.
Stormwatch, The New 52 Omnibus (2011 – 2014)
DC’s New 52 era incorporated wove many WildStorm concepts and characters directly into DC’s history. That included lifting Stormwatch (and, by extension, The Authority) out of WildStorm to be integrated with the new version of the DC Universe. This team was like part Justice League, part Stormwatch, and part Authority, initially anchored by Martian Manhunter. That makes it potentially attractive to DC film fans, so DC might finally have a reason to print this omnibus!
This would collect Stormwatch (2011) #1-30 & 0, a crossover with Red Lanterns (2011) #10, and material from Young Romance: The New 52 Valentine’s Day Special (2013) #1.
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: Team 7 Omnibus
Team 7 was the WildStorm equivalent to Marvel merging their “Team X” of Wolverine, Sabretooth, and Maverick with early adventures from Punisher, Nick Fury, and maybe also Howard Stark. WildStorm’s version of this “Old Man Supergroup” featured Deathblow, Grifter from WildCats, Gen13’s mentor Lynch, and the parents of the Gen13 kids as an army squad who were imbued with powers they never asked for.
WildStorm – Team 7: The Beginning (1994 – 2006)
This could collect Team Zero (2006) #1-6, Team One: Stormwatch (1995) #1-2 and Team One: WildC.A.T.s (1995) #1-2, a story from Wildstorm Halloween ’97 (1997) #1 (“Team 7: Blood & Faith”), Team 7 (1994) #1-4, Team 7: Objective Hell (1995) #1-3, Team 7: Dead Reckoning (1996) #1-4, a story from Wildstorm Winter Special (2005) #1 (“Deathblow Gets Dusted), material from Gen13 Preview, Gen 12 (2006) #1-5, and material from Wildstorm Universe 97.
There was also a New 52 series, Team 7 (2012) #0-8, but that doesn’t fit into continuity with the rest of this. I think it’s more at home with the New 52 Grifter series.
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: Welcome to Tranquility Omnibus
Welcome to Tranquility was the only new ongoing in-continuity series launched under the WildStorm imprint after 2005 – and it was written by Gail Simone, who has the highest-possible profile at the moment!
WildStorm – Welcome to Tranquility by Gail Simone (2006 – 2011)
This would include Welcome To Tranquility (2007) #1-6, Welcome To Tranquility: Armageddon (2008) #1, Welcome To Tranquility (2007) #7-12, and Welcome To Tranquility: One Foot In The Grave (2010) #1-6.
Despite it being COMPLETELY UNRELATED, we could also add The New Dynamix (2008) #1-5 here, which is really the only other late WildStorm title that’s not part of one of the core franchises.
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: Wetworks Omnibus
Wetworks was initially planned as the seventh Image Comics launch studio, with Whilce Portacio as the seventh founder of Image! That plan was put on hold due to the tragic death of Portacio’s sister. When the book arrived a year later, it was part of the WildStorm imprint – and it was later absorbed by DC.
WildStorm – Wetworks Vol. 1 (1994 & on)
It is entirely possible that DC could collect all of Wetworks into one hulking omnibus rather than breaking it into two.
This would collect Wetworks (1994) #1-3, material from WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams (1992) #2, Backlash (1994) #4-5 & 6, Wetworks (1994) #4-14, Deathblow (1993) #22, Wetworks (1994) #15, [ideally Ballistic #1-3, but that was a Top Cow mini-series], Wetworks (1994) #16-17, Wildstorm Halloween ’97 (1997) #1, Wetworks Sourcebook (1994) #1, Wetworks (1994) Hero Illustrated Premiere Edition Ashcan, [Optional: Wetworks 3D], Wetworks #18-43, and Wild Times: Wetworks (1999) #1.
Wetworks also had two crossover issues with Vampirella, which probably couldn’t appear here – Wetworks/Vampirella (1997) #1 and Vampirella/Wetworks, Night Tribes (1999) #1.
