Wolverine appeared in three titles this past week (February 18, 2009) and I include reviews of four other appearances I missed from the previous week…

And don’t forget the excellent ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ animated series continues with new episodes every Friday night on NickToons!

Now on with the reviews…

Marvel Adventures the Avengers #33 (preview)
“You’re Driving Me Crazy”
Writer: Paul Tobin
Penciler: Ig Guara
Inker: Sandro Ribeiro

You know you’re in trouble when ‘Marvel Adventures’ is the lead Wolverine appearance for the week.

And long-time readers of this site (all two of you) know that I abhor this series.

So believe me when I say that this one is pretty funny.

Between Wolverine philosophizing on deep-fried sausage pretzels to Ka-Zar learning how to drive in New York City, this story actually elicited several laughs from me.

My favorite line comes courtesy of Storm, “Wolverine… quit hitting them with the bus stop sign, please.”

Uncanny X-Men #506 (preview)
Writer: Matt Fraction
Penciler: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson

I really am not of fan of these types of Wolverine cameos.

Two pages. Five panels. Nine words of dialogue.

Oh… and Wolverine has something stuck in his teeth for three of those panels…

X-Men Legacy #221 (preview)
“Salvage, Part 2 of 5”
Writer: Mike Carey
Penciler: Scot Eaton
Inker: Andrew Hennessy

What do I dislike more than two-page Wolverine cameos?

How about two-page Wolverine cameos that are only physical manifestations of Rogue’s psyche…

Dark Avengers #2 (preview)
Writer: Brian Michael David Bendis
Art: Mike Deodato

No Wolverine. Only Dark Wolverine.

But you do get a terrific story by Brian Michael David Bendis and even better artwork by Mike Deodato.

Best line of the issue, “Skrulls are yesterday’s news.”

If only ‘Secret Invasion’ had been this good…

Marvel TV: Galactus – The Real Story (preview)
“Monsters, Myths and Marvels”
Writer: Frank Tieri
Artist: Juan Santacruz

I can’t believe I missed Frank Tieri’s triumphant return last week!

My favorite Wolverine writer of all-time. With such memorable characters as T and A. And who can forget when Wolverine got ball-gagged. That was so awesome!

And God knows, the Marvel universe would not be complete without this wonderful story about how Galactus doesn’t really exist. And what a great one panel cameo for Wolverine! I love those!

Agent of Atlas #1 (preview)
“Logan: Agent of Atlas”
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Benton Jew

Another comic I missed from last week.

Wolverine appears in the backup story that originally was presented as a free Marvel Digital comic. Nothing to write home about, but it does boast Logan in Cuba during the late 1950s…

And finally, I tracked down a copy of ‘Official Index to the Marvel Universe’ #2 from last week and found references to two Wolverine appearances I had not been aware of previously: ‘Uncanny Origins’ #9 and ‘X-Men Origins: Colossus’. I will be trying to hunt down copies in the next week, but if anyone can shed light on the Wolverine appearances within, I would be most grateful!

What do you think? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below OR join in on the fun in the Wolverine Files Forums…

Sorry for the delay on the news this week, but I finally decided it’s high time that I pull out my Wolverine script and run it through the rewrite machine. The good news is that the script for the first issue of my proposed Wolverine miniseries is looking pretty good. The bad news is that no one at Marvel is even aware I exist and said rewrite is eating up all the free time I usually put into this site. So bear with me for the next few weeks as I bang away on the script on the oft chance that someone at Marvel ever wants to take a look at it…

FOX is airing three clips from ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ over three nights to create an extended super clip. Above is the first clip, below is the second, and third airs tonight. JoeBlo has more details…

In more ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Movie and Video Game News…
–Marvel.com: Four New Movie Photos…
–Newsarama: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Video Game Hands-On…
–ComingSoon: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Toy Gallery…

‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ News…
–Newsarama: Steve Blum — Wolverine for Life…
–Marvel.com: Episode 5 Preview or Watch Full Episode…
–Marvel.com: Play ‘Wolverine MRD Escape’…

