Dex's Comic Awareness

Wolverine #31
written by Mark Millar
pencils and cover by John Romita Jr.

And Millar's huge run on Wolverine closes with a loud pop. It wasn’t quite a bang but it didn't suck either. We discover that Elektra is also working for the Vatican and that she might be pulling the Hand in under control now that this is all done. Fury lives of course and they keep Northstar a secret from everyone.

The real shock comes from Logan's realization that everything he's done up till now hasn't really touched the Gorgon. He killed ninjas who wish to die, he murdered his mistress who he was going to kill anyway, and he destroyed bases the Gorgon didn't even know about two months ago. It's a nice little mental switch to show that Wolverine really isn't the mastermind here, the Gorgon is. But it begs the question of what the Gorgon was after? Power? That seems so clichéd. So why should we hate the Gorgon? Answer is: we don't. He's just a bad guy because he'd kill Wolverine if we don't kill him.

The Gorgon is also extremely strong and fast and has mental powers and can shrug off pain and death. So what the fuck is he? Questions we'll never know the answers to because he's killed off. But the fight scene between them is nice and long at least. It's just disappointing because for all his skill and uniqueness as a villain, the Gorgon has no depth. The whole story was fun but it definitely doesn't feel important. Even with the ending.

The book ends with Wolverine's son dead and buried as Logan killed thousands to find him. The whole sub plot was the book ends to the story and that makes them feel tacked on because they really weren't explored at all in the middle. Millar does a good job but it's mostly a two trick pony. Hydra is still around, so is the hand, Logan's new found son is dead and just as forgotten as he was unknown before, and the new bad guy is gone. The only real changes were the death of the Von Strukers and the mind wipe of Northstar. The rest is classic sitcom fair of changing everything only to put it all back together at the end. It was hella fun though.

Rating - Good

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Wolverine #30
written by Mark Millar
pencils and cover by John Romita Jr.

We're nearing the end of the second half of the epic run by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. Their tale of Wolverine's death, rebirth and rampage as a tool for Hydra has been a great read with both predictable and unpredictable ups and downs. The only real hero to fall has been Northstar who was also re-animated to do the Hand's bidding. Now he's in rehabilitation and the time spent on both Wolverine's distress and the X-Men's who witnessed his death, is done without coming off as trite.

Wolverine and SHIELD are now going up against the last remnants of the coalition of Hydra, The Hand, AIM, and Dawn of the White Light. Each has been decimated in turn by Wolverine as he exacts revenge for his enslavement. The Hand and Dawn of the White Light are now gone, sure to rise later as nothing in comics truly dies, and Wolverine is now focused on taking out Hydra and what little bit of AIM is left.

All goes according to plan till Wolverine and Elektra get to fight the Gorgon. We don't really know why he's so powerful, or even what all his powers are. But as he demonstrates here, he must be awfully powerful because he takes down Elektra and Wolverine and turns the tables yet again. That has been the hallmark of this series; the loser finds the silver lining and wins out.

They mention a meeting of all the evil societies and groups to discuss the Gorgon's plans. I doubt such a meeting is going to ever take place which is a disappointment. As campy as it might have been, I really wished to see such a thing. Oh well, I'll take this any day.

Rating - Great