After a lengthy hiatus, DC brought back Wetworks for just a brief run as part of their 2006 WildStorm line revival, so this could continue collecting WetWorks (2006) #1-15, WetWorks: Armageddon (2007) #1, WetWorks: Mutations (2010) #1, and the Dane: Loyalties back-ups from WildCats (2008) #2, Stormwatch: P.H.D. (2007) #14, The Authority (2008) #2, and Gen 13 (2006) #22.
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: WildCATs Omnibus
WildCATs was the original co-flagship of Jim Lee’s WildStorm imprint, alongside of StormWatch. DC has shown some interest in recollecting this material in recent years, including a Compendium that finally both integrated supporting material and pushed past Jim Lee’s run. For more details on collecting WildCATs from 1992 to the present, see Guide to WildCATs.
WildStorm – WildCATs: Covert Action Teams Vol. 1 AKA by Lee, Robinson, & Charest (1992 – 1995)
This would mirror the Compendium volume that collects both mega-famous Jim Lee run that launched WildCATs to intense popularity (along with its supporting material). as well as the James Robinson / Travis Charest run that followed.
This would collect WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams (1992) #1-20 along with #0 & Special, WildC.A.T.s Trilogy (1993) #1-3 (which fit prior to issue #5, with art from Jae Lee!), the “Killer Instinct” crossover with Cyberforce (1993) #1-3, WildC.A.T.s Sourcebook (1993) #1-2, Team One: WildCATS #1-2, and Team One: Stormwatch #1-2.
That’s just over 30 issues, with over half of them featuring Jim Lee artwork – which would be the big draw here! However, I’d argue for the inclusion of another handful of issues here to help differentiate this from the Compendium – and to make it the most complete collection of this period possible.
This could add as well as the never-before-collected Misery (1995) Special, “Maul: Thinking Big” from Wildstorm Rarities (1994) #1, Spartan: Warrior Spirit (1995) #1-4, Voodoo / Zealot: Skin Trade (1995) OGN, “Voodoo: Skin Game” in Overstreet’s Fan (199) #3, “Zealot: Portrait” in Overstreet’s Fan (1995) #4, a team story in WildStorm: Chamber of Horrors (1995) #1, Zealot (1995) #1-3, and Warblade: Endangered Species (1995) #1-4.
That’s 12 full issues, an OGN, and four anthology stories that add up to another issue or two of content. All of it was released by the end of 1995 and fits better with this period of WildCATs than the subsequent Alan Moore run. And, even adding all of it keeps this omnibus at a reasonable size, since the Compendium was under 1,000 pages.
WildStorm – WildCats: Grifter (1992 & on)
Grifter may have been the one breakout solo star of the early WildStorm books – a combination of Wolverine and Gambit with a splash of Punisher.
This would collect Savage Dragon (1993) #13 (which was a Grifter issue by Jim Lee that was part of Image X Month, so DC may have the rights), Grifter: One Shot (1995) #1, material from Overstreet’s Fan #1: Grifter Sneak Peak, Grifter (1995) #1-10, Grifter (1996) #1-14, Wild Times: Grifter (1999) #1, and Point Blank (2002) #1-5, Grifter and Midnighter (2007) #1-6, – plus, likely some key issues of WildCATs
There’s also Grifter/Badrock (1995) #1-2, Grifter/Shi (1996) #1-2, and Grifter and the Mask (1996) #1-2, which probably can’t be included.
WildStorm – WildCATs: Covert Action Teams Vol. 2 (AKA by Alan Moore et al) (1995 – 1998)
After James Robinson & Travis Charest created some heat around WildCATs separate from ferver over Jim Lee, the book kicked into an even higher great with the arrival of the legendary Alan Moore for a run on issues #21-34.
This would collect WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams (1992) #21-50 & Annual 1 (which would include two issues that were part of the “Fire From Heaven” crossover), a Maul story in Big Bruisers (1996) #1, JLA/WildC.A.T.s: Crime Machine (1997) OGN (by Grant Morrison), Voodoo (1997) #1-4 (by Moore).
This also ought to also collect Savant Garde (1997) #1-7 and material from Savant Garde: Fan Edition (1997) #1-3, if DC still remembers that they exist!
