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Fire From Heaven (comics)
Encyclopedia
"Fire From Heaven" was a company-wide crossover
event story arc
published by Wildstorm
comics in 1996
. The story ran across at least one issue of most Wildstorm titles at the time and several independent one-shots. The story tied into many events happening in the Wildstorm universe and, unlike many major crossovers of the time, Fire From Heaven had a lasting impact on many of the characters involved.
#28.
Also, mandated participation in the crossover meant that many writers had to stop their own storylines to follow the storyline of the crossover. This had the side-effect that none of the issues involved were self-contained and readers had to buy the whole crossover to understand the story, even with short recaps in each issue.
The story dealt with the coming of Damocles, an insane villain from another universe. On Earth, Damocles' opponent from his homeworld had been reborn as the superhero Sigma. Damocles was assisted in his quest by the Sword (an alternate reality version of Union
), a group of alien bounty hunters, the fake Kaizen Gamorra
and Miles Craven
. Most of the story took place on the island-state Gamorra
, with a finale on the Moon that involved most of Earth's superheroes.
Chapters
Finale
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
event story arc
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...
published by Wildstorm
Wildstorm
WildStorm Productions, or simply WildStorm, published American comic books. Originally an independent company established by Jim Lee and further expanded upon in subsequent years by other creators, WildStorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1999...
comics in 1996
1996 in comics
-Year overall:* Malcolm Jones III commits suicide at circa age 37.* Boody Rogers, creator of Sparky Watts, dies at c. age 92-January:* January 19: Bernard Baily, co-creator of The Spectre and Hourman, dies at age 79.* January 28:...
. The story ran across at least one issue of most Wildstorm titles at the time and several independent one-shots. The story tied into many events happening in the Wildstorm universe and, unlike many major crossovers of the time, Fire From Heaven had a lasting impact on many of the characters involved.
History
The crossover was one of the biggest ever in comics, but had its share of problems, for example: delayed issues caused the planned reading order to change almost monthly. So much that the end, planned to take place in Fire from Heaven #2, had to take place in DeathblowDeathblow
Deathblow is a fictional character in the . He first appears in Darker Image #1 was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi.-Fictional character biography:...
#28.
Also, mandated participation in the crossover meant that many writers had to stop their own storylines to follow the storyline of the crossover. This had the side-effect that none of the issues involved were self-contained and readers had to buy the whole crossover to understand the story, even with short recaps in each issue.
The story dealt with the coming of Damocles, an insane villain from another universe. On Earth, Damocles' opponent from his homeworld had been reborn as the superhero Sigma. Damocles was assisted in his quest by the Sword (an alternate reality version of Union
Union (comics)
Union is a fictional character in the Wildstorm universe.-Character history:Ohmen was a member of a faction, called the Protectorate, on his homeworld of Aegena. The world was mired in a long civil war, as the Protectorate fought against another faction, the Directorate, for control of the planet...
), a group of alien bounty hunters, the fake Kaizen Gamorra
Kaizen Gamorra
Kaizen Gamorra is a fictional character in the Wildstorm Universe comics. Brandon Choi and Jim Lee had referred to him many times as an important character within the Wildstorm Universe, but their Kaizen Gamorra turned out to be an imposter called John Colt and the true Kaizen Gamorra appeared for...
and Miles Craven
International Operations
International Operations is a fictional American Intelligence Agency in Wildstorm comics. I.O. first appeared in WildC.A.T.S. volume 1 #1 and was created by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee.-International Operations:...
. Most of the story took place on the island-state Gamorra
Kaizen Gamorra
Kaizen Gamorra is a fictional character in the Wildstorm Universe comics. Brandon Choi and Jim Lee had referred to him many times as an important character within the Wildstorm Universe, but their Kaizen Gamorra turned out to be an imposter called John Colt and the true Kaizen Gamorra appeared for...
, with a finale on the Moon that involved most of Earth's superheroes.
Consequences
- One of the most significant events to happen during the story was the hero DeathblowDeathblowDeathblow is a fictional character in the . He first appears in Darker Image #1 was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi.-Fictional character biography:...
sacrificing himself to defeat the main villain of the event, Damocles. - Miles Craven, head of International OperationsInternational OperationsInternational Operations is a fictional American Intelligence Agency in Wildstorm comics. I.O. first appeared in WildC.A.T.S. volume 1 #1 and was created by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee.-International Operations:...
, and a major villain in the Wildstorm Universe, died. - Kaizen GamorraKaizen GamorraKaizen Gamorra is a fictional character in the Wildstorm Universe comics. Brandon Choi and Jim Lee had referred to him many times as an important character within the Wildstorm Universe, but their Kaizen Gamorra turned out to be an imposter called John Colt and the true Kaizen Gamorra appeared for...
