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WildC.A.T.s 3.0 #1-2
Wildcats 3.0: Year One
Wildstorm's top superteam retires their tights and starts saving the world from the vantage point of high-stakes corporate activity! Jack "Spartan" Marlowe, the WildCats leader, decides that instead of fighting alien menaces dressed up as a Super Hero, his team of super-powered allies can do more for the people of Earth by being responsible corporate citizens. He uses the god-like Void's powers to access an alien dimension to create never-failing batteries, and sets out to take over the world for the greater good. Meanwhile, others on the team aren't adjusting to the stuffy suit-and-tie lifestyle so well as Grifter begins wishing he could go back to kicking butt. So even though he's a Vice President in the new WildCats endeavor, he routinely disappears to do so until he breaks his back and decides to train a mild-mannered accountant to take his place! The top superteam in the WildStorm Universe continues turning traditional genre tropes on their ears with this exciting new direction that fans have been clamoring for for years!
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2010
About the author
Joe Casey
893 books78 followersLibrarian note: there is more than one author with this name
Joe Casey is an American comic book writer. He has worked on titles such as Wildcats 3.0, Uncanny X-Men, The Intimates, Adventures of Superman, and G.I. Joe: America's Elite among others. As part of the comics creator group Man of Action Studios, Casey is one of the creators of the animated series Ben 10.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Casey
Joe Casey is an American comic book writer. He has worked on titles such as Wildcats 3.0, Uncanny X-Men, The Intimates, Adventures of Superman, and G.I. Joe: America's Elite among others. As part of the comics creator group Man of Action Studios, Casey is one of the creators of the animated series Ben 10.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Casey
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 15, 2012
I understand that the changing face of Image necessitated a revamping of their brands, and that Jim Lee wanted to move Wildstorm into different waters, but WildCATS Year One sure as hell ain't Sleeper. It's a snoozefest for damn near half the book. You could skip every three pages and still get the whole story. There is just too much unnecessary trash to wade through that it makes it hard to love the things that were done right. The premise is great, very modern, Joe Casey does his best William Gibson impersonation and it is a rollercoaster of highs and lows throughout the entirety of the series. It's worth the read and has some damn good artwork, just don't expect to be blown away with all the lulls you'll encounter.
September 15, 2011
Not what I expected - actually better in many ways. The espionage angle is well-played, and the characters are actually interesting in that they are all a little dirty. The main thrust of the storyline - corporate global dominance - is definitely moving at a fast, curvy clip.
I was expecting more capes and powers out of this, and while I would've said this mostly-unpowered-human approach wasn't up my alley, the writing is definitely hooking me. It's hard to say what about it is attractive, because at times I still find myself more interested in puttering around the house than reading more of this book - so something's not quite right for me. But when I *do* pick it up I find myself reading a few chapters at a time.
I think what it is, is I find myself a teensy bit disappointed - the reputation this book, this run of WILDCats has gained in the years since its release made it out to be mind-blowing. And maybe it as at the time, who can say? It's darned good, but for any good student of Chomsky there's really nothing on the corporate criticism side that's fresh or eye-opening.
As book 2 progreses the mysteries deepen, and we start seeing the cracks in the perfectly-planned idea finally start to break down. As the plot escalates and people start getting drawn deeper into the intrigue it got better for me - Jack Marlowe isn't perfect, he doesn't have all the answers and as much of a control freak as he is, it's more interesting to see what happens when the human element mixes things up. The natural tension between Grifter and Marlowe isn't just necessary, it's great.
I'm also fascinated by the handling of the villainesss - the books's character synopsis made her sound unbeatable but seeing her fallibility is far more interesting.
I think the second half is where the long setup of the first half starts to shine - wondering whether the various people and actions will crap out (and how) is very satisfying reading.