Wolverine Comic Book News…
–IGN: New Avengers #50 Preview (2/25/09 release)…
–ComicBookResources: Advance Solicitations for May 2009 include Wolverine appearances in Cable #14, Wolverine #73 and #74, Wolverine: First Class #15 by Peter David, Wolverine Noir #2, Wolverine: Origins #36 (still with Daken), Wolverine: Weapon X #2, Uncanny X-Men #510, X-Force #15 and X-Men Forever Alpha (phew!)…

Probable Wolverine Appearances in stores on 2/18/09…
–Dark Avengers #2 (preview): Daken as Dark Wolverine…
–Marvel Adventures The Avengers #33 (preview): Savage Land…
–X-Men Legacy #216 (preview): Cover appearance at the very least…

Wolverine appeared in five titles this past week (February 11, 2009) and I also include a review of the hard-to-find Wolverine/Power Pack #4 from the previous week…

And don’t forget the excellent ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ animated series continues with new episodes every Friday night on NickToons!

Now on with the reviews…

Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #4 (preview)
“The Way of the Black Dragon”
Writer: Jason Aaron
Penciler: Stephen Segovia & Paco Diaz Luque
Inker: Noah Salonga & Paco Diaz Luque

I really like Jason Aaron.

I like how he builds up a story. I like his humor. And I especially like his research.

But this is his second consecutive “big finale” that has failed to live up to the promise of that wonderful buildup.

That said, it does boast a genuinely surprise ending that sets the stage for ‘Wolverine: Weapon X’…

.

X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1 (preview)
Writers: Kieron Dillon
Artist: Dan Panosian

This is not what I was expecting.

This is less an origin that a series of vignettes than try to tell a story, but in the end is simply a series of vignettes.

And from a chronologist’s perspective, this gives a better view into the Sabretooth-Wolverine conflict, but pointedly ignores Jeph Loeb’s chronology-busting first meeting between Logan and Creed in Japan.

It is a must-read for Wolverine fans, but again, when I finished, I was left shaking my head at the point of even publishing this collection of vignettes. I mean, is it too much to ask for us to get back to telling good stories that actually have a point and, perhaps more importantly, an ending?

Eternals #8 (preview)
“Manifest Destiny, Part Two”
Writers: Charles & Daniel Knauf
Artists: Eric Nguyen & Sara Pichelli

Wolverine fights an Eternal.

Why? I’m still not really sure…

X-Infernus #3 (preview)
“What You Wish For”
Writers: C.B. Cebulski
Penciler: Guiseppe Camunculi
Inker: Jesse Delperdang

“These aren’t the demons we’re looking for…”

With that line, you know you’re in for a lot of fun.

And this issue does not disappoint as Wolverine really gets to cut loose…

Avengers/Invaders #8 (preview)
“Cry D’Sparye”
Plot: Alex Ross & Jim Krueger; Script: Jim Krueger
Pencils: Steve Sadowski & Patrick Berkenkotter

I’ll say the same thing I’ve said for the previous seven issues of this series. Why is Wolverine in this? Once again he merely stands in the background without a single line of dialogue…

Wolverine and Power Pack #4 (preview)
“Alex Power: Master Ninja”
Writer: Marc Sumerak
Artist: Gurihiru

Finally tracked down a copy of this issue from last week and it’s actually a pretty good story for what it is. But don’t think I’m going to be shedding any tears now that this miniseries is over…

What do you think? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below OR join in on the fun in the Wolverine Files Forums…

A lot of great Wolverine news broke this weekend at the New York Comic Con, so make sure, if you haven’t already, to check out Saturday’s Wolverine News…

Marvel released a bunch of updates on their NYCC announcements…
–X-Force: Sex and Violence…
–Dark Wolverine…
–Old Man Logan Giant-Sized…
–Ultimate Requiems…
-As well as Astonishing Tales #3: Wolverine/Punisher Digital Comic Exclusive

More CBR coverage of NYCC…
–Marvel Animation Panel…
–Aron Coleite on ‘Ultimate X-Men: Requiem’…
–Marvel and Activision Video Game Panel…

