Wolverine #3 Review!

Hello everybody, Donlinedude here and welcome to another delayed review. This time of Wolverine #3, the third part of "Rogue Logan".

Synopsis:

We pick up right where the last issue left off, with Wolverine heading towards some serious Facetime with the asphalt below, courtesy of the "Superior Spider-Man". We quickly learn that this is really more of a twisted joke on Otto's part, as he shoots out a webline, leaving the now-marginally annoyed Logan dangling upside down just inches from the pavement. Wolvie soon gains the momentum to swing towards and grab a nearby pipe, which allows him to reach up and pull himself free of the web. Landing on his feet, he's met by Jubilee, who tells him there's an "X-Men emergency".

Flashing briefly back to the present, Logan suddenly wakes up while in bed with Pinch, claiming it was a nightmare. When asked what it was about, he replies that it was a memory of the day that finished his old life and brought him where he is now. Pinch responds with "again?" indicating that this isn't the first time Wolvie's mentioned this day, to which he replies that it feels like he'll never past it.

We then flash back to that very day, with Jubilee driving Logan to the site of the "X-Men emergency", where Storm and her team are battling a load of killer robots with Sentinel tech. Logan asks "Jubes" if she should really be out in the sunlight (referring to her recent conversion into a vampire), but she answers that Beast has her covered, steering the conversation over to his current predicament by asking if he and Storm are okay. Logan replies that he doesn't know what he's doing now, also saying that he needs to change something and things with him and Storm are "complicated", leading Jubilee to sarcastically remark that the normal life she'd love to have is apparently "a terrible fate". Wolverine then asks how she found him, only to learn that Beast put a tracker on his belt in case he got into trouble, since he's a lot more vulnerable now. Annoyed at this, Logan is then contacted by the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Maria Hill, who asks that he join her in the alley opposite. As per her instructions, Logan leaves the car, lying that he's "going to pee".

It turns out that Hill has a mission for Logan that involves going after Sabretooth. He instantly refuses however, referring to Kitty Pryde and the events of Killable before saying that he isn't going to go on "some crazy suicidal quest". Maria however, interrupts him, saying that she doesn't plan crazy quests, that she wants to send Logan on a mission to save the world and get to see Creed captured by S.H.I.E.L.D, not the one-to-one death match he's so keen to tell her he's not after. She adds that it even suits and takes advantage of his new predicament, but Logan snaps back that he's sick of people working around him, and that he'll deal with his situation or die trying (You had to say it, didn't you).

Back in present day, Logan leaves the bedroom and heads for a nearby room, where Lost Boy is playing video games. Logan joins in and after a bit o' banter, he asks why Lost Boy chose his codename. The answer is pretty straightforward. He liked the "The Lost Boys" movie. Logan chuckles that he almost though the kid really had a backbone, but he does have enough of one. As for him, he has someone else's.

In the past, Wolverine heads for the robots in a beserker rage, un-sheathing his claws despite the pain of doing so without a healing factor. Jubilee tries to help him at Storm's request, but Logan insists that he's fine. The robots then pick the moment to combine themselves into one, giant robot (can you say Constructicon?). Storm then gives a speech to her teammates, that they need to combine their forces together, telling Logan that the X-Men works with someone whose lost their powers all the time. The robot lifts it's foot, preparing to crush Wolverine, who despite Storm's warnings, stays rooted to the spot. Thankfully, Jubilee dives in, pushing Logan out the way of the giant metal foot impacting with the sidewalk, saving him from being reduced to a colourfully bloody smear. Unable to cope with the situation, Logan runs from the battle while the X-Men begin to attack the robot as a team.

Some time later, Logan arrives at the Jean Grey School. As he steps inside, he's greeted by Quentin Quire, who informs him that Storm wound up reduced the robot to scrap. Rather than respond, Logan simply walks past Quire, who trails off mid-sentence and remarks "guess I don't have to be on your case all the time". Entering his room, Logan is surprised to find a present waiting for him, his new armour, courtesy of the Superior Spider-Man. Attached to the suit is a note addressed to him, saying that it's from "a friend". Logan reads the note with a smile (you wouldn't be smiling if you knew who really wrote the letter dude).

In the present, Mystique, the Silver Samurai, Lord Deathstrike and several Hand ninja have gathered at an undisclosed location. Mystique shares her opinion with SS that Sabretooth's defeat of Wolverine has changed him for the worst. Silver Samurai agrees, suggesting that he's lost what used to drive him. Mystique also mentions an object that Sabretooth is after, saying he doesn't even know what it does, but he seems to think that it will solve his very life. At that point, Victor Creed, having heard them, enters the room in a business suit (yeah, it's a weird image), saying "Oh ye of little faith...I now know what we're after. It's the power to remake the world in my own image. I'm going to become God." (That doesn't sound ominous at all.)

Thoughts:

While last issue sagged somewhat in the fun factor, the third issue of Paul Cornell's rebooted Wolverine series regains the momentum of it's opening, and then some. We're treated to some really entertaining stuff here, and considering the dark themes this comic is dealing with, that's a good thing to hear.

In my previous reviews I've talked at length about how I believe Wolvie's turn to the dark side is nothing but a sham in order to get to Sabretooth. Once again this issue neither confirms or denies that, with the appearance from Maria Hill adding to the plausibility of Logan going undercover. Regardless of the outcome though, Cornell is still providing us with an interesting look at Logan without a healing factor. His regression in attitude makes sense as it's simply a way of overcompensating, and his vulnerability is something this book has done a great job in showcasing.

There's also a nice theme running through the issue, as several of the characters remark about being on Logan's case, which gives us a bit more insight into how important Wolverine is to the X-Men, how his current circumstances affect them, how his new teammates feel about him and it also makes Wolverine's plight feel more personal as opposed to it just being an act. Talking of his new friends, I'm glad that we got some scenes of Logan bonding with Lost Boy & Pinch. It helps to make these new faces more likeable.

Despite the dark places this issue goes to though, it's still quite a funny escapade. I particularly enjoyed the opening gag involving Superior Spider-Man, as well as the revelation that it was he who made Wolverine his new suit. Who knew that Doc Ock could be so generous? The appearance of Jubilee was very welcome, as was the snippy banter between her and Logan about her status as a vampire, not to meniton the brief expository over the robots.

Ryan Stegman continues to excel with his artwork, and the colours by David Curiel are still a nice mix. There's a lot of great standout pages such as the reveal of the giant robot and Wolverine's armour, but the characters are also very expressive. Jubilee looks as youthful and playful as ever, though with Sabretooth Stegman opts for a more subdued madness in his face when the villain makes his entrance. Overall, a better issue than the last...

Score: 4.0/5.0