Wolverine # 42 Review
Author: Marc Guggenheim
Penciler: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Carlos Cuevas
Colors: Edgar Delgado
Well you've might have heard me bitch before about my ideal look for Wolverine. The roughed up look that artist like Darrick Robertson, Marc Silvestri (pre-Hugh Jackman inspiration that has been on the covers of Deadly Genesis), and Mark Texeria made him out to be. So how wrong or right was I, when I bitched about Humberto Ramos taking over artistic chores on Wolverine? Well here is my review:
We get Logan stopping a terrorist group trying to hijack a plane and a small subtle commentary on 9/11, except this time its the Christian terrorist taking the plane. Eventually the plane gets taken down along with the terrorist. Wolverine is on his own solo mission to hunt down Nitro, because of the tragedy in Stamford (Civil War # 1). He's not the only one after Nitro either; there is a group of mysterious men in Latveria that are apparently after Nitro as well. We get some major catch-up in the weeks between Civil War 1 and the current events in this title.
So how was the first issue of the Guggenheim and Ramos arc? Well let's break it down. Here are the things I enjoyed about this issue.
1) Finally! After all the bullshit of blaming the New Warriors in Civil War 1 and no one even mentioning Nitro, Wolverine is finally making it clear that Nitro is the guilty party here.
2) Wolverine and Cage scene! Thank you Mr. Guggenheim for acknowledging how fucking ridiculous it is for the X-men to let Sentinels monitor them and stay in their front yard. Not since God Loves Man Kills, have I seen it put it this plain and simple as to what the Sentinels symbolize to the X-men.
3) We get the Civil War story from Wolverine's point of view, Wolverine's take on the events of Civil War are pretty much were I stand as a comic reader.
Now, things I didn't like. You knew you couldn't finish reading one of my reviews without having to read a little bitch fest first (but its not too bad):
1) During the clean up scene, Wolverine mentions how Marvel Girl (Rachel) couldn't hold her stomach while being around all the dead bodies and destruction. I say Bullshit! Rachel is from a possible future where humanity was hunted down by Sentinels and mutants like Ahab. She was a hound for Christ sake; she's been around death all her life and even hunted down some of her family herself. This was a bit out of character for her, but it wasn't like it was a huge deal in the book to begin with.
2) Wolverine mentions he had friends in the concentration camp. I'm fine with that; I'm assuming he was referring to Millar's last issue on his Wolverine run. He should also remind Cage, that not so long ago, the government tried to issue a Registration act to mutants and look where that ended up.
3) The dialogue is very clichéd, even for a Wolverine book. But then again, it is Wolverine, so I let alot slide, besides Guggenheim is just getting his feet wet. So why did it make the list? Who the fuck knows....maybe I was to lazy to go back and reread it.
4) Here we go! Humberto Ramos Does Not Belong In This Book!!! I have been a fan of his for years, since he was drawing Flash and Impulse. He has a certain style for certain books, but this is not it. He is too cartoony and almost too expressive (if there is such a thing in comics). This story requires someone with a more realistic style a darker tone would help too. You can tell that Ramos tries to darken his style, but it turns out to look more like a Chris Bachalo and Sam Kieth clone. All the characters have ridiculous large hands and feet, and fuck even Wolverine's eyes look anime style in some pages. Put Ramos on a book about kids like New X-men, Teen Titans, or Young Avengers those titles are more to his calling.
Not a bad start for Guggenheim and Ramos. Things are finally starting to look up for the ole Canuckle head. Now what Marvel needs to do is cancel Wolverine Origins and concentrate more on this book. If you can overlook the cartoony art style of Ramos or if you like it than this book is for you! Throw in a couple of bubs and a stogie in the next book and I'm sold for the series. B
I was suprised by this one and liked it as well. Honestly I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a Wolverine comic, I loathed Wolverine Origins, but this issue was the right tone and characterization for me. You are right, the art is odd, but I liked it anyway. This one was the suprise of the week for me.
Remember: You wont see any Stogies becayse Quasada is up his own ass with the fact that characters aren't allowed to smoke.
I can maybe explain the Rachel thing. She grew up with all that death but she has been in our time for a while now, maybe the sight brought up memories and thats why she puked, not so much at the sight itself but the things she has seen before and now this. Also maybe the sight made her afraid that her reality might in some way come true and the thought of that might have made her vomit. I think there was more to that, hell maybe she had bad sushi.
I agreee with your review 80% The last 20 percent is that Humberto Ramos should not be drawing anything. I never liked him and I drop everybook that he draws, he's a bad artist almost as bad as WieRingo and the guy that drew the last New Warriors art.
I liked this issue. I like Ramos. You read Revelations? Ramos was fantastic on that book. I like his Wolverine, he looks short and scrappy, the way he supposedly is, not the 6 foot tall version other people draw him as.
Actually picked this up for once. Pretty much in agreement with most of your review. Nitro is who they should be going after and I'm glad Wolverine is focusing on this instead of putting it on the backburner, like seemingly EVER OTHER FREAKING hero. Nitro nuked a wide ass area and the super-hero registration is what their worried about? Priorities people, priorities.
Before you ask, yes Brent K. My last name begins with a K too lol. The book was good enough to get the next book, but I'm not liking Ramos. His art style is too japanese for my taste. Story is good though.