More Newsarama coverage…
–Marvel Animation Panel…
–Christopher Yost of ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’…

And, finally, probable Wolverine appearances coming out February 11, 2009…
–Avengers/Invaders #8 (preview): Will Wolverine ever get the spotlight?
–Eternals #8 (preview): Wolverine makes the cover…
–Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #4 (preview): Finally…
–X-Infernus #3 (preview): “These aren’t the demons we’re looking for…”
–X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1 (preview): The origin of Sabretooth…

I continue to make good progress on the the updates, this time launching new versions of two more chapters…

–022: The Flight
–023: The Best There Is

And if you haven’t already, check out our growing Wolverine Forums…

Enjoy!

From New York Comic Con comes tons of news from the X-Men Panel…
–ComicBook Resources: X-Men panel overview with pictures…
–Newsarama: X-Men panel overview with pictures…
–IGN: X-Men panel overview with pictures…

Specifically, Dark Wolverine news…
–IGN: Wolverine goes Daken… er Dark…
–Newsarama: Way and Liu on Dark Wolverine…
–IGN: Dark transition for Wolverine…

Old Man Logan news…
–IGN: ‘Old Man Logan’ gets special…
–Newsarama: Interview with Mark Millar Part 1 and Part 2…
–ComicBookResources: Millar and McNiven expand the ‘Old Man Logan’ finale…
–IGN: Mark Millar on future of ‘Old Man Logan’…

X-Men Forever news…
–Newsarama: Claremont and the X-Men, with a twist…
–IGN: Claremont’s X-Men are Forever…
–ComicBookResources: Back to the future with ‘X-Men Forever’…

X-Force news…
–IGN: X-Force gets some sex appeal…
–Newsarama: Yost and Kyle on X-Force…

Video Game news…
–ComicBookResources: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ video game preview…
–ComicBookResources: Activision releases ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ screenshots…

Wolverine appeared in six titles this week (February 4, 2009) if you include the reprint of ‘Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk’ #1. I am also reviewing three appearances from previous weeks that I missed (thanks to everyone for letting me know).

And don’t forget the excellent ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ animated series continues on NickToons — new episode tonight at 8pm!

Now on with the reviews for Wolverine…

X-Men vs. Hulk #1 (preview)
“The Making of a Man…”
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Jheremy Raapack; Inker: Larry Welch

An interesting story by Chris Claremont that takes place between ‘Uncanny X-Men’ #167 and 168, wherein Wolverine sets up a challenge for Colossus — to fight the Hulk.

The artwork by Jheremy Raapack is, at times, most uneven, as is the story.

Nothing horrible, mind you. Just not sure why it was even produced…

.

.

Astonishing Tales #1 (preview)
“Madripoor Mix-Up”
Writers: C. B. Cebulski
Penciler: Kenneth Rocafort

Initially presented by Marvel Digital Comics, this eight-page Wolverine/Punisher team-up (Wolverine has seemingly forgiving the Punisher for an earlier run-in) sets up a story arc with Madame Hydra and Predator X.

The art is smashing, but the story reeks of way too much posing and grandstanding….

X-Men Noir #3 (preview)
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Dennis Calero

Took a reread of the all three issues for me to make heads or tails of this story.

But much like ‘100 Bullets’, it’s definitely worth the time.

Even if all the characters do look the same, again much like ‘100 Bullets’…

Wolverine and Power Pack #4 (preview)
“Alex Power: Master Ninja”
Writers: Marc Sumerak
Artist: Gurihiru

Thankfully the final issue of this miniseries, for like the first three, this one sold out at my store before I could get a copy…

Age of Sentry #5 (preview)
“Saved by the Wail”
Writers: Paul Tobin
Penciler: Bill Galvan; Inker: Terry Pallot

Indescribably stupid cameo can be found on page three of the preview — panel one…

Aside from the aforementioned  ‘Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk’ #1 reprint (the new cover is merely a reverse reprint of the two-page spread within), I do have three Wolverine appearances I missed from previous weeks…

Amazing Spider-Man Extra #2 (preview)
“Birthday Boy”
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Paolo Rivera

Surprisingly good Wolverine/Spider-Man story, especially since it’s buried in the back of a second-tier Spider-Man comic.

