DV8 #1

DV8 #1, released in 1996, emerged from the height of the Wildstorm imprint within Image Comics. It was created by writer Warren Ellis and artist Humberto Ramos as a spinoff from the popular Gen¹³ series. The narrative focuses on a group of volatile, super-powered teenagers who are manipulated by the villainous International Operations, a dark subversion of the typical adolescent superhero trope prevalent in the mid-nineties.

The aesthetic of the series is defined by Humberto Ramos's distinctively stylized, kinetic artwork, which helped cement his reputation as a major talent in the industry. The comic was designed to reflect a cynical, edgy tone that aimed to distinguish the Wildstorm universe from mainstream Marvel and DC titles. Upon its debut, the series garnered attention for its confrontational tone and the high-energy visual vocabulary that became a hallmark of late-nineties independent superhero comics.