Wolverine #66
‘Old Man Logan, Part 1’
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Steve McNiven: Inker: Dexter Vines
Trust me.
That’s what Mark Millar seems to be telling us.
When the cover shouts, “WOLVERINE’S ALL-TIME GREATEST ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!”, one doesn’t expect to find a very quiet, very pacifistic tale. In fact, this story seems the polar opposite of the last great future Wolverine storyline, ‘Days of Future Past.’
That’s not to say that this story might not be great. But it’s not a very auspicious start.
That said, Steve McNiven’s art is stellar (as usual) and his rendition of Old Man Logan has the potential to reach iconic status.
One just hopes that Mark Millar will dazzle us in the ensuing seven issues.
From Marvel (preview): “‘MARK MILLAR and STEVE MCNIVEN—who last teamed for the monumental CIVIL WAR—bring us the most important WOLVERINE story of the 21st Century. Nobody knows what happened on the night the heroes fell. All we know is that they disappeared and evil triumphed and the bad guys have been calling the shots ever since. What happened to Wolverine is the biggest mystery of all. For 50 years, no one has heard hide nor hair from him…and in his place stands an old man called Logan. A man concerned only about his family. A man pushed to the brink by the HULK GANG. A man forced to help an old friend—the blind archer, HAWKEYE—to drive three thousand miles to secure his family’s safety. Get ready for the ride of your life, Logan.” On sale June 18, 2008.
GeNext #2
“Datenight”
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Patrick Scherberger; Inker: Norman Lee
Wolverine cameos in this issue… as a pencil sketch.
Yeah… I know.
I’m that bad. I even collect lame appearances like these.
But before you mock, realize you are reading a post about said lame appearance. Glass houses and all that.
Oh, who I am kidding. I totally suck.
Which probably begs the question, why am I wasting my time on such absurd appearance?
Because appearances like these tend to get listed in those long lists of “Every Wolverine Appearance EVER” that Wizard Magazine publishes periodically, so it’s helpful to have them on hand instead on thinking I missed some important appearance.
O.C.D. much?
From Marvel: “Continuing the adventures of the newest generation of Xavier’s School of students in a world where the X-Men premiered in 1963 and aged in real time. This issue, we focus on a member who is the grandson of a familiar mutant hero. He might not like school, but he does enjoy his burgeoning romance with the team’s most mysterious member. Unfortunately for them both, her secret past is about rear its cybernetic head.” On sale June 11, 2008.
X-Force Special: Ain’t No Dog
‘Ain’t No Dog’
Writer: Charlie Huston
Artist: Jefte Palo
‘Hunters & Killers’
Writer: Jason Aaron
Penciler: Werther Dell’Edera; Inker: Antonio Fuso
Wow. This is a terrific issue.
Charlie Huston delivers a tour de force of Wolverine at his best, doing what he does best.
And Jefte Palo delivers a Frank Miller-style art style that is perhaps better than anything Frank Miller has ever drawn. In fact, his artwork is so strong that the purple costume (sans red eyes) actually looks pretty good.
If there is any complaint, it’s Huston’s use of ##### to depict profanity. Either get approval to use the word “asshole” or tone down your language. But this odd compromise only serves to detract from an otherwise ###### issue.
As for Jason Aaron’s backup story — it focuses more on James Proudstar than Logan and by comparison to the rest of the issue isn’t especially memorable.
From Marvel (preview): “There will be blood. Gallons of it. Because Cyclops needs only one scalpel for a surgical strike mission and Logan’s the ideal man for the job. Tonight, Wolverine flies solo—dressed in black and operating off the grid. And when the night is through, there will be mountains of corpses, and no one to answer to. What could be better? PLUS, this one-shot features a solo Warpath story, as he learns what it really means to go home again.” On sale June 11, 2008.
Astonishing X-Men Sketchbook
Artwork of Simone Bianchi & Salvador Larroca
Some tremendous sketchwork by Simone Bianchi for Warren Ellis’ much anticipated run on ‘Astonishing X-Men.’
To quote Ellis’ thoughts on Wolverine from ‘Wizard’ #201…
“You can always spot the real alpha male in any room because they’re the most relaxed and least arrogant. That’s Logan. He knows he’s ‘the best there is at what he does.’ What becomes interesting is he also knows what he cannot do. He needles Cyclops, laughs at Cyclops, but would never in hell presume to take over from or ignore Cyclops. Also, I needed comic relief. Poor Logan.”
From Marvel: “‘Messiah Complex’ pulled the X-Men team together; ‘Divided We Stand’ tore them apart. This July, the X-Men get back to business – with a new base of operations and a new look! See it here first – with this exclusive preview! See the gorgeous costume redesigns for Wolverine, Cyclops, Emma Frost and more by emerging superstar Simone Bianchi (WOLVERINE: EVOLUTION)! This one-shot gives you a first up-close look at the blue-prints for the new ‘X-Men Mansion,’ courtesy of superstar Salvador Larocca. You won’t believe your eyes!” On sale June 4, 2008.
Avengers/Invaders #2
“Book Two: Battlefield Brooklyn!”
Plot: Alex Ross & Jim Krueger; Script: Jim Krueger
Pencils: Steve Sadowski
Wolverine barely makes it into this issue, eking out five words in the final two panels.