WildStorm – WildCats, The DC Years (1999 & on) [2.0, 3.0, Nemesis, thru World’s End]
After the conclusion of the original run of WildCATs at DC they continued with several more series, although both Gen13 and The Authority quickly eclipsed them as the WildStorm books with the most fan and critical acclaim.
We’d likely need three more omnibuses to collect all of the rest of WildCATs, and a vote for this title is a vote to get started on that.
First, we’d collect the full 1999 series and it’s companion one-shots, written half by Scott Lobdell and half by Joe Casey. That includes Wildcats (1999) #1-28, 0 [AKA Wild Times], & Annual 1 (Mar 1999 – Dec 2001), Wildcats San Diego Preview (1998) #1, Wild Times: WildC.A.T.s (1999) #1, Divine Intervention/WildCats (1999) #1, WildCats: Mosaic (2000) Special, Wildcats: Ladytron (2000) OGN, and could include [Warblade] The Razor’s Edge (2004) #1-4 (released later, but set during this series).
Ladytron was set earlier, but it is quintessential Joe Casey material, so it works better read here in publishing order. However, I’d say the Warblade mini is the opposite – it should be read here in story order for context.
Then, the next volume would continue to the third ongoing WildCats series, which was written entirely by Joe Casey. That includes Wildcats Version 3.0 (2002) #1-24 (Oct 2002 – Oct 2004) and Coup d’Etat: Wildcats Version 3.0 (2004) #1.
Finally, WildCats went through a rocky few years after the end of their third series. They had a 2005 maxi-series, Nemesis, which was meant to be followed by a big, splashy relaunch by Grant Morrison and Jim Lee! Unfortunately, only a single issue of that comic ever released. The series then launched anew in 2008. This final volume would include WildCATs Nemesis (2005) #1-9 (Nov 2005 0 Jul 2006), WildCATs (2006) #1 (Dec 2006), Wildcats: Armageddon (2008) #1, and WildCats (2008) #1-30.
Personally, I think this is the book that should include all of the Armageddon one-shots (Armageddon – Midnighter: Armageddon (2007) #1, Welcome To Tranquility: Armageddon (2008) #1, Wetworks: Armageddon (2008) #1, Gen13: Armageddon (2008) #1, Stormwatch: P.H.D.: Armageddon (2008) #1, Wildcats: Armageddon (2008) #1).
WildC.A.T.s & Grifter by Matthew Robinson (2021 – 2023) [includes Urban Legends stories]
Matthew Robinson was a one-man covert action team intent on reviving the WildCATs at DC in the early 2020s, first with a series of anthology stories featuring Grifter in Gotham and then with an ongoing WildCATs series. Together, they add up to nearly 20 issues of content – enough for a large Deluxe or a slim omnibus!
Collects WildC.A.T.s (2022) #1-12 and material from Batman (2016) #101, Infinite Frontier (2021) #0, Batman: Urban Legends (2021) #1-6, DC’s Grifter Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2022) #1, and Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special (2023) #1.
If we want to get wild, this could also collect The Ravagers (2012) #1-12!
WildStorm Omnibus Mapping: WildStorm Events Omnibus
WildStorm had a number of crossover events throughout the years, but not all of them are large enough to merit their own omnibus volumes! Some, like Coup d’Etat and Armegeddon, were just one-shots from each series that read equally well separately. However, there are some major event books we could collect that could never fully be captured in the omnibuses of individual series. For more information, see my Guide to WildStorm Universe Events.
WildStorm – Event: Wildstorm / Valiant – Deathmate (1993 – 1994)
This might be a stretch, as it would require working with Marc Silvestri, Rob Liefeld (and, by extension, whoever he sold his rights to), and various Valiant IP holders to reproduce. But, we’re in an era of strong 90s nostalgia, so anything is possible!
This would collect DeathMate: Prologue, DeathMate: Preview #1-2, DeathMate: Yellow, DeathMate: Blue, DeathMate: Black, DeathMate: Red, and DeathMate: Epilogue.