I was expecting more capes and powers out of this, and while I would've said this mostly-unpowered-human approach wasn't up my alley, the writing is definitely hooking me. It's hard to say what about it is attractive, because at times I still find myself more interested in puttering around the house than reading more of this book - so something's not quite right for me. But when I *do* pick it up I find myself reading a few chapters at a time.
I think what it is, is I find myself a teensy bit disappointed - the reputation this book, this run of WILDCats has gained in the years since its release made it out to be mind-blowing. And maybe it as at the time, who can say? It's darned good, but for any good student of Chomsky there's really nothing on the corporate criticism side that's fresh or eye-opening.
As book 2 progreses the mysteries deepen, and we start seeing the cracks in the perfectly-planned idea finally start to break down. As the plot escalates and people start getting drawn deeper into the intrigue it got better for me - Jack Marlowe isn't perfect, he doesn't have all the answers and as much of a control freak as he is, it's more interesting to see what happens when the human element mixes things up. The natural tension between Grifter and Marlowe isn't just necessary, it's great.
I'm also fascinated by the handling of the villainesss - the books's character synopsis made her sound unbeatable but seeing her fallibility is far more interesting.
I think the second half is where the long setup of the first half starts to shine - wondering whether the various people and actions will crap out (and how) is very satisfying reading.
April 2, 2019
I originally read this about 8 years ago and remember utterly loving it, so I wanted to give it a revisit. I'm happy to report it's still pretty damn great! The WildCATS, formerly a big, stupid superhero team, have decided to literally rebrand themselves, refocusing their considerable resources into the corporate space. Rather than beating up all the world's problems, they're out to solve them by subverting capitalism and releasing advanced alien energy sources at affordable prices for everyone.
Reading this feels years ahead of its time, as we're fully now in a world where renewable energy is a big part of the conversation. And the idea of a superhero team fully using business as a means to help people and take down corrupt competition, rather than superficially helping in individual situations, is truly genius. The fact that the Grifter and Wax storylines are full of action and suspense, while still feeling important to the overall plot, also keeps this from feeling too talk-y or lifeless. It's really exceptional.
A few things haven't aged perfectly. There's a weird subplot about Wax using his mind control powers on his boss's wife that feels pretty gross, and there are a couple of very minor characters who are openly racist as a personality trait. I know Casey isn't endorsing racism with these characters, but it just feels a little lazy and outdated to have characters behave that way.
Overall, though, this is a great read. The dialogue gets a lot done without ever feeling overtly expositional, Casey's characterizations are three-dimensional, and people on both sides operate in gray areas that keep you from ever feeling like you're 100% comfortable with anyone's actions, including the WildCATS. I'm excited to see how this thing wraps up in the next volume!
Reading this feels years ahead of its time, as we're fully now in a world where renewable energy is a big part of the conversation. And the idea of a superhero team fully using business as a means to help people and take down corrupt competition, rather than superficially helping in individual situations, is truly genius. The fact that the Grifter and Wax storylines are full of action and suspense, while still feeling important to the overall plot, also keeps this from feeling too talk-y or lifeless. It's really exceptional.
A few things haven't aged perfectly. There's a weird subplot about Wax using his mind control powers on his boss's wife that feels pretty gross, and there are a couple of very minor characters who are openly racist as a personality trait. I know Casey isn't endorsing racism with these characters, but it just feels a little lazy and outdated to have characters behave that way.
Overall, though, this is a great read. The dialogue gets a lot done without ever feeling overtly expositional, Casey's characterizations are three-dimensional, and people on both sides operate in gray areas that keep you from ever feeling like you're 100% comfortable with anyone's actions, including the WildCATS. I'm excited to see how this thing wraps up in the next volume!
