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I’ve been excited for Wolverine: Exit Wounds for some time ever since I saw Sam Keith would be contributing to the book. Keith was a big reason I got into Wolverine at a young age and it’s exciting to see Marvel celebrate its 80th anniversary with Keith, Chris Claremont, Scot Eaton, Larry Hama, and Salvador Larroca producing 3 distinct Wolverine stories here. Not all celebrations end happily though so is it good?
So what’s it about?
Read our preview.
Why does this matter?
Each story gives you something different so it covers nearly every Logan fan there is from the Weapon X fan to the fan of Logan’s past in Japan. Oh, and Keith sends Wolverine back to the swamp for some brawling action!
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
I really loved two of the three stories here and didn’t mind the third one either. The comic opens with Larry Hama and Scot Eaton focusing on Logan as the mindless Weapon X guinea pig. It feels like a lost slice of the original Weapon X run by Barry Windsor-Smith. Essentially it dips ever so slightly into the psychological torture Logan went through in order for the program to control him. Eaton does a fantastic job with the pencils and Matt Milla will bring you back to Windsor-Smith’s gritty look and feel. Inker Sean Parsons also keeps things dark and feral as Weapon X cuts through animals. It’s primo ferocious Weapon X.
The second story by Chris Claremont and Salvador Larroca (with colors by Val Staples) has Wolverine visit an old friend in Japan. There’s fighting in this story too, but it’s a bit more refined. This is a modern Logan, possibly even the one walking about in stories today, as he’s a bit more subdued and diplomatic. The story has a nice twist that rests on the fact that Logan is centuries (and generations) old.
Last but not least is Sam Kieth’s story colored by Ronda Pattison. His unique and expressive style is on full display here showcasing the ripped and hairy Wolverine of the 80s. He goes toe to toe with a major Marvel villain you might not expect and his berserker rage comes into play. I’d recommend checking out Kieth’s style from The Maxx to see what you’ll be getting into. The captions do a good job connecting Wolverine’s ability to lose control for better or worse.
It can’t be perfect, can it?
The middle story by Claremont and Larroca takes its time to deliver the hook and then ends with a whimper of a resolution. I’m not sure the surprise twist, if you can call it that, really warrants the page length. Similarly, Kieth’s story is quite cool if you like his art, but it doesn’t add much beyond a few pages of fighting. It’s customary of covers but sticklers should know Wolverine does not fight Sabretooth in this comic.
Is it good?
A good one-shot that features three different versions of Wolverine throughout the years. The Weapon X story alone is worth the price of admission, but if you dig Sam Kieth’s work don’t miss his return to the character.
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