Wolverine: Switchback

Writers: Joseph Clark, Gregg Hurwitz
Artist: Das Pastoras, Juan Doe
Publisher: Marvel
Published: March 2009

Wolverine is one of my favorite Marvel characters, but it can be tough to follow all his comics. As a compromise, I try and pick up a few one shots. Luckily, a buddy of mine turned me onto this issue. Switchback has 2 tales. The first one involves Wolverine taking a side trip on his journey to solve a mystery. The second has Wolverine getting beat up. It's called Punching Bag.

The first tale makes this comic worth picking up. The art reminds me a of a warped Norman Rockwell. I'm probably way off with that remark, but it's the first thing that comes to mind. As for the story, it's short, straightforward, sans super villains, and has a satisfying conclusion involving Wolvie getting beat up real bad, and then killing the bad guy. Which is exactly what I want in a Wolvie story.

Marvel Comics Presents # 88: Wolverine

Writers: Peter David, Various
Artists: Sam Kieth, Various
Publisher: Marvel
Published: 1991

Growing up this was (and still is) one of my favorite Wolverine stories. It has everything: Wolvie getting beating up, Madripoor, a tough son of a b*tch villain, Tiger Tyger, and hot dog cars. This run also introduced me to Sam Kieth. Lately he has been doing a bunch of work on Batman, but it was Wolverine work that really put him over the top. Kieth deliviered one of the hariest, beastly Wolverines I've yet seen. This ain't no Hugh Jackman.

Wolverine has just been beaten, bad, by Cyber. Cyber is able to deliver hallucinogens via his toxin tipped fingernails. Issue 88 opens with Wolverine in a lot of pain, and the hallucinogens kicking in. He is relieving the moments when he first met Cyber. Wolvie is in school, and is not to pleased with Coach Cyber. Seems the coach has made the moves on his girl Janet. Too Bad for Wolvie that Coach Cyber has got a bigger sausage...car. Looks like the two are going to have a wiener show down.

WildC.A.T.S X-Men: The Modern Age 3D

Writer: James Robinson
Artist/Inker: Adam Hughes/Mark Farmer
Colorists: Joe Chiodo & Martin Jimenez
3D Conversion: Ray Zone
Publisher: Marvel
Published: November 1997

This was the comic that I found for $0.25 that had the long sought after 3D glasses. I just got to reading it. The story is decent. The X-Men and the Wildcats folk infiltrate a rogue Hellfire sect. The leader of the Hellfire sect is trying to summon the power of a demon to work for him. However, the X-Men and Wildcats put a quick stop to that. Not more complicated than that.

The 3D effects are good too. The issue is devised by adding a red and blue tint, which allows the reader (with the help of the glasses) to see a three dimensional image. Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D does this same thing, but instead of using the red and blue channels, they use twin projectors which create the same effect. It's pretty frickin' cool! This leads to a crystal clear image with eye poppin' visuals! Go see it!!!

The Uncanny X-Men # 268

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist/Inker/Colorist: Jim Lee/Scott Williams/Glynis Oliver
Publisher: Marvel
Published: September 1990

This is Claremont and Lee at the top of their game - 90's style! Lee's art is busy action packed, with each panel looking just awesome. Added to that is Claremont's heavy dialogue, which makes this comic an actual read and not just a series of one liners over drawings (ie. anything produced these days). This is one of the comics where the $1.25 I paid was worth every cent.

The story is set in Madripoor and cuts between 1941 and 1990. In 1941 Cap and Logan are handing out some punishment to the Hand. In 1990, the same deal is underway, but now it's Wolverine, Jubilee, Psylocke, and the Black Widow handing out the just desserts.

Without going into too much detail, the two narratives overlap, and because it's a Claremont tale, you really need to read it to get just how great this comic is. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. Well, that being said, they didn't make a lot of them like this back then as well. Anyhoo, check some scans.


BAM! CAP 'N WOLVIE HAVE AT THE HAND!


Wolvies Angels - KICKIN' HAND ASS!


POW! TAKE THAT NAZI SCUM!


Stare into the Wolverine, the Wolverine will stare into you.


Potential Sidekick.




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X-Factor # 61 (Part 6 of The X-Tinction Agenda)

Writer: Louise Simonson
Artists: Jon Bogdanove, John Caponigro
Publisher: Marvel
Published: December 1990

Anyone remember X-tinction Agenda? If not a quick recap: the country of Genosha with the aid of Cameron Hodge (a crazy psycho cyborg) have declared war on mutants. A bunch of mutants have been captured and have had their mutant powers blocked. Hodge tortures the mutants forcing them to fight one another. One battle had Wolverine and Archangel forced to fight, where Wolverine is left badly injured. He is tossed into a cell.