I’m a Wolverine fanatic and even I didn’t know about it until Comusiv pointed it out to me.

Really strong appearance. Do yourself a favor and hunt down a copy….

X-Men Worlds Apart #4 (preview)
Writer: Christopher Yost
Penciler: Diogenes Neves; Inker: Ed Tadeo

Single panel cameo. Ugh.

Eternals #7 (preview)
“Manifest Destiny, Part One”
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Dennis Calero

Final page cameo setting up for the X-Men crossover in Eternals #8…

What do you think? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below OR join in on the fun in the Wolverine Files Forums…

Let me start by stating that I genuinely enjoy and appreciate any and all comments you all leave on these posts. It’s a little daunting at times to publish a chronology and a blog without hearing from the readers. So even if it’s just to say, “hey!” please do leave a note. And don’t forget to check out our growing Wolverine Forums!

Back to update, I am getting closer to finishing up the overhaul of the Chronology, making some minor changes to the existing chapters by adding…
–Uncanny X-Men #251 to 008: Ogun…
–Wolverine: Origins #30 to 010: Landau, Luckman and Lake (and Jasmine Falls)…
–Wolverine: First Class #5 to 019: The Hudsons…
–Marvel Comics Presents #1 moves to 007: The Thirties…

And finally, I’ve updated and launched new versions of…
–020: License to Kill
–021: Department H and Weapon X

So check them out and let us know what you think!

In ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Movie News…
–SuperHeroHype: Larger teaser poster for ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’…
–ICv2: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ merchandising…
–GameTrailers: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ video game trailer (with spoilers!)…

In Wolverine Animation News…
–ICv2: ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’debuts to boffo ratings…
–Marvel.com: ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ episode 3 preview or watch it online…
–ICv2: Disney to bring X-Men Animated Series to DVD…
–Comic Book Resources has interviews with Steve Blum (voice of Wolverine), Fred Tatasciore (voice of the Hulk) and Craig Kyle from the ‘Hulk vs. Wolverine’ DVD…

In Wolverine Comic Book News…
–IGN: Mark Millar talks ‘Old Man Logan’…

And finally, Comics Previews of probable Wolverine appearances this week…
–Astonishing Tales #1 (preview): Wolverine/Punisher…
–Wolverine and Power Pack #4 (preview): Master Ninja…
–X-Men Noir #3 (preview): Finally, Wolverine Noir…
–X-Men vs. Hulk #1 (preview): By Chris Claremont…

Wolverine “appeared” in four titles this week (January 28, 2009), but the bigger news was the release of ‘Hulk vs. Wolverine on DVD’ (see news and my review) as well as the ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ animated series (news/open thread and my review) on NickToons (new episode tonight at 8pm!).

Oh, and the beta launch of the Wolverine Files Forums…

But on with the reviews of a rather weak week for Wolverine…

Wolverine: First Class #11 (preview)
“The Pack, Part II”
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Hugo Petrus

I’m usually a big fan of Fred Van Lente and ‘Wolverine: First Class’ in general.

But this Werewolf-Wolverine storyline is genuinely dreadful.

Neat concept. Poor execution.

Hopefully Van Lente’s final issue will go out on a better note…

X-Force#11 (preview)
“Who the Hell Is Eli Bard?”
Writers: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Art: Alina Urusov & Clayton Crain

Oh my God is this one boring.

Even the characters in the story get bored with the story of Eli Bard.

New Avengers #49 (preview)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Billy Tan; Inks: Matt Banning

Excellent story. I don’t like the twist, but excellent story nonetheless.

And Wolverine does appear, albeit briefly, setting the stage for a big showdown with the Dark Avengers…

Marvels: Eye of the Camera #3 (preview)
“Shadows Within”
Writers: Kurt Busiek & Roger Stern
Artist: Jay Anacleto

Wolverine cameos only as an artist’s sketch which can be seen in the preview…

So… feel free to share your opinion in the comments below OR join in on the fun in the Wolverine Files Forums…