Expect more WildStorm returns at DC next year

Batman #101 variant cover (Image credit: DC)

WildStorm alum Grifter will return to comics with October's Batman #101, and that's not the only piece of that mothballed brand that'll be back in the coming months.

Batman #101 variant cover

Batman #101 variant cover (Image credit: DC)

"In 2021 you're going to see more WildStorm integration, but in a thoughtful, deliberate, creative way when it makes sense," Lee said in a Q&A session aired as part of the second DC FanDome on September 12. "You want to make sure all the characters in our universe exist for a reason and occupy a certain part of the spectrum in our mythology so you don't have characters with duplicate powers, duplicate origins, or duplicate missions."

Grifter will be re-introduced in October's Batman #101 as a new hire for Lucius Fox, who was recently revealed to be CEO of Wayne Enterprises. This would be Grifter's first major DCU appearance since the end of The New 52: Futures End in 2016.

"With that kind of thoughtfulness and creativity, we'd love to see more of the WildStorm universe of characters, when it makes sense. And that's the current approach."

Batman #101 variant (Image credit: DC)

Lee didn't go into detail about what to expect in 2021, but we've already confirmed DC plans to re-release Gen13: Starting Over - a long out-of-print collection of the first two years of that teen team created by Lee, Brandon Choi, and J. Scott Campbell.

Several years ago there were plans to continue Warren Ellis' Wild Storm revamp with additional limited series including a Wildcats title, but nothing new has been announced on that front since mid-2019.

Grifter and Gen13 are some of many great creations in the 18-year run of the WildStorm universe. Check out our list of the best WildStorm characters of all time.

Chris Arrant

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)