Read
January 13, 2017There have been industrialist superheroes since the Golden Age, but Casey and Nguyen put a whole new twist on the idea when they had Jack Marlowe, the former Spartan - an android who'd been fighting an interstellar war, only to discover it had ended centuries earlier - realise that he could do more good for Earth with his Halo Corporation than he ever had by punching malefactors. Granted, it helped that he could teleport, was pretty much indestructible and had access to extraterrestrial technology which made affordable, everlasting batteries a viable product. But the most fantastical idea here remains that of such a thoroughly benevolent corporate overlord. The text is garnered with references showing Casey has done his research on the legal mistakes and deliberate power grabs which have left companies in such thorough control of the world, but it's noticeable that nowhere in this volume do we see much pushback from Halo's less altruistic, more real-world rivals - presumably that comes in Year Two. Such tension as there is comes largely from Spartan's remaining ties to his past life as costumed crimefighter, in particular the association with gun-toting malcontent Grifter, allowing for a degree of meta commentary on the genre: "It's true, there are tangents of our lives that - to the uninitiated - might seem a bit nonsensical. Perhaps they are, but so is humanity." Indeed, some of the most powerful drama comes when Grifter's plotline intersects the volume's surprising proliferation of badass accountants.
August 7, 2017
If nothing else, this first year of Wildcats 3.0 got me to think about the corporation (or other organization) as a superpower, and for that I am thankful.
Joe Casey's story interrogates both our view of corporations and of superheroes, all under the clandestine blanket of WildCATs weird little milieu. Spartan shows off how efficient and unnerving the idea of an AI running an organization can be. Grifter is more unlikable than usual, but some of that may be him wrestling with being unable to affect the world in his usual manner - one bullet at a time. That these two are the whole of the "superheroes" we meet and that only Grifter spends any time in a mask tells you a lot about how far afield from superhero comics we've drifted.
I feel like any one of these plotlines in this series would have made an interesting project, but the way they mix together produces a mixed bag, where sometimes it's really interesting and sometimes it's just jarring. Additionally, I found the character of Agent Wax to be needlessly off-putting: he exists primarily to ferret out exposition, and his personal peccadilloes are bothersome, to say the least.
If you're as interested as I am in the intersection of organizational and personal power in a superheroic world, you'll enjoy 85% of this book. If not, you'll probably be better served elsewhere.
Joe Casey's story interrogates both our view of corporations and of superheroes, all under the clandestine blanket of WildCATs weird little milieu. Spartan shows off how efficient and unnerving the idea of an AI running an organization can be. Grifter is more unlikable than usual, but some of that may be him wrestling with being unable to affect the world in his usual manner - one bullet at a time. That these two are the whole of the "superheroes" we meet and that only Grifter spends any time in a mask tells you a lot about how far afield from superhero comics we've drifted.
I feel like any one of these plotlines in this series would have made an interesting project, but the way they mix together produces a mixed bag, where sometimes it's really interesting and sometimes it's just jarring. Additionally, I found the character of Agent Wax to be needlessly off-putting: he exists primarily to ferret out exposition, and his personal peccadilloes are bothersome, to say the least.
If you're as interested as I am in the intersection of organizational and personal power in a superheroic world, you'll enjoy 85% of this book. If not, you'll probably be better served elsewhere.
April 5, 2018
No caveats to my enjoyment of this one - it's just terrific. Casey's exploring the possibilities of a multinational conglomerate as a superheroic force for good, though he weaves in plenty of action and sex to keep things spicy. Damn shame this series never got the conclusion Casey intended - it's very smart, very hip, and well done. And Dustin Nguyen's art is just icing on the cake - the excellent splash pages (think Eisner for the 21st century), strong designs and crisp storytelling.
Definitely recommended.
Definitely recommended.
June 6, 2021
Really good stuff…and for a comic of 2002-2003, it feels a bit prophetic at times, now that otherwordly androids like Bezos and Musk are having such an impact on the world with their growing conglomerates.
February 18, 2017
Read for my series on WildStorm at Birth.Movies.Death.
This first year is some of the finest and most daring superhero storytelling I've read.
This first year is some of the finest and most daring superhero storytelling I've read.
