Thanks, Wildstorm

We all knew this was coming. But with this week’s release of the final issue of WildCATs and the closure of the DC Comics offices for the holidays, there’s a sense of finality in the air. Everybody knows nothing stays dead in comics, and there will be collections, and down the road… who knows what could happen. But for now, some of the people involved have come out today to say their goodbyes:

Jim Lee via the Wildstorm blog

As appropriate with year end messages, I would like to take a moment before we segue into 2011 and thank all the fine people who I have had the honor of working with at WildStorm in its last year. Through this difficult transition, you all have demonstrated your usual, incredible professionalism, good cheer and can-do attitude which have always been trademarks of WildStorm. Please take a bow–the work you have created has not only won a slew of industry awards and accolades, but it has shaped, changed and often re-energized the very artform itself. In the process, you have captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of fans, ensuring that WildStorm’s legacy and characters will always live on. In fact, Dan DiDio, Geoff Johns and myself have already crafted what their future fate will be, and we are excited to be sharing that with the readers in the coming year. And while many fans will lament the end of the actual imprint, I will miss the camaraderie of the studio and your friendship the most. It truly has been my utmost privilege to have worked with you all over the 18 years of WildStorm’s existence.

 

Hank Kanalz via the Wildstorm blog

Wow, amazing how quickly seven years goes by…when Jim Lee, John Nee, and Paul Levitz offered me the seat at WildStorm, I didn’t even take a beat to accept. Without a doubt, I knew I was home.

It has been an honor and a privilege to work among the industry greats – not just the amazing array of creative talent over the last seven years, but the best staff in all of comicdom. We all know how challenging this business is – but really, you have no idea how hard this crew works, each and every waking moment. While we’ve had the WildStorm imprint in the public eye for so long, many of you may not know WildStorm is also a creative studio that does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes — quickly, quietly, and with the highest level of quality in mind. We’ve celebrated many successes anonymously, but they are successes nonetheless.

We continue our tradition of excellence as many of us relocate to Burbank, and many of us move on to greater individual careers. Our WildStorm spirit lives on in each of the talented individuals who have graced these walls over the last eighteen years, physically and figuratively.

More so, our spirit lives on in our dedicated fans. You are why we do this. We love what we do because you love what we do.

Thank you.

 

Ben Abernathy via the Wildstorm blog

A dream come true.

For over 8 ½ years, I’ve fulfilled a dream by working in the editorial department at WildStorm Productions. It’s been an exhilarating ride, with some milestone highs and rock-bottom lows…but one of the constants that I could draw strength from was a rabid group of fans who supported us through the good times and the bad. They lauded our successes and tolerated our misfires, but were always a devoted, positive force for good in a world with too much bad. So at the conclusion of WildStorm’s second chapter, I’d like to extend a heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone who supported us through the years and I hope to see you at future conventions…while WildStorm might be going to sleep, the spirit will never die!

 

Mike Costa via Twitter

A goodbye toast to @WildStorm : Thank you for being my first (and favorite) home in comics. I am so honored to be part of the company

…that helped launch the careers of @warrenellis @brubaker @Christosgage @mrmarkmillar @JScottCampbell Gary Frank, Travis Charest,

… Joe Casey, Dustin Nguyen and probably the most stunningly talented comic artist under the age of 30, @fionastaples , along with

…many others I’m forgetting. For almost 20 years, @jimlee00 along with people like @Ben_Abernathy @petersonscott @ShannonDenton @sdunbie

… Hank, Sarah and Kristy gave us books like Gen 13, The Authority, Alan Moore’s Wildcats, Wildcats 3.0, Automatic Kafka, the ABC line,

Ex Machina, Astro-effing-City, and basically created the only place where both superhero & creator-owned books could be done different

(and better) than the Big 2. It is an understatement to call this a huge loss for the industry. In sorrow we must go, but not in despair

Everyone I mentioned still has their best work ahead of them. I will always carry, as my highest honor, that I was able to work under

The same roof as them, at what will always be remembered as one of the greatest and most influential comic book companies of all time.

 

Christos Gage via Twitter

On the last day of @Wildstorm as an imprint I want to thank Hank Kanalz, @Ben_Abernathy @jimlee00 and everyone else for the great times!

The @Wildstorm folks were among the first to give me a shot in comics and I will always appreciate it. Best of luck to all…see you soon!

 

Matthew Dow Smith via Twitter

A heart-felt thanks and best wishes to all my friends at @wildstorm. It was a treat and a thrill to work with all of you.

 

Richard Friend via deviantART

“Scott Williams has left the building.”
Probably one of the more impactful pics I got today walking through the studio making sure I had all my stuff…I wanted to get pics of all the offices just as one final last glimpse back at the studio.

so many memories

if that desk could talk…wow…the comic stories it has told./

Wildstorm 1992-2010 by ~Blasterkid on deviantART