Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Review: The Wild Storm #17

By Philip Schweier
September 19, 2018 - 04:52

I think I get it now. There is no narrative, no series of events that tell a story – introduction, conflict, climax. There’s just this world in which things happen, and we the reading audience are taken on a travelogue, visiting places and meeting people who inhabit this alternate reality. It’s liberating to come to this understanding, as the confusion and resentment is now lifted from me.

The world of The Wild Storm is occupied by two alien factions, who have been at odds over Earth for thousands of years. Consequently, some of their DNA (both biological and technological) has contaminated humanity. As humans have come to tap into this DNA, it’s led to enhanced individuals, for which both alien factions continue to squabble, with humanity caught in the middle.

The story so far has a Sam Elliott-type who seems intent on defending those unable to defend themselves, as well as a young scientist who has fashioned a techno-battle suit which she has stolen from the secret government agency allied with the aliens. It all sounds like a far greater complex tale than other “secret alien” TV shows such as V or Roswell. Perhaps too complex.

Without a firm narrative, there is no conflict in the strictest sense. Instead, the audience enjoys a series of skirmishes and heated conversations among the alien factions, government entities, and victimized individuals all seeking some form of peace, either for themselves of for the world they inhabit. Sadly, this eliminates the potential for a climax, meaning the series (which I’d believed to be limited) is now open-ended. It could go on for years. Yay.

Rating: 4/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12