Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Death of Wolverine #4 of 4
Marvel Comics
Soule, McNiven, Leisten & Ponsor
This review contains spoilers. Despite the fact that the title is, "Death Of Wolverine" I feel it necessary to warn the readers now. Generally speaking, the comic has fantastic art and a half-baked story. The arc and individual issue does nothing for the character and doesn't really provide any sort of growth. The book is overpriced but is generally an okay read. It will not be a classic.
Wolverine shows up at a Weapon X facility to fight the man behind everything. Turns out that the chief villain is not a super villain or any rogue from Wolverine's usual circles. Instead, it's just a scientist, looking for Wolverine's healing factor. Wolverine is looking to end things but discovers the man is experimenting on other humans to create a controllable version of Wolverine. Wolverine decides to lace them up one more time and save some people. He pays the ultimate price.
The comic book doesn't give the reader any glimpse into Wolverine's head. He probably knows he is on the edge of the end and there isn't any insight into what he's thinking. Sure, as the end approaches, there are some panels detailing his life flashing before his eyes, but that's about it. Does the character learn anything in this mini-series arc? Does the character grow? Not really. In fact, the arc is sort of all over the place in terms of putting Wolverine on a character arc. Does he die a hero? I guess so, but it's hard to see this as anything other than one potential way to kill him off in a cool, visual way. There is some sweet irony that Wolverine dies saving a bunch of faceless nobodys.
McNiven is fantastic in this comic book. All of the panels and pages are heavily detailed and bring this story to life. Wolverine looks tired, beaten, but determined to finish himself off as well as the task at hand. The pencils are brought to life with mood appropriate coloring and subtle, but with precise line work. The comic book looks fantastic. The drama at the end is brought out almost entirely because of the art. Visually, this comic book is as good as they come.
Wolverine is dead. He deserved a better send off. I'm not suggesting the story needed to be dragged on for twelve issues but the with four issues, Soule could have easily presented a tight character arc that brought out Wolverine's final lap through his struggle to become a man above an animal. Perhaps an arc to finish the idea that everyone he has loved ends up dying. There were plenty of ways to put a nice cap on one of the long running themes from Wolverine's complicated past. Instead, Soule provides a mediocre story that doesn't seem to build any danger or allow the reader to believe that Wolverine is in any kind of internal struggle. Without McNiven this book would be totally avoidable.
3.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
