X-Factor #26
“Messiah CompleX, Chapter 7”
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Scott Eaton
Inker: John Dell w/Andrew Hennessy
Sorry, sold out at my local comic store.
I’ll add a review as soon as I get a copy.
Update: And now I finally have the issue…
Interesting interplay between Wolverine and Warpath setting up the upcoming X-Force series that debuts in 2008.
But it is exactly this sort of editorial heavy handedness that has marred and cheapened this crossover.
Mandates from on high that attempt to impose ‘creative tension’ for future publishing efforts. Publishing efforts that will undoubtedly attempt to capitalize on yet another Wolverine-driven series.
Wolverine #60
“Logan Dies, Part 4 of 5”
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Artist: Howard Chaykin
I really enjoyed Howard Chaykin’s work during the 1980s. His Shadow run, while controversial, was a lot of fun. But 20 years later, his artwork is shockingly pedestrian. Logan looks exactly the same during World War I as he does in present day, and Chaykin’s over-reliance on hexagon patterns is beyond distracting.
Nor have I been a fan of this story (by Marc Guggenheim) from the start, what with a love interest created out of thin air for the sole purpose of killing her. And the oversized vents in a secret complex. Can’t we retire this cliche?
The tone is eerily reminiscent of Claremont and Miller from the 1980s. And not in a good way. Ninjas and inner dialogue galore, Wolverine calling women skirts, and even more ninjas.
All that said and done, the last page is a stunner.
Now that I have a little more space with the ‘Wolverine Files’ blog, I will begin to write slightly longer weekly reviews of each Wolverine appearance beginning with…
New Avengers #37
“The Trust, Part Six”
Writer: Brian Bendis
Artist: Leinil Yu
I used to like this series and the writings of Bendis.
But not anymore.
Bendis seems to be struggling to convince his readers that this current storyline is worthy of our attention and worthy of our praise. He seems to be genuinely surprised that no one cares about the Skrull invasion. What Bendis fails to realize, in my opinion, is that the revelation that Elektra was a Skrull does not and should not immediately lead everyone to believe that no one can be trusted and that a Skrull invasion is imminent.
Then there is the dialogue in this issue that leads me to believe that Bendis is either testing to see how much of parody of himself he can become before his readers drop this book, or he isn’t taking the task of writing New Avengers very seriously.
Case in point, here is some of the ‘dialogue’ he repeats throughout the 22 pages of this issue:
“Agh!” – 9 times
“Rraarrgg!” – 5 times
“Argh!” – 4 times
“Ow!” – 4 times
“Uh-huh.” – 4 times
“Ha!” – 3 times
“Dude!” – 3 times
“Whoa!” – 2 times
This used to be a premier book that I actively looked forward to each month, but Bendis’ obsession with Skrulls and cute dialogue has dropped this book to the bottom of my read pile.
Marvel and Del Rey have agreed to produce two original English language manga series starring Wolverine and the X-Men (separately) to debut in early 2009, with Wolverine being written in a shonen style by Antony Johnston (‘Wasteland’).
Each volume will be in manga digest format at about 200 pages, black and white, but read Western-style from left to right.
–Newsarama.com coverage
–ComicBookResources.com coverage
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Welcome to the beta launch of the Wolverine Files blog!
Take a look around and let me know what you think.
I know a few things aren’t working quite right (like the periodic appearance of the German language while adding comments) but I hope to get everything sorted out soon.
My next step will be to start transitioning each chapter of the Wolverine Files chronology into blog pages so readers can leave comments directly on the page.
So don’t be shy, leave a comment and introduce yourself to the Wolverine Files audience.
Probable Wolverine appearances scheduled to hit stores this Wednesday, 12/12/07:
-Wolverine #60 (Preview): ‘Logan Dies’ continues with more World War I action.
-X-Factor #26 (Preview): ‘Messiah CompleX’ Chapter Seven.
-New Avengers #37 (Preview): The Skrull conspiracy continues…
Mini-reviews of new Wolverine appearances in comic stores on 12/05/07:
-Uncanny X-Men #493 (Preview): After a surprisingly strong Chapter 5, ‘Messiah Complex’ Chapter 6 stars Wolverine in what feels like a second-rate set up for a new X-Men series. Which is exactly what it is.
-Ultimate X-Men #88 (Preview): ‘Sentinels Epilogue’ by Kirkman and Paquette feels more and more like a bad soap opera. Present day Wolverine utters three sentences in the entire issue. And they’re not long ones. Future Wolverine gets significantly more face time and set up the next major story arc.
-Ultimates 3 #1 (Preview): Doesn’t really feel very ‘Ultimate’ to me and Wolverine graces only the cover (the inside third of the ‘Heroes’ cover) and not the issue itself.
Probable Wolverine appearances scheduled to hit stores this Wednesday, 12/05/07:
-Uncanny X-Men #493 (Preview): Chapter 6 of ‘Messiah Complex.’
-Ultimate X-Men #88 (Preview): Conclusion of the Sentinels Saga.
-Ultimates 3 #1 (Preview): Wolverine makes the cover at the very least in the third season of the Ultimates by Jeph Loeb, Joe Madureira & Christian Lichtner.
My thoughts on Wolverine appearances scheduled to appear in February 2008 according to Marvel Previews…
–Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1 by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday will wrap up what might be the best X-Men run ever.
-‘Messiah Complex’ ends in January leading to ‘Divided We Stand’ in Uncanny X-Men #495. It seems Wolverine will end up leading the newly-formed assassination team of X-23, Warpath and Wolfsbane in X-Force #1 and hunting down a fellow X-Man in Wolverine #62.
–Wolverine: Origins #22 shifts gears as Deadpool is welcomed to the proceedings.
-In the Ultimate Universe, Wolverine will appear in both Ultimate X-Men #91 and Ultimates 3 #3.
-In the Marvel Adventures Universe, more pedestrian Wolverine adventures await in The Avengers #21.
-And in the Marvel Zombies Universe: Marvel Zombies 2 #5 wraps up its run.
