As the release of Equinox draws nearer, I’ve come to realize that out of the many comic books that have influenced my imagination and thus my writing, I recently realized that there is a comic book that I forgot about, and which was one of the inspirations for this comic. There are many variations to the whole super-team dynamic, but there is a specific title that centered around a specific group that inspired Equinox’s genre. It was a comic book that was released in the mid 1990’s. The comic was called Wetworks. Published by Image Comics, Wetworks was created by artist Whilce Portacio and writer Brandon Choi. One thing I remember most about this comic is that it was delayed from its initial release date. It was supposed to be part of the major releases that Image Comics initially put out. There was a lot of publicity surrounding the story, but we all had to wait two extra years to read the first issue. For me as well as other “Fan Boys”, that was torturous. So when it finally got released, it was an event of sorts. I remember getting my copy and taking it home to read it immediately. What I discovered was an action-packed battle against the forces of darkness that included vampires and werewolves which were a direct threat to all of humanity. Caught in the middle was the U.S. Special Forces group “Team 7” which encountered a laboratory that contained golden symbiotes that merged with the members of the team. The symbiotes gave “Team 7” enhanced abilities that were crucial in the battle against the “Night Tribes” and protect humanity against them. The comic ran for a few years then was relaunched again in 2006. Several storylines later, “Team 7” had their final battle against the “Night Tribes.” I thought at the time and still think that this was one of the coolest storylines I’ve ever read. Although there are no similarities between this creation and my own, Wetworks opened a door in my mind. It was one that allowed the world of Equinox to be born then simmer in my mind until it formed into what it’s now become. It’s definitely a comic book that I go back and read again. In fact, I read it once more before writing this commentary. I really enjoy it and there aren’t many comics that can be said about. Even though it’s over, I think that this is a title that may offer new readers something special. Then again, I don’t think I’ve seen the last of Wetworks. The characters showed up in DC’s Convergence: Shadow of the Bat. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
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