As reviewers, we often have access to issues a few days — sometimes week — ahead of time, depending on the publisher and the particular issue. Gives us time to really soak things in and perhaps revisit them a few times before putting proverbial pen to paper and recording our thoughts.
As I cracked open the latest issue of Wolverine, just days before its release, something happened.
If one were to look at my review for the second issue, or my thoughts about Wolverine/Logan stories in general around the net, it would be clear that I’m usually in the middle.
Something about the character just seems to scream “nostalgia” to those working behind the scenes, a desire to essentially play out his greatest hits on repeat ad nauseam. Trying to recapture the adventures and feelings of the 80s and 90s’ version of the character (or 2000s, with how many books he’s about to be appearing in for the line), sometimes adding something new about the character to the mix, but more often than not, presenting stories that might be engaging but can’t escape being a pale imitation of something we’ve now deemed a “classic.”
Yet, when I read through Wolverine #3…I didn’t feel any of that nostalgic cynicism that I’m known for.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of nostalgic stuff here and the series is still doing the “checking off the boxes” thing I mentioned last time. This time, it didn’t seem to bother me as much, as I glided through the issue.
I could say that perhaps the feeling about the world as a whole right now, very negative in the aftermath of the US elections, or the stress of work and the holidays, kept that sentiment at bay. Perhaps my brain is trying to cling to anything that seems fun and gives that oh-so-craved momentary escapism. There is little doubt that this was in play at least somewhat.
Truly though, what it boiled down to was that this was a pretty good issue of Wolverine.
Nothing to write home about overall, as it’s still very much a Wolverine issue. Writer Saladin Ahmed seemed to hit on something engaging here as we watched Logan struggle with his own blood lust and try to help a young man (trapped as the Wendigo) deal with the blood lust and the berserker beast within. Something about Logan as a mentor and “father-figure” never seems to really get old.
There is a reason that at this point he has like a million surrogate children, and part of why he keeps getting young teenage (heavily female) sidekicks. “Lone wolf and cub” riffs are the cup of tea that keeps on delivering for the character.
Overall, visually Wolverine #3 is still just as much in the “fine” column as the overall beats it’s following.
There is plenty of slickness and detail to what artist Martin Cóccolo is delivering. At the same time it also has a bit of that sort of static quality that seems to be a choice for Wolverine’s main book in recent years. There is nothing inherently wrong with the art really, it just always feels a bit too much for a Logan book. When I think of this character there are a lot more sort of rough and gritty, even exaggerated, art styles that appear in my brain.
Oh, I can’t forget about the end of this issue.
Remember the whole thing with some ancient (off-panel) mystery “evil” awakening and taking over the villain Cyber? Not surprised if you don’t, the second issue completely glossed over this plot point. But hey, it’s back now and this evil possessed Cyber, turned parts of him gold, and now its ‘infected’ Lady Deathstrike as well. Something about this evil wanting to be rid of the fake “adamantium” of the world.
For a threat that seemingly is supposed to be very dire, I’m not really feeling it.
Good thing there are still more Logan checkboxes to mark off before this threat likely is revealed in like issue six or something.
X-Traneous Thoughts
- There is no way that this “competent” Department H member who still has no name isn’t going to be the latest in a long-line of ill-fated Logan love interests. Logan using youthful tree knowledge to down a tree (and his enemies): no lie, this got a good chuckle out of me.
- Healing factor blood suddenly being used to try and save others is giving me some real bad 2000s-era Angel flashbacks.
- Wolverine showing all that hipness of knowing that kids are into that pizza thing.
Scott Redmond
Scott Redmond is a freelance writer and educator fueled by coffee, sarcasm, his love for comic books and more "geeky" things than you can shake a lightsaber at. Probably seen around social media and remembered as "Oh yeah, that guy." An avid gamer, reader, photographer, amateur cook and solid human being.
