Daken: Dark Wolverine

I never cared much for Daken in either Wolverine Orgins or the Dark Wolverine series, but this one suprised me alot by being actually interesting. The story is about Daken wanting to build an empire and stop living in the shadows of his father. It is an interesting premise and Daken does make for an good villian protagonist. Because he is far from a hero. Some may have a problem with his asshole personality, which is to me annoying as he is that more than he is funny. It is not great, but i am interested in continuing reading this series, something i cant say for Orgins or Dark Wolverine. 3/5

Well, it's time for a new Dark Wolverine series, not even a month after the last Dark Wolverine series ended. On the bright side though, now I don't have to read all the past Wolverine books to get a sense for Daken and Romulus and everything going on. Instead I get to jump right into Daken: Dark Wolverine! Excitement building! 
 
The issue opens with 50 years ago, Wolverine is stumbling about and falls into a heap of mud as we hear Daken monologuing about how much he hates Wolverine. So much so that he's willing to wait to kill him until the moment is just right. Back to the present, we see a fashion show going on as Daken shows how manipulative he can be and then he kills a bunch of people who are after him, for reasons he knows but won't state out loud. After taking care of them, Daken goes to an unknown location where he meets with a shadowy figure and discuss Mystiques betrayal (See Wolverine Issue 1). When asked why, he replies that he wants it all. We then cut to see Daken standing atop a building in his new costume, ready to unless his fury. 
 
Being my first foray into the world of Daniel Way and Marjorie Liu I'm happy to say that I got exactly what I expected. That is that Daken is handled incredibly well, made both incredibly charming and incredibly cruel, but in a way where you can't help but love the guy. His dialogue alone is enough to just make the character instantly enticing and you want to see more of him at the end of the issue. My only problem though is that not enough happens in this issue. I mean, a bunch of things do, but it feels almost like a prelude to what is to come, and I think that's appropriate for a first issue. First issues shouldn't run head first into things, they should never assume you know the characters perfectly well, they should introduce them to you. My main problem with Namor a few weeks back was for that very reason, it ran head first into things and it felt random as a result. Here I can tell that all things have a purpose and that the story will unfold beautifully. 
Giuseppe Camuncoli on pencils is what really got me into this book. Having encountered his art in a few other books briefly, I was somewhat familiar and very intrigued by his art. He has a style that is hard to describe but feels right immediately for a book like this. The way he draws Daken and the steely stare he gives him makes him all the more seductive and brings out he character fully. There is also a panel with a girls teeth being examined that just stood out to me and again a panel with Daken eating a strawberry that truly captured his character. None of this would be possible without the great contributions of Onofrio Catacchio on inks and Frank D'Armata. Both do standout work and I can't wait to see what these three bring to next issue when Liu and Way let loose. 
Overall, this is a decent start to a new Daken book, but you don't need it. If you haven't read anything with Daken and have no idea who he is, there is a nice back-up that explains in detail his back history and adds that little bit for an extra dollar. Overall, a good book with a bright future. 4 out of 5.

     *Warning, I am no Daken expert, I just reviewed it how I saw it* Thought a #1 would be a goog jumping off point.  
 
Following Daken's stint as a Dark Avenger and following his battles with his father, The Fantastic Four, and  Punisher, Daken strikes out on his own once again. There is a few themes or keyphrases in this book that start in the beginning and are reintroduced at the end which I thought was pretty cool actually. At one point in the book Daken is making out with a model in Milan and she says"Oh my god" and Daken just revels in it. Beacause of my  ignorance to the character this both interesed me and disgusted me.The last few pages though were exceptionally well done with them showing how Daken is both working with the person who sent Wolverine to hell and tippedoff mystique to help him. I'm not adding it to my pull list, but I think I am going to check out issue 2 to see where it goes.

Summary:
         The issue opens up with Daken atop a hill, watching Wolverine  through a sniper scope.  Through his inter-monologue, we learn of Daken's aspirations to be a good man.-the kind that people talk about with respect rather than pity.  He appears earnest in his desire to be a good man.  The one obstacle standing in his way, is his father, Wolverine.  Wolverine's mere existence fills Daken with a  fiery hate and fury that drives him insane.  Daken feels it's his destiny to give wolverine the death he deserves.  

        The issue jumps forward, showing Daken making out with a model in the corner of a room.  This is his cover- his mask.  He wears the guise of a womanizing jerk to hide the anger within.  The best place to hide, is in plain sight- a concept that Daken understands all too well.   

        As Daken exits  the model studio, he is confronted by numerous armed gunman.  Daken dispatches them quickly and adeptly, displaying both his brutality and acrobatic finesse.  Ostensibly, Daken is involved with some organization that has it's hand in sending Wolverine to hell.  The assassins were the bosses way of getting Daken's attention.   

