Savage Wolverine #1
by Frank Cho
Marvel
How many Wolverine books are there? How many way can he say that he is the best there is? We’ve been reading about Logan for a couple decades, and with this new Marvel NOW book, Savage Wolverine, Frank Cho is turning his art and storytelling styles in on Marvels favorite mutant.
Set in the Savage Land (hence Savage Wolverine), Shanna the She-Devil and a bunch of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are exploring when their aircraft breaks down stranding them in the inhospital wilderness. One frame later, Wolverine falls inexplicably out of the sky, gets attacked by dinosaurs and neanderthals. Eventually he latches up with Shanna as they are attacked by a gaggle of pterosaurs.
This is a fun start of a series, but I don’t know if it will have staying power. Back in the day when I would run to the local shop to pick up Marvel Team Up or Marvel Two in One, they were fun stories where Spider-Man or The Thing teams up with some hero and beats the bad guy. I kind of hope this book is like those. Not too deep where we delve into the psyche of Wolverine. Instead we see him going berserk on prehistoric animals. And blond, big-boobed jungle babes isn’t off putting either.
Is this book public library worthy? After a single issue, I’d say it’s an optional series. But that’s only after a single issue. It certainly isn’t for young children with the violence and decapitations. But for a 14 year old boy, I would certainly let them check this out.
Sorry for not having an entry last week. I was getting ready to attend the San Diego Comic Con for a couple days and didn’t make it to the shop. So I have a pretty big stack this week. What I would have picked for my top of the pile last week was I, Zombie. I thought it was the final issue of that run, but it turns out there's one more coming.
This week however goes to a Marvel book, Fantastic Four #608. There are other good books that were close to the top including Daredevil #15, Saga #5 and the new Captain Marvel #1. But the Jonathan Hickman run on the Fantastic Four book has been a fun ride for the past couple years. And another definite plus is the Frank Cho cover of three superwomen. That’s why I put this at the top of my pile.
On reading, this book is one of exposition. It’s not the most exciting, but Hickman is building the larger story. It starts with T’Challa and Reed Richards entering into the Wakandan necropolis because of dreams the T’Challa has been experiencing. While T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, the current Black Panther, along with Storm and Invisible Woman go on their own vision quest to confront the Jackal God who has been attacking Wakanda.
The art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Karl Kesel and Paul Mounts is better than good. The Egyptian motif is prevalent through the book. And with some dramatic angles and interesting facial expressions, I’m glad I put this one at the top. I suspect there are other books that would be better as a single issue this week, but I’m happy that this issue of Fantastic Four didn’t disappoint.
