Change or Die
Encyclopedia
"Change or Die" is story arc
of Stormwatch
lasting from issue 48 to 50. Written by Warren Ellis
and penciled by Tom Raney
, this was the last story arc of Stormwatch, Volume 1, and set the tone for Ellis' structuring of Stormwatch volume 2 as a series of four three-issue story arcs.
The story was about the appearance of an anti-hero group called the Changers
, whose goal was to build a finer world by assisting human society in a series of changes dictated by the Changers.
, a former superhero, and give them orders to stop him at all costs.
In the new group's headquarters, Malcolm King (Battalion's brother) informs the Changers about Stormwatch and is tortured by Blind because he cannot be trusted by the Changers.
Later, The High arrives in the United Nations and starts burning the countries' flags, symbolizing the end of territories. Stormwatch Prime is sent to the spot, but is easily defeated by The High, who intentionally employs non-fatal tactics.
The climax of the arc occurs when Stormwatch attacks the Changers' headquarters. Meanwhile, in SkyWatch, Bendix reveals his insanity to Jenny Sparks, and she attacks him. However, he is able to escape.
Stormwatch and the Changers manage to start a negotiation, but it is ruined when Rose Tattoo kills two members of the Changers and is herself killed by Jack Hawksmoor
.
Following this, a Hammerstrike Deep Sanction Missile (a tailored and payload acid bomb) is launched in the headquarters, killing all the members of the Changers, except for The High, who then proceeds to fly towards SkyWatch. He "dies" in the collision with SkyWatch's 'Storm Door' force field. The High would later return and join the Authority
.
Months later, all Stormwatch members (except Flint and Stormwatch Black) would be killed by the Aliens.
Changers' mission of turning the world into a better place didn't die with its members. Shortly after Stormwatch's death, a group called The Authority, made up from the members of Stormwatch Black appeared, inspired partially by the Changers.
:
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
of Stormwatch
Stormwatch (comics)
Stormwatch is a fictional United Nations-sponsored superhero team that originated in the Wildstorm Universe and has since been revived as part of the DC Universe. The original version of Stormwatch first appeared in Stormwatch Stormwatch is a fictional United Nations-sponsored superhero team that...
lasting from issue 48 to 50. Written by Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
and penciled by Tom Raney
Tom Raney
Tom Raney is an American comic book artist, known for illustrating titles as Annihilation Conquest, Alpha Flight, Ultimate X-Men and Uncanny X-Men for Marvel Comics, DV8 and Stormwatch for Image Comics, and Outsiders for DC Comics....
, this was the last story arc of Stormwatch, Volume 1, and set the tone for Ellis' structuring of Stormwatch volume 2 as a series of four three-issue story arcs.
The story was about the appearance of an anti-hero group called the Changers
Changers
The Changers are a group of super-heroes published by Wildstorm an imprint of DC Comics. The team first appears in Stormwatch #48 , and was created by Warren Ellis and Tom Raney.-Publication history:...
, whose goal was to build a finer world by assisting human society in a series of changes dictated by the Changers.
Lead up to Change or Die
These were the main events that happened prior the arc and can be linked to it:- Henry BendixHenry BendixHenry Bendix, also known as Weatherman, is a fictional character in the Wildstorm universe. He first appeared in the Stormwatch series.-Early life:...
changed Stormwatch's roster, adding, among others, Jenny SparksJenny SparksJenny Sparks, also known as "The Spirit of the 20th century", is a fictional character in the Wildstorm comic book universe created by Warren Ellis during his 1997 revamp of the dwindling Stormwatch series...
and Rose TattooRose Tattoo (Wildstorm)Rose Tattoo is the name of two characters appearing in books owned by Wildstorm Productions, an imprint of DC Comics. Both characters exist within the Wildstorm Universe.-Character history:...
. - A rogue activator (person who can activate dormant powers in people who have been affected by cosmic phenomenon) has powered unstable seedlings around the world, including a serial killer.
- The Weatherman has been showing signs of madness, in one instance ordering a Stormwatch unit to wreck the island of Gamorra and killing 233 people in retaliation for a terrorist act.
- A mysterious superhuman that lived on the Rocky Mountains was under surveillance by Bendix vanished and, apparently, Rose Tattoo knows who he is.
Change or Die
Jenny Sparks is attacked by Blind, a member of the Changers. She barely escapes. Meanwhile, the Weatherman briefs Stormwatch Prime about John Cumberland A.K.A The HighHigh (comics)
The High is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He first appears in Stormwatch #46and was created by Warren Ellis and Tom Raney.-Publication history:...
, a former superhero, and give them orders to stop him at all costs.
In the new group's headquarters, Malcolm King (Battalion's brother) informs the Changers about Stormwatch and is tortured by Blind because he cannot be trusted by the Changers.
Later, The High arrives in the United Nations and starts burning the countries' flags, symbolizing the end of territories. Stormwatch Prime is sent to the spot, but is easily defeated by The High, who intentionally employs non-fatal tactics.
The climax of the arc occurs when Stormwatch attacks the Changers' headquarters. Meanwhile, in SkyWatch, Bendix reveals his insanity to Jenny Sparks, and she attacks him. However, he is able to escape.
Stormwatch and the Changers manage to start a negotiation, but it is ruined when Rose Tattoo kills two members of the Changers and is herself killed by Jack Hawksmoor
Jack Hawksmoor (comics)
Jack Hawksmoor is a fictional character, a superhero and member of The Authority in the Wildstorm Universe and of Stormwatch in the DC Universe...
.
Following this, a Hammerstrike Deep Sanction Missile (a tailored and payload acid bomb) is launched in the headquarters, killing all the members of the Changers, except for The High, who then proceeds to fly towards SkyWatch. He "dies" in the collision with SkyWatch's 'Storm Door' force field. The High would later return and join the Authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
.
Aftermath
Jackson King quickly took Bendix' place as Weatherman, unifying Stormwatch Prime and Red and disavowing any knowledge about Stormwatch Black.Months later, all Stormwatch members (except Flint and Stormwatch Black) would be killed by the Aliens.
Changers' mission of turning the world into a better place didn't die with its members. Shortly after Stormwatch's death, a group called The Authority, made up from the members of Stormwatch Black appeared, inspired partially by the Changers.
Collected editions
The storyline has been collected into a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Change or Die (collects Stormwatch vol. 1 #48-50, preview and Stormwatch vol. 2 #1-3, 176 pages, July 1999, Titan Books, ISBN 1840236310, Wildstorm, ISBN 1-56389-534-X)
See also
- WildC.A.T.s/AliensWildC.A.T.s/AliensWildC.A.T.S/Aliens was a one-shot comic book and intercompany crossover event, published by Wildstorm and Dark Horse Comics in 1998. The comic was written by Warren Ellis, pencilled by Chris Sprouse, with Kevin Nowlan inking and Laura Depuy as the colorist.-Overview:The story is set between the...
, the one-shot that brought to a close the second Stormwatch series