       Daken goes to visit the man and learns of Mystique's betrayal.  If you read Wolverine #1, you see Mystique bursting into a building, sporting a tight white leather suit and a motorcycle.  She swoops in, saves Melita Garner from the men trying to kill her, and rides the motorcycle right out the window, plunging through the glass.  Hell of an entrance and exit if you ask me.    
We find out that Mystique was also involved with organization.  However, once she found out what they were up to, she turned on them.  Oddly, Daken admits to having told Mystique about the organization's true intentions.  Befuddled, the boss asks him why he would divulge such sensitive information.  He curtly replies "Because I want it all." 

       The final scene shows Daken standing atop a roof,sporting his new     brown suit.  Looking down upon the city, Daken vows to break the chains that bind.  He will not live in the shadow of Romulus or Wolverine any longer.  He will become his own shadow-create his own empire.  Daken will have it all!

Good:
         I really enjoyed this issue.  Although this was my least favorite of the three Wolverine titles released this month, it was still really solid.  Giuseppe Camuncoli's artwork is superb.  He incorporates a great amount of detail and really seems to have a mastery of drawing Daken.  The way Daken is sketched, you can see both the misogynist guise and the pain behind the eyes.  I's hard to explain, but the artwork somehow manages to be beautiful and gritty at the same time. 
 
       While the artwork was stunning, it was the combination of Lui and Way that really made this issue great.  Daken is a very complex character, and if not written correctly, he comes across as either a jerk or someone who is excessively brooding.  Lui and Way really delve deep into the psyche of Daken, giving us insight into his convoluted mind.  They really explore Daken's entire emotional spectrum, underscoring his conflicting views.  The writing really made me love this character.  There's something so appealing about the mesh of imperious aspirations, self-loathing, and seething hate.  
 
Bad: 
       The only reason I'm not giving this issue a five is because of the slow placing.  It just seems that very little happened plot-wise. However, I'm getting the feeling that something very big, that will have long-term ramifications is going to happen between Daken and Wolverine.  
 
Verdict:
4.5 out of 5  
    
    I know a lot of you out there detest picking up any book with Wolverine's name on the cover, but this is really good.   The confluence of the dynamic duo of Lui and Way and Camuncoli's superb artwork, make picking up this title a no-brainer.  If you're not reading this title, then you're making a huge mistake.
 
Daken's finally emerged from the shadows and he's determined to have it all.

The Good - This issue was a good read, ´cause Marjorie and Daniel used concepts that are commom to us, like Daken´s ambiguos sexual behavior (dating women and men, just to achieve his goals), his desire for tasty and quality things, the dillema of killing his father (like in the beggining of the book) and the fact that he is looking for power. This initiative of lurking out of Romulus´and Logan´s shadows, in an attempt to create his own, is a very good premise. It´s also a good read because of the mystery involving the older character who felt betrayed by Daken, what did Daken wanted with the fashion little guy (Donatello) and what are their roles in Logan being sent to Hell: that spice things a little. I guess Camuncoli´s art is at his best in this issue and I credit D´armatta´s colors, it made all the difference; also with this inker from Italy (Onofrio Cattachio) Camuncoli´s art improved a lot, it´s a good combination. The history of Daken in the last pages was pretty good too
The Bad - Although it was an "invitation" from the mysterious character, I think that brawl was unnecessary (the scenes were ok, nice moves and the only action of the book, but it was a little pointless), also I´m not enjoyng Raven´s part in this arc story. 
The Verdict - If you put together the writing and the art you have a solid book, worthy picking up.
4 out 5

Good: 
This issue really goes into Daken's Psychology, showing how he thinks and acts. Since Romulus's Empire is ruined, Daken is now trying to build his own. It features Daken explaining how he will build up his empire, while still sharing room for Daken's life. The thing that  confused me was Daken talking to the human torch, I don't recall them becoming friends, now cross-reference that with cover #4 and it's funny. The Art was really superb, It is so full of texture. It shows that Daken is so much like his father in some ways. It finishes off with the new costume. 
 
Bad: 
 
I am a Daken fan (Dark wolverine series is all i read). but this Comic Book seemed lacking. Like i said above, the comic goes into Daken's Psychology, but thats just it. The plot is slow-moving. I felt like the fight wasn't necessary and i would have settled for more Daken time. I felt like the costume reveal was an apology and their way of revealing the plot. For these 3 reasons, this loses 2 points 
 
Conclusion: 
 
If you are just getting into the character of Daken and want to learn more about him, then pick up this comic book, I am just waiting until this opens up to something bigger. Otherwise, don't pick up this issue, but thats just my opinion. 
 

3/5

Daken is back.My favorite anti hero(he isn't like a villain from my point of view) is back!!!I haven't been reading much comics since Siege with the exception of Amazing Spider-Man so it was good to have a few recap pages which told the story of Daken.The first issue was really interesting.We get a dose of drama,action,sex(?!) and even humor.Daken's quotes are awesome too and his inner dialog/monologue,thoughts or whatever...
Starting in Milan,Italy Daken is getting ready to jump in action again after staying in the shadows for months and what can be a better start then turning on Romulus and getting a new costume as well.Now having a purpose Daken wants to build his own Empire and not hide in the shadow but to become THE shadow.
   Overall a great start with a few  problems, 3.5 out of possible 5.