WildStorm – Event: WildStorm Rising (1995)
Wildstorm Rising was the first multi-title linewide crossover in WildStorm history. It holds up pretty well on re-read – which I’ve done on this very blog! It is unique in that most of the chapters read just fine as sequential single chapters of their own series, but they do advance the overall plot of the crossover that ties closely to the origins of the WildStorm universe.
This would collect Team 7: Objective: Hell (1995) #1-4, Stormwatch (1993) #21, WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams (1992) #17-19, and then the complete crossover through Wildstorm Rising (1995) #1, WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams (1992) #20, (After this issue, a Grifter story in Overstreet’s Fan (1995) #1 showing his journey to his own #1), Union (1995) #4, Gen13 (1995) #2, Grifter (1995) #1, Deathblow (1993) #16, Wetworks (1994) #8, Backlash (1994) #8, Stormwatch (1993) #22, and Wildstorm Rising (1995) #2.
This could also include Team One: Stormwatch (1995) #1-2 and Team One: WildC.A.T.s (1995) #1-2 for added context – they released just after this crossover.
WildStorm – Event: Fire From Heaven (1996)
The second WildStorm linewide crossover was a much more sprawling affair!
This could include Deathblow (1993) #21-25 as a prelude. Then it would collect 22 issues of the direct crossover Sword of Damocles #1, Sigma #1, Deathblow #26, Fire From Heaven #1/2, Fire From Heaven #1, Backlash #19, Gen 13 (1995) #10, Wetworks #16, StormWatch #35, Sigma #2, WildC.A.T.s #29, Deathblow #27, Gen 13 (1995) #11, Backlash #20, Wetworks #17, StormWatch #36, WildC.A.T.s #30, Sigma #3, Sword of Damocles #2, Fire From Heaven #2, and two issues of epilogue in Deathblow (1993) #28-29.
Plus, this could add Gen12 (1998) #1-5 or Wildstorm Universe 97 (1996) #1-3, which don’t necessarily have a home elsewhere outside of a “Companion” omnibus.
WildStorm – Marvel vs. WildStorm (1996 – 1998)
WildStorm had many crossovers with WildStorm characters in the 90s and early 00s. Now that we have a pair of Marvel vs. DC omnibuses coming our way, seeing this in print feels like a real possibility!
This would collect Deathblow/Wolverine (1996) #1-2, Backlash/Spider-Man (1996) #1-2, the series of WildCATs/X-Men crossover issues (WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Golden Age (1997) #1, WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Silver Age (1997) #1, WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Modern Age (1997) #1, and X-Men/WildC.A.T.s: The Dark Age (1998) #1, and Team X/Team 7 (1996) OGN), various Gen13 crossovers (Spider-Man / Gen13 (1996) #1, Gen13 / Generation X (1997) #1, Gen13 / Fantastic Four (2001) #1), plus all of the final issues of Marvel’s Heroes Reborn series – all of which included WildStorm heroes (Avengers (1996) #13, Captain America (1996) #13, Fantastic Four (1996) #13, and Iron Man (1996) #13).
That’s just 16 comics, some of which were OGN length, which could just squeak this into omnibus territory. Sadly, Top Cow is its own independent publisher from WildStorm, so we can’t include things like their Devil’s Night crossover with Marvel from the late 90s.
WildStorm – Event: Armageddon & Revelations (2005 – 2009) [all post-2004 mini-events: Captain, Dreamwar, Worldstorm, Armageddon, Number of the Beast]
This would collect all of the DC-era events featuring WildStorm characters.
It would include Captain Atom: Armageddon (2005) #1-9, DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar (2008) #1-6, Worldstorm (2006) #1-2, Wildstorm: Armageddon (Midnighter: Armageddon (2007) #1, Welcome To Tranquility: Armageddon (2008) #1, Wetworks: Armageddon (2008) #1, Gen13: Armageddon (2008) #1, Stormwatch: P.H.D.: Armageddon (2008) #1, and Wildcats: Armageddon (2008) #1), Wildstorm Revelations (2008) #1-6, Number of the Beast (2008) #1-8, and DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar (2008) #1-6.
