As a long time fan of Chris Claremont, his mark on the Marvel Universe cannot be denied. The impact he had just on the popularity of the X-Men is the reason why they are one of the most known superhero team outside of comic fans. The depth and care to which he took most of the characters through is why George Lucas joined him for a trilogy of medieval fantasy books in the 1990s. The work he did on the Dark Phoenix Saga set the standard for comic universe events.

He took a character like Jean Grey and gave her more dimensions than the previous creators as well as real drama to the previously droll comic. This is why when Falcon and The Winter Soldier came on air, longtime X-Men fans like me geeked at the fact they journeyed to Madripoor. This is where Wolverine had his bar and mutants found refuge away from the rest of the world. In Larry Hama’s return to Marvel, he tells a story where Logan was still known as his other moniker in the debut issue of Wolverine: Patch, as he gets in a bit of trouble along the way.

We’re taken to the Princess Bar, where Patch AKA Logan, Tyger Tiger and Archie Corrigan , who gets a proposition for a job, which leads them tot the mountains of Madripoor where apparently something underhanded is going on. Before they could make any progress, they get waved on a SHIELD Helicarrier where Nick Fury  gives them his version of a fair warning, as SHIELD has their counterintelligence operations going on the island. By the issue’s end, some Russian bigwigs arrive, the reader finds out more about the experiments that the mercenary army is doing in the mountains and Patch (Logan) finds some unexpected company in the form of mutant mercenaries who give him an unfair fight.

Overall, Wolverine: Patch #1 is a story which  feels like a an espionage thriller right in the middle of the X-Men Universe. The story by Hama is scintillating. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, one of the best books of 2022 already.

Story: Larry Hama Art: Andrea Di Vito
Ink: Le Beau Underwood Color: Sebastian Cheng Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.6 Recommendation Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Wolverine is a character who has throughout the years worn many different hats. If there’s an era or style of story you enjoy, there’s probably one featuring Wolverine of that type. For a while, Wolverine was hanging out in Madripoor as a personality called Patch (he wore a patch, get it). Hanging out with Tyger Tiger and running a bar, the character dealt with the seedier sides of the Marvel Universe. Wolverine: Patch #1 takes us back to that time in a comic that feels retro in so many ways and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Written by Larry Hama, Wolverine: Patch #1 has Wolverine being tasked to find out what’s going on in some jungles. There’s Generals, weird experiments, and something to do with Russians. It all has a retro-James Bond feel to it all, down to Wolverine… I mean Path… wearing a tuxedo with a flower through much of the issue. There’s crooked leaders and lots of mystery all around while there’s nothing particularly bad about the comic, it’s also not all the exciting either. It just kind of is. Wolverine: Patch #1 feels like a story I meant have read in the classic Wolverine series or Marvel Presents in the 90s or maybe a backup stories in those.

The issue feels like an 80s James Bond story with a bit of the cheese and colorful characters that you’re never quite sure whose side they’re on. The story, the look, the overall vibe feels like something we’d have read in the 1980s.

The art by Andrea Di Vito is good. With ink by Le Beau Underwood, color by Sebastian Cheng, and lettering by Clayton Cowles, the art has a feel that matches the story. There’s a retro aspect of it all and feels like it sort of leans into the silliness of the story. As I mentioned above, Wolverine rocks his Patch white jacket and flower through the comic and over time it takes a bit of damage but generally remains looking good, a mutant power of the its own I guess. Visually it just sticks out for some reason and just feels like it matches the overall vibe of the comic.

Wolverine: Patch #1 isn’t bad in any way but it also doesn’t stand out. You read it and kind of wonder of what the point is other than adding some nostalgia. So far, it doesn’t give us anything new. There’s not some interesting exploration of the time or character. It’s just a standalone story so far with a “classic” feel of it all. This is one for fans looking for a bit of nostalgia.

Story: Larry Hama Art: Andrea Di Vito
Ink: Le Beau Underwood Color: Sebastian Cheng Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW