Continuing my reading of Essential Wolverine Vol. 2, collecting comics originally published in 1990-1991, we now reach:
WOLVERINE #s 31-33 (Marvel)
These issues mark the debut of writer Larry Hama and artist Marc Silvestri in the series. A markedly different tone from the Jo Duffy stories that precede it though in the same Madripoor setting, as Hama focuses more on action, and the future Image co-founder Silvestri adds a more dynamic style.
The latter, perhaps not so surprising, as that's what the Image revolution was all about, putting art first, which perhaps wasn't so surprising, since the Image founders were all artists. The funny thing is that Silvestri's Wolverine looks a lot like Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon. Perhaps this is something of a coincidence, since Larsen created Dragon well before these comics, but now that I start thinking about it, the connection does go pretty deep. Since Dragon is big and green and sometimes has She-Dragon around, I always made the natural association with the Incredible Hulk. But the similarities with Wolverine could not be more glaring. If you know anything about Savage Dragon, you know that he has the same healing factor as Wolverine, a fact that Larsen has exploited in some very deliberate ways over the years.
If I go on about Savage Dragon in this update, it's because the storytelling is perhaps not terribly inspired. Perhaps not coincidentally, Wolverine's healing factor plays a huge role in these issues. This version of the character has some pretty definite limits, though Hama doesn't seem particularly constrained by them. He seems more interested in his drugs-are-bad message, which is a fine message except it's directed more at the cliche villains pushing the drugs than actually talking about the drugs themselves, which Hama may inadvertently glamorize. There is a renewed Japanese link to Hama's Wolverine, but nothing too inspired.
It, ah, may or may not be worth noting at this point that Hama and Silvestri are responsible for nearly every remaining issue in the collection.
Sounds fascinating. Not really.
ReplyDeleteOver the weekend I read "Batman RIP" and "Final Crisis" during the sucktacular World Series. The former I enjoyed and was surprised it actually made sense for the most part. The latter didn't really make much sense to me at all. It seemed by the end there was so much stuff going on, I couldn't really follow it. Maybe it was one of those things where there were a bunch of extra issues outside the main series it would have helped to read.
I want a Batman of Zrrh-whatever action figure now. That would be neat.
Dang, I'm bummed to see there isn't a Batman of Zurrh-en-arrh (or whatever) on Amazon. I should get a regular Batman and repaint it purple and red and yellow.
DeleteBasics of Final Crisis:
DeleteNew Gods eliminated. Darkseid reincarnated on Earth via the body of Metropolis cop Dan Turpin. Martian Manhunter murdered by Libra. Conspiracy of villains takes over, thanks to Darkseid. Resistance forms. Darkseid defeated. The rest of it is Morrison having fun with continuity. You don't necessary have to understand everything to appreciate the fact that this is arguably the most interesting New Gods tale not told by Jack Kirby.