Wildguard: Casting Call

    (Image, 2003-2005)
™ and © Image Comics, Inc.

This is not the first comic book about a super–hero reality show, but it does bring something new to the table: reality.

Starting with a pool of 500 applicants (not all of whom will be seen on–panel, presumably), the team will consist of “the final five,” one of whom will be selected by the readers in online voting.

Years ago, pre–Internet, a phone poll was held to decide whether then–Robin, Jason Todd, should live or die. Many criticized this move as bad writing. After all, how can the writer and artist craft the best story possible, leaving such a major plot point up in the air? The difference between that and this is the introduction of reality TV. Wildguard is to comics what shows like American Idol are to television. Just as America determines who the next pop star will be, America decides who the next super–hero will be.

The pool of characters ranges from hokey duos (Mover and Shaker), to bad puns (Lily Hammer), to truly bizarre characters (Adhesor, the Adhesive Man). Characters such as Little Miss Sunshine and Snapback have engaging personalities, while the patronizing attitude of the Ultra Mega Super Five (of whom there are six) rings true.

If you miss Young Justice, Nauck brings a little bit of that spirit with him to Wildguard.

— Jack Abramowitz
Jump to issue:
  • 1/A
    #1 Variation A
    Cover A by Todd Nauck
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    2 copies from $1.99
  • 1/B
    #1 Variation B
    Cover B by Ed McGuinness
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck, Lary Stucker
    4 copies from $1.99
  • 2/A
    #2 Variation A
    Cover A by Todd Nauck
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    1 copy for $2.98
  • 2/B
    #2 Variation B
    Cover B by Mike Wieringo
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck, Lary Stucker
    3 copies from $1.75
  • 3/A
    #3 Variation A
    Cover A by Todd Nauck
    Nov 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    4 copies from $1.75
  • 3/B
    #3 Variation B
    Cover B by Arthur Adams
    Nov 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    2 copies from $2.95
  • 4/A
    #4 Variation A
    Cover A by Todd Nauck
    Dec 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    1 copy for $2.98
  • 4/B
    #4 Variation B
    Cover B by Paco Medina
    Dec 2003
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    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    2 copies from $2.95
  • 5/A
    #5 Variation A
    Cover A by Todd Nauck
    Jan 2004
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    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    3 copies from $1.75
  • 5/B
    #5 Variation B
    Mike Wieringo Cover B by Keron Grant
    Jan 2004
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    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
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  • 6/A
    #6 Variation A
    Cover A by Todd Nauck
    Feb 2004
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    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    2 copies from $2.95
  • 6/B
    #6 Variation B
    Cover B by Phil Noto
    Feb 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: Todd Nauck  ·  A: Todd Nauck
    2 copies from $3.40
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    Jan 2005
    Cover: $17.95
    Collects #1-6
    1 copy for $21.00