That’s 43 issues of late-00s WildStorm events all in one book – and it captures many straggling series that would otherwise risk going uncollected.
WildStorm – The Wild Storm by Warren Ellis (2017 – 2019) [includes Michael Cray series]
While not strictly an “event,” this would collect the 2017 Warren Ellis “The Wild Storm” continuity, which existed as its own separate re-imagination of the WildStorm universe.
This would collect The Wild Storm (2017) #1-24 and The Wild Storm: Michael Cray (2018) #1-12.
WildStorm Solo Character Omnibus Mapping – Backlash, Deathblow, Majestic, Union, & more!
The WildStorm Universe was never excellent at keeping their solo heroes going in long-running series. Deathblow and Backlash managed it in the 90s, but never had a significant return. And, Grifter has the track record of his partial-inspiration Gambit – popping up for brief runs, but never a lengthier one.
WildStorm – Backlash by Brett Booth (1993 – 2001)
This would be a complete collection of all of Backlash’s key stories.
It would collect Stormwatch (1994)#4-5 (and material from #8), “Kindred Prologue” from WildStorm Rarities (1994), The Kindred (1994) #1-4, Backlash (1994) #1-14, Deathblow (1993) #23, Backlash (1994) #15-18, Deathblow (1993) #25, Backlash (1994) #19-32, (Backlash/Spider-Man (1996) #1-2 fit here, but probably can’t be included), Wildcore Preview (1997) #1, Wildcore (1997) #1-10, Backlash & Taboo’s African Holiday (1999) OGN, (2000) Jet #1-4, and Kindred II (2002) #1-4.
With 32 issues of Backlash’s solo series, 11 of Wildcore, 8 of Kindred, and another 9 supporting issues, this is a 60-issue book – one of the largest of all the WildStorm omnibuses! It’s also impossible to imagine Backlash being able to sell two omnibuses on his own, so I think we have to hope for this to be a one-and-done massive doorstop.
WildStorm – Deathblow, The Complete Saga (1993 – 2008)
This would be a complete collection of Deathblow, aside from his pre-heroic appearances in Team 7.
It would collect Deathblow (1993) #0-22, Backlash (1994) #14, Deathblow (1993) #23-29, (Deathblow/Wolverine (1996) #1-2 fit here, but probably can’t be included), Wild Times: Deathblow (1999) #1, Deathblow: Byblows (1999) #1-3, Batman/Deathblow: After The Fire (2003) #1-3, and Deathblow (2006) #1-9.
At 47 issues, that’s a massive read – and also a highly-satisfying one, considering it contains a ton of artwork from both Jim Lee and Tim Sale.
WildStorm – Divine Right by Jim Lee (1997 – 1999)
This would collect an obscure series that Jim Lee returned to both write and draw in 1997. It is often completely unknown to fans, since it proceeds early WildStorm but precedes DC-era WildStorm.
DC has already collected it into a not-terribly-popular trade paperback a decade ago. It was 400 pages, which is the right size for a small omnibus, but I can’t help but wonder if there is some other late-WildStorm lee material we could add to this to make it more attractive.
Divine Right: The Adventures of Max Faraday (1997) #1/2, 1-12, and two one-shots that fit between issues #11-12 – Divine Intervention/WildCats (1999) #1 and Divine Intervention/Gen13 (1999) #1.
Grifter & Voodoo, The New 52 Omnibus (2011 – 2013) [also includes Team 7]
This would collect a trio of New 52 era series with WildStorm alums that didn’t real lead anywhere and would other wise be abandoned.
This would collect Grifter (2011) #0-16, Voodoo (2011) #0-12, and Team 7 (2012) #0-8.
WildStorm – Mr. Majestic (1994 – 2006)
Mr. Majestic was the first WildStorm here to break through the boundary between WildStorm and DC after their acquisition. He was introduced via a crossover in Superman.
This would collect all of Majestic’s material from Wildstorm Spotlight (1997) #1, Team One: WildC.A.T.s (1995) #1-2, WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams (1992) #11 (backup only), Mr. Majestic (1999) #1-9, Action Comics (1938) #811, Adventures of Superman (1987) #624, Superman (1987) #201, Majestic (2004) #1-4, Majestic (2005) #1-17, and material from Wildstorm Winter Special (2005) One-Shot.
