Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Wolverine #66
Marvel Comics
Millar, McNiven, Vines & Hollowell
Well here we have a futuristic look at Wolverine. You might be wondering why this isn’t a What If tale or in its own mini series which are all valid questions to which I have no answers. However, in looking for some answers I read an interview with some of the creative team that explained that this comic was very much like the movie Unforgiven. Since I enjoyed that movie I figured I would give this issue a shot. Wolverine is very much hit or miss with me, but in the right spot I will enjoy a Wolverine story more than most of solo comics. I loved this issue. If this entire arc is similar to this issue then this has “Best of” material written all over it.
That isn’t to say you need to have seen the movie to like this comic. However, the homage paid to the movie here is a nice touch. The comic even has Un-4-Given written in some graffiti in it. In the movie, Clint Eastwood is a reformed killer turned pig farmer, single dad who is down on his luck. Given a proposition to do some work for money he takes it. He spends a great deal of the movie looking pathetic until finally pushed to the edge and then his old instincts kick in and he shows why he had such a nasty reputation.
Here, Wolverine has been beaten, along with all the other heroes. Wolverine survived, but decided to keep his claws sheathed and retire. Now a pig farmer, with no money and a wife and kids he is trying to survive. He cant pay his rent to the Hulk’s grandchildren so they beat the crap out of it. All while Wolverine lay helpless on the ground. We, the reader, gets the idea very quickly that Wolverine has basically been neutered and tamed. An old friend, Hawkeye, comes to Logan with a proposition to make some money. He takes it and they set off on their adventure.
For the start of an arc this issue is excellent. It is very effective in putting Wolverine in the role of a helpless loser. It is also very effective in showing how everyone else around him cant get past the idea that they live among a former killer who will one day snap. Everyone except his own wife reminds him of this in one way or another.
Sure there are some holes. For example, Logan needs money, why wouldn’t Hawkeye just give it to him? Also, why would the bad guys let Logan live on their property? At the same time why would he want to live there? Also why is the United States the only option as a place to live? With regards to his journey with Hawkeye, it will take him just about a month, but he doesn’t show any concerns of being back in time to protect his family when the Hulk gang returns. These are all valid questions but for a first issue read you most likely don’t need these answered yet.
The artwork is excellent. Bloody and graphic in some spots and cold and detailed in others. The artwork really captures the wasteland that they live in very well.
Obviously this series will hinge on convincing us that Wolverine isn’t going to his pop his claws, only to have him pushed to the limit and then pop them. I’m thinking his family and others will all get killed, but we’ll see. If this series can keep up with the new status quo of Wolverine being a pansy then this arc should be excellent. For someone who is a mild Wolverine fan I was very impressed with this comic.
5 out of 5 geek goggles.
 Wolverine #66 |
