The Good
Good things come to those who wait. From the first issue, we’ve seen Wolverine start a new path. Paul Cornell picked up from the previous volume with Wolverine losing his healing factor, thanks to Sabretooth. This has set off Wolverine on a dark and angry path now that he has to face his own mortality. Aligning himself with a new (and questionable) group, we saw Wolverine do some things that have outraged long time fans.
Of course waiting for the answers could help to explain some things.
Throughout these first four issues, Cornell has been going back and forth in Wolverine’s timeline, showing the present along with the moments that lead up to his new situation. We’ve seen him lash out at his friends and loved ones as he’s distanced himself more and more. With each scene, we find out more and more. There are some moments that are tough to see (like Wolverine’s encounter with Kitty Pryde). Seeing everything unfold does help us understand what is going on and why Wolverine was able to shoot a man in cold bold in the first issue. The story is definitely becoming more intriguing as we start to get all the pieces of the puzzle.
Ryan Stegman continues to do what he does best. He draws a tough Wolverine and you can really see and feel how far he’s fallen. Stegman’s crisp and clean detailed art smacks you in the face and you get a great sense of how Wolverine’s world is changing.
The Bad
The story is heating up but, just as with the end of the previous volume, I’m getting a little tired of having so much of the focus be on Sabretooth. Yes, he is Wolverine’s greatest enemy but it would be nice to have someone else come into the picture as well. Sabretooth may not have a physical presence but because of what he did to Wolverine, he remains at the forefront of Wolverine’s motives.
The Verdict
Paul Cornell is shaking things up with Wolverine. Many have questioned Wolverine’s action as well as become outraged but with each flashback scene, we find out more and more of why Wolverine has done the things he did in past issues. It’s fun to look back and see why everything has happened and how they fit together. Ryan Stegman’s art is a joy to see. He makes each scene with Wolverine nice and gritty, reflecting how he’s feeling. Despite how much I like Wolverine, there have been times recently where I’ve grown a little complacent with his escapades. Cornell and Stegman are making Wolverine fun and exciting.
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