Wolverine (2003 Series) #15

May 16, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Return of the Native Part Three

As Wolverine and the Native canoodle in the woods, Sabertooth tries to hunt her down.

Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Darick Robertson
Inks: Jimmy Palmiotti & Tom Palmer
Colors: Studio F
Letters: Rus Wooton
Editor: Axel Alonso & Warren Simons
Cover Art: Darick Robertson
Publisher: Marvel Knights

It took Greg Rucka’s writing to get me to read Wolverine, and as much as I’ve enjoyed this series overall, this last story arc isn’t quite grabbing me the way the first few have. Wolverine has hunted down a woman called simply “The Native,” who he finds he has a lot in common with, and I don’t just mean the sleeping skins they share in her cave. After the canoodling is over, Wolverine remembers that Sabertooth is out there looking for this girl, and he’s got to get her out somehow.

I think the part of this story I’m having trouble with is the idea that there’s a “native” woman running around with the same claws as Wolverine – it’s a pretty unique mutation, at least in the form he has it, and the fact that this girl has the same claws is a little farfetched to me. Plus, the story seems to hinge on the old Weapon X storyline, which isn’t a period of Marvel Comics history that really holds any interest for me. Still, that’s my problem, not a problem with the writing, so don’t take off too many points for that complaint.

Darick Robertson is the perfect penciller for this title. He draws the best out-of-costume Wolverine I’ve ever seen. He makes him look gruff and grizzled, without losing the compact size that makes him stand out amongst other superheroes.

It’s too bad that Rucka will be leaving the book at the end of this storyline, because he’s really made Wolverine an entertaining character to me. Very few people have done that, and this issue particularly ends in a fashion that leaves me completely flabbergasted, because I simply have no idea where he’s going to take the storyline. How many comic books can you say that about these days?

Rating: 7/10

Archenemies #2

May 4, 2006

Quick Rating: Good
Title: What Goes Around

Forget Starfighter… Vincent sets his sights on Ethan!

Writer: Drew Melbourne
Pencils: Yvel Guichet
Inks: Joe Rubinstein
World’s Worst Roommate Art: D.J. Coffman
Colors: Rick Hiltbrunner
Letters: Jim Keplinger
Editor: Philip Simon
Cover Art: Yvel Guichet
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

The second issue of Dark Horse’s Archenemies miniseries offers up plenty of laughs, but the plot progression is rather muted, and it’s that flaw that bumps the rating down to 3.5. It’s a good issue, but not quite enough happens to make it rate any higher.

Fed up with his roommate, Ethan Baxer, would-be supervillain Vincent Darko decides to forgo his plans to destroy his arch-enemy and destroy his roommate instead… little does he know that Ethan and Starfighter are one and the same. A failed murder attempt makes Ethan fear that the nefarious Underlord has discovered his identity and fears for his roommate… unaware that Vincent is Underlord.

The first few pages build the situation nicely on the heels of last issue’s set-up, but most of the rest of the book is just Vincent plotting or Ethan worrying, without much else happening until the very end. We do get to meet some of the other characters in their world, which is nice, and the scripting is slick and funny… I laughed several times reading this book. I just wish more had happened in it, that’s all.

Guichet and Rubinstein’s artwork is solid, but Rubinstein’s inks were a little too heavy at times, making the book a bit darker than really fit the tone. On the other hand, they again have treated us to a cover that dovetails straight into the story, and for that, I’m enormously grateful. I’m not sure when it was made taboo for comic book covers to actually have something to do with the story, let alone (GASP!) have word balloons, but this series is delighting me in bucking that trend and doing a throwback to the days when covers were fun.

Melbourne and Coffman give us another installment of “World’s Worst Roommate” this issue as well – a funny gag strip that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had a roommate. Rounding out the issue is a nice array of bonus features and texts, including a great faux interview with Nanoman.

Between the cover style and the back-ups, this title really is everything I think comics should be – fun and loaded with goodies. We just need a little more plot this issue.

Rating: 7/10

Fables #19

November 8, 2003

Quick Rating: Great
Title: March of the Wooden Soldiers (Out of the Woods Chapter One)

Snow White and Bigby Wolf deal with the repercussions of their time under mind control, while Prince Charming puts his own plans in motion.

Writer: Bill Willingham
Pencils: Mark Buckingham
Inks: Steve Leialoha
Colors: Daniel Vozzo
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Shelly Bond
Cover Art: James Jean
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo

This book is labeled as a new storyline on the cover, and technically it is, but it’s a book that relies heavily on previous storylines. Snow White begins her prenatal care, Bigby Wolf is furious over how King Cole glossed over Prince Charming killing Bluebeard, and an old friend reappears to give Snow White a dire warning.

The “dead friend gives a warning in a dream” technique has been used over and over again, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. This issue doesn’t really have a main plot to latch on to, because it continues many plot threads from previous issues, and they’re clearly all building towards a common climax.

With Snow White we’ve got the personal tale of a woman dealing with a pregnancy she didn’t expect or want, but is determined to stick out. Willingham also returns to the political machinations of the “Animal Farm” story arc this month as well, and dips a bit into the more horrific elements that capped “Storybook Love.” This is a storyline, in essence, that begins to tie together everything we’ve seen in Fables so far.

After skipping last month, Buckhingham is back with his wonderful pencils and really innovative layouts. I can’t think of anyone currently working in comics who has as much fun with panel shapes and layout as he clearly does every month in this title.

While this probably isn’t a great starting place, it is a great issue of a great title, and people who have been reading it for any length of time will find themselves still pulled along with a book that just doesn’t disappoint.

Oh, and for anyone who questioned the relevance of last month’s Fables: The Last Castle one-shot… you won’t want to miss this one.

Rating: 9/10