“Okay, Axis… here we come”
A marked improvement over the cover only cameo in the previous issue. Let’s hope Wolverine keeps up the momentum and actually makes a legitimate appearance in issue 3.
From Marvel (preview): “With World War II’s greatest heroes mysteriously transported to 2008, it takes the Mighty Avengers to bring them in before the world realizes that the Invaders are back…including the original Captain America. But will Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. have enough firepower to hold them…or do the Invaders have everyone just where they want them?” On sale June 4, 2008.
Ultimate Origins #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Butch Guice
As much of a curmudgeon as I’ve been about the Ultimate Universe (and many reviews lately), I must admit this is a pretty good issue.
We find James Howlett and Nick Fury (with Wilson Fisk) in cahoots during the Allied invasion of Sicily in August, 1943 and later subjects of secret and illegal super-soldier testing.
I guess it all really is connected.
Good start to an intriguing series. I only wish Secret Invasion were as compelling.
From Marvel (preview): “This is it! The story that finally reveals the conspiracies behind the entire Ultimate Universe! When they first met, Bruce Banner mysteriously warned Spider-Man that ‘Everything is connected.’ Now it’s time to discover the jaw-dropping secrets that men have fought and died to protect. From the dark days of World War II to the frightening present, journey through history to learn what’s really behind the Super Soldier and Weapon X programs–and how heroes such as Captain America, Nick Fury and Wolverine have more in common than codenames and costumes.” On sale June 4, 2008.
Wolverine: Dangerous Games #1
“Tally Ho!”
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Ben Oliver
“Purity”
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Jerome Opena
Deep breath.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Okay, let me try this without ranting too much…
There’s nothing I dislike more in comics than writers who inject their stories with their sanctimonious agendas.
In “Tally Ho!” Simon Spurrier takes on fox hunting (yeah, fox hunting) in a stereotypical, cliche-ridden, one-dimensional waste of time.
Unadulterated crap.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is probably the shortest and most succinct rant of my life.
The second story, “Purity,” on the other hand isn’t nearly as bad. We get some promising artwork from Jerome Opena (reminds me of Marie Severin from her days on the Hulk) and Wolverine doing what he does best.
Nothing great. — just a refreshing tale to wrap up the book.
From Marvel (preview): “With bloodsports banned in the UK, a group of overfed Brit Aristos have relocated to the Louisiana forests. Their aim? To pit themselves (aided only by a vast pack of slavering hounds and their own copious wealth) against a truly worthy foe: a single, terrified fox. Sadly for them, there’s more than one furry little critter in the woods tonight…” On sale June 4, 2008.
New Avengers #41
Writer: Brian Bendis
Artist: Billy Tan
The confrontation in the Savage Land inches forward and Wolverine’s only contribution (and the Skrull one at that) is to slowly climb up the side of the Tyrannosaurus Rex with his claws.
And in the all-too-frequent flashbacks that Bendis has employed to prove how meticulously planned Secret Invasion has been, we learn that the Skrull invasion dates all the way back to the very beginning of ‘New Avengers’ (complete with another Wolverine cameo).
Wow, that Brian Bendis sure is a clever guy.
While we’re on the topic, I should mention that Wolverine does NOT appear in ‘Secret Invasion’ #3, another letdown in this thoroughly disappointing Marvel event.
From Marvel (preview): “The Avengers are trapped in the Savage Land, battling friend and foe. And Spider-Man heads to the one person in the entire place he knows he can trust: Ka-Zar!! But is it really him? This important chapter rewinds the events of the very first New Avengers story and shows how it connects to the Invasion.” On sale May 29, 2008.
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #36
“Understudy Rumble'”
Writer: Paul Tobin
Artist: David Hahn
I don’t even know how to classify this one.
An actor dressed up Wolverine gets turned into a super-powered Wolverine.
But only for an hour. And only as a cameo.
Oh.., and to confirm, this ‘Marvel Adventures’ series is no better than the one with the Avengers.
From Marvel: “The Fantastic Four help out a college film professor by volunteering their time for his top students. Want the FF to star in your disco film? No problem. Want the FF to headline your Jane Austen-influenced romantic comedy? Sure! That can be arranged. Want to use your anti-matter powered film projector to transform a group of cos-players into evil (though quite amateur) versions of some of Marveldom’s mightiest heroes and villains, all in a bid to destroy the FF and take over the world? Uhh—now we got a problem… ” On sale May 29, 2008.
1985 #1
“Haunted”
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Tommy Lee Edwards
While Wolverine’s claws are the closest thing to a cameo inside the issue that’s not to say this isn’t worth your time.
Mark Millar (and I am not generally a fan of his work) weaves together an intriguingly off-beat account of being a comic book fan in 1985. One that seemingly crosses over with the real Marvel Universe.
If you were reading comic books in the ’80s, it’s definitely worth a read.
From Marvel (preview): “Before SECRET INVASION…before WORLD WAR HULK…before CIVIL WAR… The most powerful super-villains in the Marvel Universe gather their might to wreak havoc on the one place they’ve never before set foot—YOUR WORLD! As mankind’s enemies cut a swath of destruction with unprecedented ferocity and ruthlessness, the fate of the planet rests in the hands of one person: Toby, a 13-year-old boy who holds the key to uniting his comic-book idols, the Marvel Heroes!” On sale May 29, 2008.