This issue picks up with Jean Grey and Cable being tossed into cells as well. Hodge has Jean Grey placed in the same cell as Wolverine. As everyone knows, Wolvie has always had a major krush on Jean. His love for Jean is just another tragedy in his life, as Jean is loyally in love with Cyclops and can never return his love. Now that he's dying (because his healing factor is being blocked) Jean is drawn to him and able to bring some comfort to his life.

There have been many Wolverine and Jean Grey moments in X history, but I always remember this one as being particularly poignant.

Wolverine # 70

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven
Publisher: Marvel
Published: February 2009

If you're a Wolverine fan (like I am), then this is the issue for you.







6 words: The Shit Has Hit The Fan.

X-Men and Spider-Man # 2 of 4

Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Mario Alberti
Publisher: Marvel
Published: December 2008

This is probably the best looking comic for a team up that I have ever read. I've never heard of Mario Alberti, but now that I have, I wish I had knew of him earlier, because his style is just fantastic. His mastery of the graphic design is staggering....I think I'm in love...

Issue two has Spider-Man (in his awesome black suit) rifling through the files of the now dead Kraven, and finding info on some shady dealings between Kraven and Mr. Sinister. Spidy heads over to visit the X-Men to advise them of this. At this point in the series, the X-Men are in knee deep with stopping the Marauders. For all you non X-Men folk, the Marauders are a group of mutants who were hired to capture individuals for Mr. Sinister's experiments. At this point the issue pretty much turns into one kick ass fight sequence, that includes Wolverine getting all beserker on Sabertooth. Also for any of the folks not in the know, Wolvie and Sabertooth don't get along too well...as for thee reasons why, not too sure, as it keeps changing with Wolvies ever expanding history. The last I remember, and this is going back a few issues, is that Sabertooth killed Silver Fox, Wolvies lover. Now, I'm not too sure if that is the case, as I also think that whole Silver Fox thing may have been a mental implant...oh I can't keep up...I'll have to wik it up later. Not tonight though...gotta gets sleep and dream dreams of dreamland...

Anyway, this series is pretty much sliding under the radar, which is too bad, because folks need to buy these issues just so that Marvel will keep hiring Alberti.

Fuck Alberti rocks!

Next up some issues centered on Bats and Betty Page.

Same Bat Time
Same Bat Channel

Wolverine: Manifest Destiny # 2 of 4

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Stephen Segovia
Publisher: Marvel
Published: December 2008

Here we have part 2 of the Manifest Destiny Wolvie series. This issue picks up with Wolvies old girlfriend ordering his death by the Black Dragon Death Squad. Now they aren't called Death Squad without a reason, and they sure put one helluva beating on Wolverine. One of them punches him in the soul! Thanks to this act we now have conclusive evidence that humans have souls. The issue ends with what is setting up to be an awesome training montage, a la Rocky style.

As usual the artwork is fantastic, and Jason Aaron definitely has a handle on old martial arts dialogue and even manages to throw in THE Chinatown quote. Can't wait for the next one.




I wish I could have made that my high school yearbook quote.

X-Men Unlimited # 37

Writer: Kaare Andrews
Artist: Kaare Andrews, Dave McCaig, Mike Kunkel, Joshua Middleton, Troy Nixey, Dave Stewart, Skottie Young, Pat Duke
Publisher: Marvel
Published: September 2002

X is for X-Men! X-Men!

This is another one of those issues that I picked up because the cover kicked ass. As you can see, it has many, many versions of Wolverine duking it out and it looks absolutely awesome! As for the story, it's pretty awesome too.

The issue follows a farmer who summons a boy named Hutch into his plain of existence. Hutch is a boy who was born into all worlds but none. He is split between all the different realities, but when the farmer summons him he ends up creating a convergence in all the worlds which allows Mephisto a chance to destroy everything. The X-Men, all the many versions are there to fight him. As the issue progresses we find out that Hutch is the son of Illyana, who just wants her boy back. In the end Hutch sacrifices his solidarity in one reality to save all realities. What a nice boy!

The great thing about these type of tales is that it offers a wide range of artists. It's like a sampler of talent, and it allows the reader the chance to see a variety of styles. I was greatly impressed by Nixey and Stewarts version of Mephisto. Real creepy and yet powerful! Also the little Wolverine and little X-Men scene was pretty wicked. The comic is worth a read just for the artistic wonders inside.

Spidey and the Mini Marvels # 1

Writer/Artist: Chris Giarrusso
Publisher: Marvel
Published: May 2003

S is for Spidey!

I haven't reviewed any Spider-Man comics since I started my 365 run, and so today I end this Spider-man drought, once and for all! LET THERE BE SPIDER-MAN! or in today's case, SPIDEY!

