Wolverine # 47 Review
This Review Was Submitted by Knightwingbk:
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Artists: Humberto Ramos & Carlos Cuevas
Well, the 6-part "Vendetta" storyline comes to a close this month. What started off with a cool concept, a side story dealing with who was really responsible for Stamford, the villain Nitro, started to evolve into a cool conspiracy theory in the first issues. When Namor stepped in, the conspiracy seemed to get bigger until we got to last issue with the Damage Control war-profiteering. My first thought at the conspiracy was that someone paid Nitro to blow up Stamford in order to start the superhero Civil War, and wondered why this was not being explored in the main book. I was wrong, but what I'm left with is a solid Wolverine story that takes place within the Marvel U. and not Japan, and a good Civil War side story as well.
This issue is the resolution to everything that was uncovered last issue. The Mandroids did not realize that steel will not cut through Wolverine's Adamantium neck bones and foolishly think they've won, only to be cut into pieces. The Sentry shows up and brings Wolverine in for his activities against Damage Control. The Sentry acts like he doesn't believe in registration and says “I have to stop the UGLY business. Even if that means becoming part of it for a little while." This is something new, that has not been explored, but we would've known if the next issue of New Avengers had come out on time. Wolverine is taken to S.H.I.E.L.D. to talk to director Maria Hill, where she tries to cut Logan a deal. Logan pulls a Captain America and jumps out the window of the hellicarrier...
In the issue, Marc Guggenheim has Wolverine examining in his narration what makes people evil. Showing that every time Logan kills someone, he feels like he has to justify it to himself. He has to convince himself that he is not the villain and the people he kills deserve it. It’s arguable whether Logan's rationalization of evil is acceptable, but it works in the context of the story. This issue had a lot to do, and I'm left wondering if Guggenheim ran out of room to tell his story. Why did we spend 4 issues with Nitro if Damage Control was the real enemy? Guggenheim could've had Nitro be in the first two issues, and the next four be Wolverine systematically destroying Damage Control, instead of the quick page we got last issue. On the other hand, we would not have enjoyed that story as much as this one.
Humberto Ramos does a good job in this issue, and it lacks all the super-necks that were present last issue. It's almost like Wolverine, with his mask on, requires a super neck, when his mask is off, no super neck. Logan is fucking E.T.! Since we're lacking my main complaint from last issue, I had no problems with the art this issue. It was powerful, action-packed, and the story telling was capable. I had no problems following what happened from panel to panel, or in between panels (** see Ken Lashley in the current Flash series **). This issue gets a B from me. The whole arc gets a B as well. If you're picking up Civil War, read this arc by getting the back issues or wait for the trade, it is a good story and worth your time, unlike Clor.
