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Tao

Tao

22 appearances · Copper/Modern Age · 1995–2018
Who is Tao?

Tao (Tactically Augmented Organism) is a genetically engineered being of superhuman intelligence and near-perfect persuasion, created by the Cabal as the ultimate manipulator — able to convince anyone of anything through words alone, making him one of the most dangerous minds in the WildStorm universe.

Few characters arrive with as much pedigree as Tao, who made their debut in WildC.A.T.s #21 in 1995, conjured into existence by none other than Alan Moore alongside artist Travis Charest — a creative pairing that alone signals something special. Emerging at the height of Image Comics' most ambitious storytelling era, Tao carved out a presence across titles like WildC.A.T.s, Gen 13, and even Grayson, demonstrating a reach that extended well beyond their origins and kept them active across more than two decades. Along the way, this character shares the page with a fascinating roster — Zealot, Maul, Ladytron, and others from the wilder corners of the Image universe — suggesting a figure woven into the fabric of some genuinely compelling comics real estate. For collectors with an eye for Moore-era wildcards and the rich, strange texture of '90s Image at its most creative, Tao is absolutely worth tracking down.

★ First appearance
WildC.A.T.s #21
Jul 1995

Top series

Covers through the years — 1995–2018

WildC.A.T.s #21 1995
WildC.A.T.s #21
WildC.A.T.s: Homecoming #[nn] 1999
WildC.A.T.s: Homecoming #[nn]
Gen 13 #53 2000
Gen 13 #53
Grayson #13 2015
Grayson #13
Absolute WildC.A.T.s by Jim Lee #[nn] 2018
Absolute WildC.A.T.s by Jim Lee #[nn]

Appearances

WildC.A.T.s (1995)
NewMan (1996)
#2
Shattered Image (1996)
#2
Wildstorm Universe 97 (1996)
#1
Marvel Vision (1996)
#13
WildC.A.T.S (1995)
Nova (1989)
WildC.A.T.s: Homecoming (1999)
Gen 13 (1999)
#53
Sleeper (2004)
Grayson (2014)
#13
Absolute WildC.A.T.s by Jim Lee (2018)