, another major villain, was unmasked as an imposter and killed. The real Kaizen Gamorra would be restored as ruler of Gamorra and would prove even more of a villain. - DV8DV8DV8 is a comic book published by Wildstorm. The series revolves around the lives of a group of Gen-Active people , initially living in New York under the supervision of Ivana Baiul, who sends them on life-threatening black ops assignments.-Publication history:The series lasted 32 issues, and was a...
was sent on its first mission. - Gen¹³Gen¹³Gen¹³ is a fictional superhero team and comic book series originally written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi and illustrated by J. Scott Campbell. It was originally published by Image Comics under the banner Wildstorm, which went on to become an imprint for DC Comics, who continued publishing the Gen¹³...
-member Caitlin FairchildCaitlin FairchildCaitlin Fairchild is a fictional comic book superhero, who appears in the Wildstorm series Gen¹³. She was created by writers Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, and artist J. Scott Campbell.-Early life:Fairchild is the daughter of Alex Fairchild of Team 7...
was reunited with her father. - BurnoutBurnout (comics)Robert "Bobby" Lane is the fictional superhero Burnout from Wildstorm Comics. He is best known as a member of the controversial superhero team Gen¹³.- History :...
found out his father was John LynchJohn Lynch (comics)John Lynch is a fictional comic book character, published by Wildstorm. He is the head of Internal Operations. He has starred in Gen¹³, Team 7, Sleeper, and Wildcats.John Lynch is an homage to Nick Fury, the one-eyed head of Marvel Comics' S.H.I.E.L.D....
. - Grifter rejoined the WildC.A.T.s. SpartanSpartan (comics)Spartan is a fictional character in the American comic Wildstorm universe and one of the central characters and current leader of Jim Lee's superhero team WildC.A.T.s.-Yohn Kohl:...
recovered memories of his life as KherubimKherubimThe Kherubim or Kherans are an alien race in the fictional Wildstorm Universe. They were created by Jim Lee and first appeared in WildC.A.Ts #1 .-Biology:...
Lord and member of Team OneTeam OneTeam One is a comic book team from DC Comics/Wildstorm.It was published as two separate but intertwined two issue mini-series, each focusing on different members of the same team and showing events from their different perspectives. Team One: WildC.A.T.S focused on members who would go on to be...
. - UnionUnion (comics)Union is a fictional character in the Wildstorm universe.-Character history:Ohmen was a member of a faction, called the Protectorate, on his homeworld of Aegena. The world was mired in a long civil war, as the Protectorate fought against another faction, the Directorate, for control of the planet...
came out of retirement, leading into a new series for the hero. - StormwatchStormwatch (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...
-member FlashpointFlashpoint (comics)Flashpoint is an American comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Consisting of an eponymous core limited series and a number of tie-in titles, the storyline premiered in May 2011...
was revealed to be a traitor to the team and was killed. - The origin of the Gen Factor was revealed: Sigma. The Gen Factor was the source of superhuman powers for many characters in the Wildstorm Universe, including Team 7, Gen 12Gen 12Gen12 is a comic book series from Wildstorm by Brandon Choi with art by Michael Ryan. It was a 5-issue mini-series published in 1998. It featured characters from the series Team 7...
, Gen¹³Gen¹³Gen¹³ is a fictional superhero team and comic book series originally written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi and illustrated by J. Scott Campbell. It was originally published by Image Comics under the banner Wildstorm, which went on to become an imprint for DC Comics, who continued publishing the Gen¹³...
and DV8DV8DV8 is a comic book published by Wildstorm. The series revolves around the lives of a group of Gen-Active people , initially living in New York under the supervision of Ivana Baiul, who sends them on life-threatening black ops assignments.-Publication history:The series lasted 32 issues, and was a...
. - Cyberjack, the long-running member of Backlash's supporting cast, dies during the incident.
- Backlash discovers that he had a son, Aries.
Reading order
Prelude- Sword Of Damocles #1
- Sigma #1
- DeathblowDeathblowDeathblow is a fictional character in the . He first appears in Darker Image #1 was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi.-Fictional character biography:...
#26
Chapters
- Fire From Heaven #1
- Backlash #19
- Gen¹³Gen¹³Gen¹³ is a fictional superhero team and comic book series originally written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi and illustrated by J. Scott Campbell. It was originally published by Image Comics under the banner Wildstorm, which went on to become an imprint for DC Comics, who continued publishing the Gen¹³...
#10 - WetworksWetworksWetworks is an American comic book series created by comic book artist Whilce Portacio and writer Brandon Choi. It ran for four years before ending in 1998...
#16 - StormwatchStormwatch (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...
(vol. 1) #35 - Sigma #2
- WildC.A.T.s #29
- Deathblow #27
- Gen¹³ #11
- Backlash #20
- Wetworks #17
- Stormwatch #36
- WildC.A.T.s #30
- Sigma #3
Finale
- Sword Of Damocles #2
- Fire From Heaven #2
- Deathblow #28