We've come already to Paul Cornell's penultimate issue of Stormwatch, and still the team is in a state of flux. Cast changes are made alongside upheaval in the leadership. But if the book is taking overly long to solidify, many of the component parts make up for the lack of a cohesive whole.
Midnighter is certainly a standout player in this issue. Cornell's take on the character is a bit more snarky than the Wildstorm version, but it works. His battle with Tanner is enjoyable to read, as two skilled fighters and strategists put their abilities to the test. In addition, Midnighter and Apollo's interaction is fun as the two heroes begin to slowly bond. Cornell is able to shine a light on each team member briefly as the question of finding a new leader is brought up. It's all handled well, but it makes you wish the plot could accelerate and the team dynamic establish fully itself.
Miguel Sepulveda handles the entire issue this time around. Unfortunately, Sepulveda's work on this series has been best utilized on the strange and bizarre sci-fi aspects. His figure work is too muddy and variable in quality, and that's not good with such a dialogue and character-focused chapter. Some panels look great (particularly during the Midnighter/Tanner fight) but others fall flat.
By the end of this issue, much more is revealed about Stormwatch's role in the new DCU. Hopefully that means Cornell can tie everything together in his final issue and leave the incoming writers the opportunity to hit the ground running.
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