Wolverine Wednesday #17

The Return of Wolverine #1

Writer: Charles Soule | Artist: Steve McNiven | Inks: Jay Leisten | Colourist: Laura Martin | Letters: Joe Sabino

My initial response after reading this issue was that it was a very solid story. A decent enough return for a very big character. After re-reading it my overall feeling was a little less complimentary, but only a little. After months of ‘Hunt For Wolverine’ this issue delivers more questions than any answers. By the end of these five issues if we still don’t  know how he came to be back among the living I will feel very cheated. There is a rumour online that in this mini series he may actually still be dead! This just adds further criticism that Wolverine’s resurrection has been one drawn out, poorly handled cash grab. I don’t want to be the bringer of bad news but there are actually some story cues that indicate this could be true. For instance through the issue he sees past incarnations of himself in reflections, like Weapon X and Patch. He refers to the yellow and blue costume image of himself as his heroic side. Which I thought was a very nice touch. You may also have read online the addition of Wolverine now having ‘Fire Claws’. Wow! Talk about over hyped. They make their only appearance in this issue on the opening splash page. Even in the issues big fight scene they are not used. It feels to me that comic book news/review websites were making a story out of this to try and stir the pot with old school Wolverine fans. Yes I thought it was stupid when I heard it but they had no relation to my enjoyment of this issue. I look forward to seeing how they develop over the series. Perhaps the biggest take away from this issue that has had no mention is that Wolverine’s memory is not what it was. Huge chunks appear missing. This means if he like the reader doesn’t get any answers in this series could head into a new ongoing closer to the character that became a superstar in the eighties. As these five issues unfold it could very much have the feel of an origin story, which brings me onto the artwork. I am used to seeing Steve McNiven finished by Dexter Vines. Here Jay Leisten provides inks and Laura Martin is on colours. I think it is this change and maybe a change in McNiven’s style that has this issue heavily reminding me of Barry Windsor Smiths ‘Weapon X.’ I already said it has the feel of an origin issue and in a way it is the spiritual sequel to the origin of Wolverine told in that story by Windsor Smith. There are so many visual cues to that seminal Wolverine story it makes it both eerie and fun to read. The uses of the muted blues and the panel layouts put me right in the mind set of reading Weapon X. There are so many parallel panels it is to much of a coincidence for it not to be more meaningful. If that last page plash isn’t an out and out homage I don’t no what is. One last thing on the art it was bloody and brutal and that’s how I want my Wolverine. A solid well told story to start this series off. Perhaps fittingly for Wolverine like I mentioned more questions rather than any answers. But I trust Soule this is stated as being a trilogy so I look forward to what is to come.

Weapon X #23

Writers: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente | Artist: Yildiray Cincar | Colourist: Frank D’Armata | Letters: Joe Caramagna

Ah Weapon X is back to its frantic, furious and funny best! It is a blend that has worked well for this title in the past but had a misstep in recent issues. When you add Deadpool into those ingredients then everything is just dialled up to full volume. At times reading this it did feel like Weapon X were supporting characters in their own books. Deadpool was at the heart of all the action and had all the best jokes… Of course! It helped when I read it Deadpool 2 was just released on DVD so any interaction between him and Domino was instantly gratifying. At one point Mystique even shapeshifts in Vanessa AKA Copycat and Deadpool says “I haven’t seen you in a while… Outside of the movies!” Now this new version of the team has settled down I hope the series can find a consistent flow again. The twist at the end I honestly didn’t see coming and it should help the team and the series focus now against a common threat. It was an enjoyable and rewarding moment for people who have been reading since the beginning, it brings the series nearly full circle. Now I asked this question last month on Instagram. Under the issue number is ‘LGY#051’ I have no idea what this number represents. I assume the ‘LGY’ is short hand for legacy. But why? I haven’t seen it on any other comics I’m reading. Any help? As for the art again Razzah provides an eye catching cover. There are people out there who would see Deadpool on the cover and not pick it up as they assume it is a publicity stunt or something. But no he is in the issue! Because you have Deadpool there are going to be lots of speech bubbles, Cinar does well to not clutter the page. Also he has a great use of panels to capture characters reactions as they interact with Deadpool. He does it in a way that doesn’t disrupt the flow of the action going on around the banter. Cinar is a great match for the direction the book is going at the moment and he is perfect for delivering art work for two very accomplished writers. He is destined for big things.

Old Man Logan #47 

Writer:  Ed Brisson | Artist: Damian Couceiro | Colourist: Carlos Lopez | Letters: Cory Petit

A satisfying conclusion to a good fun story. We need these types of story every now and then. They are what comics are all about and a reminder to simpler times in comic story telling. Not every issue has to be earth shattering for the lead with long over hanging consequences. I have felt since he took over on Old Man Logan Brisson has excelled on the shorter story arcs. He set up enough in the last issue and left our heroes in some state of mild peril. That picking this issue up made it very comfortable for the reader to pick back up with our heroes still in some state of mild peril before inevitably coming up with a solution to save the day. At times Brisson’s Alpha Flight members seem a little two dimensional and far from the well established characters created by John Byrne. I don’t know how their personalities in this issue compare with how they were portrayed in Captain Marvel in recent years. Brisson then uses the last page to set up what will be the final three issues of Old Man Logan and he brings it all full circle, back to where is run began. Luckily this time he only has three issues though and not eh slow, plodding six he started with. I like how Couceiro’s art contrasts with the story. The story is B movie monster of the week fare rather than deep horror and the art is a more cartoony, lighter style. It makes for an effective contrast in story telling. Lopez provides colours that aren’t brightly and cartoony but not too dark either. It is a happy medium to compliment both the art style and the type of story being told. I think the best way to explain this is in the creature they face. Its big and purple, but it isn’t bright and silly. Alpha Flights costumes really pop against his depiction of the cold Canadian setting. I think this story delivers because of its simplicity and it sets you as a reader up to delve into a bigger more consequential story next month.

X-23 #4

Written by Mariko Tamaki | Art by Juann Cabal | Cover by Mike Choi

This issue was a tough read. The weakest out of the four so far. It is not a good position to be in so early into a new series. But I like the characters so I will be sticking around and hoping things pick up in the following story arc. Maybe it is just me but I am still not entirely sure what is going on and why. This issue only served to muddy those waters. The story telling felt muddled, it wasn’t always clear if we were in someone’s head or in the here and now. Like I said though maybe it was just me! I think it would be fair to say you have to have a good understanding of the Stepford Cuckoo’s history. I for instance always thought there were only three Cuckoos not five! I’ve stated every month that Tamaki understands how to write Laura and Gabby and what makes them popular. Good action and good humour paired with good story telling on how their relationship is constantly developing. I like when even when Gabby went evil her sense of humour remained intact. I continue to love Cabal and Woodard on art duties. It is big and bold when it needs to be and when the action switches to darker moments the art goes with it. Cabal’s Cuckoos are the right amount of creepy. His costume for evil Gabby is perfect as is Woodard’s muted colour selections. There is a three panel sequence that brilliant shows the damage sustained by Laura in an explosion. It is pretty graphic as one side of her body is damaged. The art is paired with the sound effects of her bones snapping back together, like I said just brilliant. It kind of makes you wince when you read it. In conclusion a disappointing issue that hopefully doesn’t detract too much from an overall decent first story arc. I’m staying on board for better things to come.