In Wolverine Revenge #1, the world has been turned upside down. Asteroid M has been destroyed and Magneto, in his death, has set off an EMP that has fried technology across much of the world. On top of the deaths from Asteroid M’s fall, the world is on the brink as a lack of technology and power threaten billions. Enter Wolverine, who is recruited by Nick Fury and what remains of S.H.I.E.L.D. to try to save the day, but the mission goes sideways and all that remains now is revenge.
Wolverine Revenge #1 brings together two titans in the industry, writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Greg Capullo for a story that’s a bit silly, a bit jarring, and like a big budget popcorn film, not much depth.
The first issue is the set up to get us to that “revenge” aspect of things. Wolverine’s on a mission with some big names but the story quickly takes them off the board in a rather shallow way leaving no shock, no connection, and a big shrug and sigh about it all. The comic is action without any feeling for the characters or what has happened to the world.
Hickman’s story has some meat to its bones but it’s rather lean rushing us through any key moment to get us to care about what’s going on. Visuals as to the chaos on the ground would help. Giving us supporting characters that are more than “red shirts” would help with the surprise as to what happens. Overall, the issue feels like it goes through the motions to get us to what we came for, Wolverine tearing stuff up, but that’s not until the second issue.
Wolverine Revenge #1 is supposed to be Greg Capullo’s big return to Marvel, showing off his skills that have been highlighted so well with other publishers, but even that feels like nothing special. Character proportions feel odd. The deaths of the characters leave little surprise and are done in a way that doesn’t shock. It’s not until the very end there’s anything that’s visually interesting, but even then, that’s muddled. There’s little visually here that says big return and the comic feels like it’s out of the 00s visually at times.
Wolverine Revenge #1 has potential for something interesting but this first issue isn’t it. Odd choices visually and a story that rushes through things doesn’t help, it leaves a weird disconnect between the reader and events. We’re told far too much, shown too little, and left with no emotional connection or care for what happens. It’s point is to get to the end so the real story can begin. When there’s so many more visceral and emotional Wolverine stories out there, it’s hard to recommend this one as one to check out.
Story: Jonathan Hickman Art: Greg Capullo
Ink: Tim Towdsend Color: FCO Plascencia Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 6.5 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Pass
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle
