After 18 years of existence, DC's WildStorm imprint is ending in December.
DC Comics Co-Publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio announced the news in a joint statement on official DC Universe blog The Source Tuesday afternoon, writing, "After taking the comics scene by storm nearly 20 years ago, the WildStorm Universe titles will end this December."
Lee and DiDio went on to clarify that while this is the end of WildStorm as a separate publishing division, it's not the end of the WildStorm Universe's characters, continuing, "In this soft marketplace, these characters need a break to regroup and redefine what made them once unique and cutting edge. While these will be the final issues published under the WildStorm imprint, it will not be the last we will see of many of these heroes. We, along with Geoff Johns, have a lot of exciting plans for these amazing characters, so stay tuned."
According to the statement, "WildStorm's editorial team will undergo a restructuring and be folded into the overall DC Comics Digital team, based in Burbank, which will be led by Jim Lee and John Rood." WildStorm's licensed comics — which currently includes several video game adaptations such as Ratchet and Clank and Resident Evil — and kids comics will be published under the DC banner.
The post on The Source also confirmed the official end of digital publishing initiative Zuda, which was shuttered as a separate Web site in July.
"The material that was to have been published as part of ZUDA this year will now be published under the DC banner," read the statement. "The official closing of ZUDA ends one chapter of DC’s digital history, but we will continue to find new ways to innovate with digital, incorporating much of the experience and knowledge that ZUDA brought into DC."
WildStorm was founded by Lee in 1992 as one of the original divisions of Image Comics. In 1999, the imprint was sold to DC Comics, with Lee remaining as editorial director. Notable WildStorm Universe titles included flagship title WildC.A.T.S., Gen 13, Ed Brubaker's critically acclaimed Sleeper, and highly influential runs on Stormwatch and The Authority by Warren Ellis, who also teamed with John Cassaday on Planetary. Wanted and Kick-Ass writer Mark Millar helped cement his reputation with a stint on The Authority.
WildStorm also housed Alan Moore's America's Best Comics imprint, which published Top 10, Tom Strong and Promethea. The company's Homage Studios divison published Kurt Busiek's Astro City, and, at times, celebrated independent titles Strangers in Paradise, Leave It to Chance and The Maxx. The imprint also published the award-winning, recently wrapped Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.
This news came on the heels of DC Entertainment's "bi-coastal realignment" announcement earlier today.
