Stormwatch #6 – Review

By: Paul Cornell (writer), Miguel Sepulveda (artist), Alex Sinclair & Pete Pantazis (colorists)

The Story: Just ‘cause you’re dying in space doesn’t mean you can’t get a little flirting on!

The Review: Ahh…nothing like a bunch of creative shake-ups to get the emotions flowing, huh?  By now, DC’s first wave of cancellations, replacements, and switcheroos is old news, but I’m sure the heated and anxious talk about it will go on even after the actual changes take place.  For the most part, I think DC made wise decisions across the board about what goes and what stays and who gets on or gets off which title.

Of all these, Cornell’s departure from Stormwatch signals much uncertainty for this title’s fate.  I don’t know if his leaving was a choice he made or one made for him, but whatever the case, it doesn’t bode well.  No offense to his replacement, Paul Jenkins, but after reading his largely pedestrian material on DC Universe Presents, I don’t have much confidence he has what it takes to follow in Cornell’s distinctive footsteps.

Over the course of a half-dozen issues, Cornell has established a very specific style and tone to Stormwatch, a potent mixture of lofty, breezy, and erudite which, you might imagine, very few writers can pull off.  Then there’s the sheer brilliance of his imagination.  Suppose someone other than Cornell—Jenkins, perhaps—had launched this title.  Would he have conceived of an alien city-space station hidden in Earth’s hyperspace, or a man for whom lying is a superpower, or moons that threaten planets with outstretched claws?  I tend to doubt it.

Very few other writers could have handled the developing attraction between Apollo and Midnighter with the respect and taste it needs to be taken seriously.  Too easily do people get caught up in the sensationalism or political implications of such a relationship.  Cornell shrugs all that off, letting the spark between the two heroes smolder until it finally comes out (so to speak) at a very sensible point, though “God, you’re hot” does throw subtlety out the window.

For that matter, very few writers can bring the quick repartee among the team and maintain their individual voices at the same time the way Cornell does.  I never tire of how much you can learn about the characters just by their interactions.  The exchange between Engineer and Midnighter, for example, points out their kinship of mind and attitude, and just sounds exactly right.  Regarding Tanner’s betrayal, Engineer says, “You haven’t said ‘Don’t blame yourself.’”  “I wasn’t going to.”  “Good.  He’s my responsibility.  I’m going to have him.”  “I know.”

The impending loss of Cornell becomes most acute once Stormwatch assembles to muse over their next adventure, one that will span the globe and uncover the most valuable and dangerous alien artifacts ever hidden in the team’s long history.  It’s a glorious moment, preluding an epic journey, but you can’t help thinking that without Cornell at the wheel, there’s a good chance of getting lost and ending up in some doldrum place, rather than the grand destination he intended.

No matter how the writing turns out in upcoming issues, at least you’ll always have the comfort of great art.  Sepulveda has been a pure, modern-day, sci-fi star from day one and he keeps up the excellent work here, getting in every minute detail of the Eye right down to the shards of paneling flying fragmenting into space.  Sinclair and Pantazis’ colors also do much to make this a title worthy of film, with all its lush glows and bright sparks—it’s just darn pretty.

Conclusion: Honestly, the issue is strong, but not exceptional, but I feel Cornell deserves the higher grade on his last outing for a series that has been rock-solid from beginning to end.  I’m actually a bit grief-stricken to think he won’t be guiding the stories to come.

Grade: A

– Minhquan Nguyen

Some Musings: – And the award for Least Enthused Vote of Confidence Ever goes to Jenny Quantum for her assurance to Engineer that, “Okay.  I vote for you.  Whatever.”

– The Daemonites think they’re all that, and yet Stormwatch commandeered their amazing starship for their own use.  Earthlings for the win!