StormWatch was created by Ellis when the WildStorm imprint was published by Image Comics. The comic features a UN-sponsored team of superheroes under the leadership of the Weatherman.

The comic can essentially be split into two eras. The first, with StormWatch fulfilling a role that falls somewhere between the Avengers and SHIELD, shows the team doing a number of missions for the United Nations. As time passes, however, they begin to realize they have been manipulated by the Weatherman, Bendix, who is revealed, discredited and removed. The team comes through this under a new Weatherman, telepath Jackson King.

However, their golden era does not last. Eventually, their field leader, Winter, is apparently killed as were several other key members of the team when their space station base is destroyed. The United Nations removes their sanction and funding and the survivors scatter. Some of them form a new team, The Authority, under the leadership of Jenny Sparks.

The StormWatch name is later revived with the StormWatch Post Human Division series, which focuses on a street level team of both powered and non-powered cops. This book lasted until the WildStorm global apocalypse plot was introduced. In the aftermath of the near-destruction of Earth, StormWatch is revived under King’s leadership and the book is given the tagline ‘Post Earth Division’.

With the DC Comics relaunch StormWatch has been reborn in the mainstream DC universe with an all new team that includes new characters and the Martian Manhunter. The team has been re-envisioned as a black ops team and the book starts with the recruitment of Apollo and The Midnighter.