While it’s tempting to also include Majestic’s opening arc in WildCATs and some of his other team appearances, this book is already nearly 40 issues! I think it’s enough to simply include his origin material.
WildStorm – Union (1993 – 1997) [could include Monarchy]
Union was a very cool and very little-known WildStorm hero that was somewhat of a Superman analog, but who experienced Earth for the first time as an adult. I’ve always enjoyed his comics, but WildStorm eventually sunset him as a character.
I think that was in part because he wasn’t a direct creation of the Lee/Choi braintrust (Lee co-created him with Mike Heisler, which typically wrote him), but also because he was eventually sunset favor of the similar Mr. Majestic, who tied more-closely to the central Kherubim/Daemonite conflict).
This would collect Union (1993) #0-4, “Crusade” from “Kindred Prologue” from WildStorm Rarities (1994), Union (1994) #1-9, a story from WildStorm! (1995) #3 story, and Union: Final Vengeance (1997) #1. (Unfortunately, DC doesn’t have the rights to collect a key appearance in Supreme (1992) #14.)
Union also later popped up in the Authority spinoff The Monarchy (2001) #1-12, so there is an argument to include that here (which might help it sell more copies) and to turn our other poll option of Monarchy/Authority into a plain old Authority Companion.
WildStorm – Companion Vol. 1 (1992 & on) [any continuity WildStorm book not explicitly on the poll]
If we really want to dive fully into collecting the original WildStorm era into omnibus, we’d need a companion volume to collect many anthology titles, one-shots, art books, and mini-series.
The tricky thing about this is two-fold: creator-ownership and continuity.
In some instances, these characters were creator-owned despite participating in Lee’s WildStorm universe, which could make their reproduction rights a tricky prospect. On the other hand, some of these series were fully-owned concepts, but they had no connection to ongoing WildStorm continuity whatsoever!
This first volume could include material from Art of Homage Studios (1993) #1, Homage Studios Swimsuit Special (1993) #1, Wildstorm Swimsuit Special (1994) #1-2, Cybernary (1995) #1-5 (and Cybernary stories from Deathblow (1993) #1-4 and Overstreet’s Fan #6), Wildstorm Universe Sourcebook (1995) #1, Wildstorm! (1995) #1-4, Wildstorm Chamber of Horrors (1995) #1, Brass (1996) #1-3 & Brass (2000) #1-6, Hazard (1996) #1-7, Big Bruisers (1996) #1, Allegra (1996) #1-4, DefCon (1996) #1/2 & 1-4, Gamorra Swimsuit Special (1996) #1, Wildstorm Sampler (1996) #1, Wildstorm Universe 97 (1996) #1-3, Wildstorm Swimsuit ’97 (1997) #1, Wildstorm Spotlight (1997) #1-4, WildStorm Ultimate Sports (1997) #1, Wildstorm Halloween ’97 (1997) #1, Phantom Guard (1997) Preview & #1-6, Siege (1997) #1-4, and Wildstorm Fine Arts: The Gallery Collection (1998) #1
That’s 65 issues, which is probably the cutoff for a first volume even if DC doesn’t hold the rights to several of those series. DefCon, Phantom Guard, and Siege are all of especially dubious continuity.
A second volume might continue on to collect some or all of C23 (1998) #1-8, The Patriots (1999) #1-10, Sci-Tech (1999) #1-4, Jezebelle (2001) #1-6, Gen-Active (2000) #1-6 (at least, stories not about Gen13/DV8), Disavowed (2000) # 1-6,, Wildstorm Thunderbook (2000), and Wildstorm Summer Special (2001) OGN, Black Sun (2002) #1-6, Eye of the Storm (2003) Annual 1, Masks: Too Hot for TV! (2004) #1, Automatic Kafka (2002) #1-9, The Intimates (2005) #1-12, Wild Girl (2005) #1-6, and Wildstorm Winter Special (2005) One-Shot.
Leave a Reply