Fear Itself: Wolverine #2
Writer: Seth Peck
Artist: Roland Boschi & Robbi Rodriguez
Seth Peck is telling a decent story here, but its tie to the Fear Itself event is pretty weak. Not a single member of The Worthy appears, and if this series were entitled, “Fear Itself: Embedded: Featuring Wolverine,” that may be more appropriate. Wolvie’s girlfriend, Melita, is reporting on the effects FI is having on the people of New York City, which takes up half the issue. While Melita is interesting, and it’s nice to see her character get some development, her scenes get wordy and slow down the pace of the book. There was a cool moment where she called on Pete Wisdom of MI-13 to get some dirt on the main villain of this mini; a guy who plans on dropping a nuke on NYC… with Wolvie tied to the nose of it! But before Logan found himself in that position, there was a fight scene in which he’s almost taken down by a dude with an energy sword and a cocky telepath. The telepath gets inside Logan’s head, and true to the second story arc of Jason Aaron’s Wolverine, the berserker persona is in there waiting for him. Things don’t end well for that guy. I like the art in this issue by Roland Boschi & Robbi Rodriguez, but it’s the color palette of Dan brown that’s really appealing. Like I said last time, it reminds me of a 1980s Wolvie book. Wolverine fans can appreciate this issue, and it is enjoyable, but the Fear Itself banner is superfluous. -AL
Wolverine #13
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Renato Guedes
There’s not much else for me to say about this arc since we’ve gotten the same thing the last few months. This issue is no different. Wolverine is fighting the Mongrels, making his way to the Red Right Hand. We get a spotlight on one of Wolverine’s captors. And once again, Renato Guedes provides horrible art. If possible, it’s even worse this go around. For someone assigned to drawing Wolverine, Guedes doesn’t seem to know how to capture him. For instance, he draws Wolverine’s claws as rounding over his knuckles, like sickles rather than knives. It looks like a joke. It’s like deciding to draw Batman’s cowl-ears as round instead of pointy. He’s just the wrong artist for this book. He also doesn’t understand how someone holds a gun, as in one panel, Gunhawk bends his arm upside down to shoot Wolverine. As for Aaron’s continued story, it’s starting to drag on a bit too long. Thankfully, next issue concludes the “Revenge” storyline. However, one interesting thing that Aaron does here is give us insight into one of those Hand ninjas who Wolverine decimates every other issue. Aaron decides to show us Wolverine through the eyes of one such ninja, and it’s quite delightful. I’ve always wondered what the families of those folks are like. But besides that, this story is lacking it’s luster. If you want to know more stuff about what I think about this story, check out the previous month’s worth of X-Piles because this is just more of the same. -JJ
X-23 #13
Writer: Marjorie Liu
Artist: Phil Noto
With every passing issue Marjorie Liu is establishing herself more and more as a legit writer in the X-Universe. If her tenure on this book ever comes to an end (and hopefully that isn’t soon), she’d better be given another X-book immediately. I’d love to see her take on the New X-Men. But for now, Liu is superbly writing X-23, truly developing her character, adding depth and making her feel like an actual human being. Liu has been spot on with her guest appearances too, and this issue is no different as we get some great NYX throwbacks and Spider-Man! X and Gambit are in New York City, and Laura reveals a detail from her dark past to him about being a prostitute there (as seen in her first comic book appearance, NYX #3), and since Gambit is still wounded from the previous storyline (he’s bleeding from the groin…ouch), the duo make a pit stop at an old friend’s apartment- Dr. Cecilia Reyes. Reyes, former lover of Hank McCoy, old school X-Woman, and a brief mentor to the NYX kids (minus Laura- see NYX: No Way Home), is pulled into the story as Remy needs some quick aid. While in Reyes’ home, X can smell her former NYX buddies and decides to set out solo to find them, and the other man she’s trying to track down, Alex Cimini. There’s some demonic stuff that happens along the way, leading to Spidey’s appearance. His one liner upon seeing Laura was great, “Oh, jeez. You are so related to Wolverine.” I am completely in love with Phil Noto’s art. He won me over in the Wolverine & Jubilee mini-series a few months back, and that sentiment carries over into this issue. His characters have a different expression in every panel, beautifully portraying whatever Liu is writing. This is going to be a great story arc, and I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later the NYX kids show up. -AL
X-Factor #223
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Emanuela Luppachino
A few weeks back, I was on Tales From the Water Cooler and railed against a werewolf book that Aron suggested. Just to let you all know that I am not anti-werewolf, I want to give some high marks again to Peter David on this issue. The beginning of this arc really struggled, mainly because of the art, but also because of the awkward story of Rahne and Shatterstar in the church. Now that David has pulled in the rest of the team, he’s back at writing his strength. While Rahne runs off with Jack Russell to escape the many canine-creatures following them, the team is trying to figure out how to help. What’s fun about this story is that David pulls in just about every mythological dog or wolf, who are all after Rahne’s baby. Cerberus and Fenris make a play at her while Jack defends, but in the meantime, Agamemnon is looming and luring Rahne to her doom. The rest of the cast continues to be their usual entertaining selves. Pip is proving to be a bearable addition to the cast, as he refuses to want to find Rahne for the team. Madrox is starting to put 2 and 2 together about Guido and his possible turn to the “dark side” due to Layla resurrecting him. And the team gets some action in as they try to rescue Rahne. This issue feels more like X-Factor should feel. And with Luppachino continuing to knock the ball out of the park on art duties, I feel like the rhythm is coming back and we’re in for a good ride as we await the birth of Rahne’s supernatural child. Speaking of, that Yardin cover for next month is CREEE-PPY! Why isn’t that guy on a regular book? –JJ
Most X-Cellent Pick of the Week:
Andy: X-23 #13. Liu and Noto are a killer combo.
Jeff: Going with X-Factor #223…AAWWOOOOOOO!!!
Hunt werewolves, play with mutants.
Andy Liegl
andy@comicattack.net
Jeff Jackson
jeff@comicattack.net
X-Factor is really gaining momentum. Especially with the recent X-Men Regenesis announcement that Havok will be joining the team (#230 Jan 2012). Looking forward to the next year of stories from PAD (and hopefully Luppachino, consistently).
X-23 seems like a great book. My wife is the X-reader in the hosuehold and X-23 is one of her favorite ongoings. I’m glad to hear that Andy feels the same way. Marvel needs more of these kinds of solid books.
Yeah, Liu is all about character development in X-23, and it shows. Great book.
Jeff, I have to say, I’m digging Guedes art on Wolverine.
Guedes art is not suited for a super-hero book. The strongest panels in my opinion are the ones that tell the background stories of the Red Right Hand. It’s when he draws Wolverine that is weak. Wolverine’s claws are always drawn too curved. His head and hair are always off on perspective. I thought issue #14 was the strongest so far.