Ain't he cute!

You know it.

This amazing first issue has Spidey competing with Venom to see who will get the honor of delivering Daily Bugle papers to the Osborn household. The two of them are forced to compete in an obstacle course, but neither are willing to do so, and so the J. Jonah Jameson is forced to decide for them...with dire consequences for the nefarious Goblin father/son duo.

The second tale of this spectacular issue concerns Wolverines quest for his favorite breakfast cereal, X-Crunch. He visits the local superstore, but is accused of stealing by management - poor little guy! Upon leaving the store, he is tackled by Sabertooth and Toad. Wolverine is assisted by the mother of a bear cub (he rescued the bear cub earlier in the ish), and the battle is concluded as Sabertooth and Toad are sent flying by mother bear wielding a golf club. The tale ends with Wolvie sitting down to a much earned breakfast, only to have his cereal end up on the ground, due to an earlier dispute between his claws and the table leg. Can't Marvel cut Wolvie a break once and a while?

What I find interesting is the love/hate thing Wolvie has got going with bears. When he's a mini, he's all about saving them, but when he's older, Wolvie's all about eatin' em (see Marvel Comics Presents issue 54 & 55). What happened? I'm thinking a limited edition series, consisting of 8 issues written by Kevin Smith, spaced out over 3 years, of Wolverine versus the bears. Shit, know what the reminds me of?...

Well I'm gonna tell ya!

In the movie, The Golden Compass, there is one helluva bear fight.

That's it.

Go see it.



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What If... # 24: Wolverine Was Lord Of The Vampires

Writers: Roy Thomas & R.J.M. Lofficier
Artist: Tom Morgan
Colorist: Tom Vincent
Publisher: Marvel
Published: April 1991

Happy Halloween! I thought I would take this day to discuss a real treat:

What If...Wolverine Was Lord Of The Vampires! Hell Yeah!

Now this is a real "what if" comic. Way back, the X-Men had a battle with Count Dracula to save Storm's soul. In that time line, the X-Men were successful, but in this issue's time line, the X-Men fail, and are turned to vampires. Wolverine, now free of the trappings of humanity, reverts to his, yeah you guessed it, his wolverine form, and takes down Dracula. After a gruesome beheading of the Count, Wolverine takes over as Lord of the Vampires.

With Wolverine in control, he and the vampire X-Men quickly take down their fellow mutants, superheros and former villains. Humans are merely prey at this point. The only threat to Wolverine at this point is Dr. Strange, so Wolverine sends vampire Juggernaut to kill Dr. Strange, which he does, but only Strange's physical form dies. Strange escapes in his spirit form and later teams up with the Punisher. The Punisher, armed with Strange's mystical cape and the Eye of Agamotto, heads into battle - the BATTLE TO END IT ALL!

Well not ALL, but THE BATTLE TO END ALL VAMPIRES!


So long, spectacular story short, the good, human, guys win, but not the way one would expect. Let's just say Wolverine stays true to his inner character. Oh, what a ride.
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Marvel Comics Presents # 55: Collective Man

Writers: Michael Higgins, Len Kaminski, Len Wein, Scott Lobdell
Artists: Dave Ross, Jim Fry, Jim Fern, Greg Laroque
Colorists: Brad Vancata, Gregory Wright, Renee Witterstaetter
Publisher: Marvel
Published: 1990

Following my last post on MCP # 54, here we have Wolverine and Hulk battling it out, making peace, and then eating some bear meat. Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night) summons his dead dad, all the while unaware that his "grand children" and the Silver Dagger are stalking him. The fish story by Wein has Stingray fighting off a giant squid, which is very cool. Finally, the best story in this issue has, the Collective Man defying the Chinese Army.I'd never heard of the Collective Man, but from what I can manage in 8 pages, he is 5 men who can become 1. There are 5 brothers who can join and separate into one brother at will. As an example, in the issue, one of the brothers visits their dying mother, while the other four battle the God of Happiness (more on that later). The brothers then one by one "merge" on the brother visiting their mom, so that in the end they are all by her side. Pretty cool. As for the God of Happiness, he is this over sized blob like humanoid thing that works for the Chinese government, sent to "spread happiness," ie force people to accept their roles in society.

Clearly this last tale loosely hints on a few themes. The "Collective Man," sporting his Republic of China jacket, is a man who physically embodies the spirit of Chinese communism. The five brothers, each with their respective personalities, can merge and become a singular being of force, who stand for love and protection. The God of Happiness is a perversion of real happiness and represents the misguided application of communism. Then again, it is just a comic. The story ends with the God of Happiness floating away stating: "It became clear that it was this love, not politics, not platitudes, not even a bloated religious belief in me - that will save the people of China...the joke was on me"