January 23, 2023
It's strange calling this a superhero story (maybe more a noir/spy series with heavy sci-fi elements), but I nevertheless think a case could be made (maybe has been, for all I know) it paved the way for so much of the generation of superhero comics following its run; from Morrison's Batman Incorporated to Hickman's F4/Future Foundation. Combining inspired design choices, pointed criticism of the global hall of mirrors that capitalism has made our world into, & thorny choices like you'd find in a great novel or the very best of prestige television. If you otherwise read nothing else of Joe Casey's 4 years on WildCATs, make it these 12 issues.
September 9, 2015
Joe Casey's reboot of the Wildcats franchise is an excellent execution of a premise that modern comic book fans are probably at least a little familiar with: what if super-heroes stopped spending their time punching each other in the face and tried to actually make the world a better place.
In Year One, Jack Marlowe and Grifter, of the original team, along with newcomer Agent Wax, put together the Halo Corporation, which promises to fix what ails the world. More specifically, they're selling batteries. That never run out of energy.
This volume sets up a strong foundation for future stories as Casey introduces a varied cast of characters and sets up their conflicts. In this capes meets corporate world, alliances are tenuous and it's never completely clear who has ulterior motives and what they might be.
For fans looking for a story that goes beyond the usual "heroes foiling a bad guy's plan by kicking his brain in" routine, this offers a nice transition. Plenty of old-school action layered on top of a political/business thriller makes this a solid read.
In Year One, Jack Marlowe and Grifter, of the original team, along with newcomer Agent Wax, put together the Halo Corporation, which promises to fix what ails the world. More specifically, they're selling batteries. That never run out of energy.
This volume sets up a strong foundation for future stories as Casey introduces a varied cast of characters and sets up their conflicts. In this capes meets corporate world, alliances are tenuous and it's never completely clear who has ulterior motives and what they might be.
For fans looking for a story that goes beyond the usual "heroes foiling a bad guy's plan by kicking his brain in" routine, this offers a nice transition. Plenty of old-school action layered on top of a political/business thriller makes this a solid read.
July 12, 2013
I was somewhat offput by this book at the start. It's a pretty big change even from Casey's V2 of the Wildcats, with superheroic hijinks almost entirely put aside for corporate doings, character drama, and the chance to change the world. I'm still not entirely sure that Casey is successful as the volume never totally grabs me, but my interest increased as the book went on, and by the time I was done, I wanted to know more about the characters.
April 26, 2015
"Tell me something . . . . Have you ever heard of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad?" - Agent Wax
What? Yes. 1000x yes. This is the greatest comic ever, right?
But then that same Agent Wax uses his superpowers to force his boss's wife to have sex with him. And the book is pretty clear that the only reason why this is troubling is because Agent Wax might get caught. That misogyny is so unpalatable as to basically ruin the whole thing.
Yuck.
What? Yes. 1000x yes. This is the greatest comic ever, right?
But then that same Agent Wax uses his superpowers to force his boss's wife to have sex with him. And the book is pretty clear that the only reason why this is troubling is because Agent Wax might get caught. That misogyny is so unpalatable as to basically ruin the whole thing.
Yuck.
September 3, 2013
Not bad. Great idea, but it lost me around half way with too much complication. Great art though and it maintains the high art standard through out from start to finish. Well worth a read to see something newish.
August 5, 2014
The best thing ever done with these characters
August 7, 2017
overall I liked it. I was unsure how much I'd get into it without any previous knowledge of the characters, but that wasn't really an issue. I liked the art, early Dustin nguyen, and especially dug the variety and creativity of the covers and title pages. my favorite character was the ceo android, equal parts Vision and Ozymandais. yes, I liked it all, except the hypnosis-rape perpetrated by mr. wax. that threw me right out of the book and made me stop reading it for a couple weeks. I'm going to read the next trade and hope it gets dealt with, but if not then I don't think I'll be able to keep this book, cool androids be damned. sigh.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews