Brian Wilkinson
Mar 28, 2003, 02:22 pm
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/wolv-188.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/wolv-188t.jpg" align=left alt="Wolverine #188"></a>Reviewer: Brian E. Wilkinson, bewilkinson@yahoo.ca
Quick Rating: Average
Story Title: Good Cop, Bad Cop
I’m not sure who the good cop is, the bad cop is, or where Wolverine is. I’m told he’s around, though.
Written by: Daniel Way
Cover by: Essad Ribic
Pencilled by: Staz Johnson
Inked by: Danny Miki
Colors by: Avalon Studios
Letters by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Assistant Editors: Warren Simons & John Miesegaes
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
The problem here is that you know it’s just filler.
There’s no real substance here, nothing for a true fan of the book to get in to. Next issue will be the last of the second Wolverine series, and you can tell.
I’m not saying that Daniel Way (Venom) is a bad writer, or that his story doesn’t fit in with the current approach that Wolverine seems to be taking, it’s just that I really don’t care about his story because it won’t be followed up on, the characters will disappear, and soon the series will be over.
Before people get too upset about this statement, as many great series have gone the way of the Dodo in the past (Slingers, X-Factor, Generation X), they usually went as they came, with their strongest creative team. They left the door open for change, a new beginning, and lots of potential for the future. I suppose that Wolverine doesn’t really have to do any of this given that the new #1 will be out right after #189, but it’s the principle of the thing.
For one, I’m still not sure how much I want to start a new comic series from a new #1. I understand that Marvel sees the number as an arbitrary thing, but for someone who has been collecting for years it’s nothing more than an excuse to jump ship. And if #1 issues rule the market these days, why not make every comic a new #1? An endless series of one-shots…
My problems with this issue, however, go beyond simple numbering issues. For one, Wolverine barely makes an appearance in the book, and two, his latest adventures seem completely independent of each other, in that it may as well be two different characters out there righting wrongs.
Not that I mind this approach, or that I don’t see Logan walking that lonely road, but with him being as much as wallpaper in this issue, I don’t get the same feelings that I might from a Frank Tieri script.
The issue revolves around a cop trying to solve a murder in a bad neighbourhood. Okay. Apparently, as we’re lead to believe, he’s a bit of a screw up and a drunk, but reasons are never given. Okay. Wolverine is walking by in a bar, hears a key conversation, and decides to get involved. Okay.
It wouldn’t be the first time this kind of thing has happened for Logan, but here it’s just so slowly approached that I don’t see why he would care. There is nothing in the conversation that would push him over the edge, and Tieri already cashed in on the shock value of a random encounter with the previous arc. Way may not have known about what Tieri was doing, and in that case, this story works fine on its own, but with only two issues to go, the least he could have done was really write Logan into the story.
My fear is that next issue will simply be one long fight, with Wolverine getting shot up, and going off into the distance. That’s fine, except he isn’t the travelling hobo. Keep in mind here, that this ISN’T a criticism of Way’s writing, which is fine with believable dialogue, but rather the plot elements that editor Axel Alonso seems to be weaving in. Where it might work well for The Incredible Hulk, I’m not sure it works on such a permanent basis for Wolverine.
The art this issue is provided by Staz Johnson. Not being familiar with his work in the past, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality I encountered here. A lot of great detail, solid backgrounds, and excellent storytelling skills mark him out as someone to really watch for in the future. A few times I was less impressed, by some of the more ‘calm’ panels, but overall, I quite enjoyed his style.
So, Wolverine shows up for the last two pages of this book, which, as of this issue, was about a drunk cop hunting a crooked cop. All the elements are in place for a great follow-up, so I’ll try to really reserve judgement on the last arc for this series of Wolverine until then.
Maybe it’s just me, and I wanted something of a more proper send-off. Or have Tieri write his final arc right until the end. Something more fitting, I guess, than a story about a crooked-cop. I know there’s more coming right around the bend, but if this story is any indication about what I can expect from the ‘new’ Wolverine, I may have to bow out.
That being said, I’m sure some of you out there love it, and won’t be able to get enough. And hey, if anyone can make a popular book, it’s Axel Alonso. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=55&cat=WOLVERINE) and save!
Quick Rating: Average
Story Title: Good Cop, Bad Cop
I’m not sure who the good cop is, the bad cop is, or where Wolverine is. I’m told he’s around, though.
Written by: Daniel Way
Cover by: Essad Ribic
Pencilled by: Staz Johnson
Inked by: Danny Miki
Colors by: Avalon Studios
Letters by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Assistant Editors: Warren Simons & John Miesegaes
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
The problem here is that you know it’s just filler.
There’s no real substance here, nothing for a true fan of the book to get in to. Next issue will be the last of the second Wolverine series, and you can tell.
I’m not saying that Daniel Way (Venom) is a bad writer, or that his story doesn’t fit in with the current approach that Wolverine seems to be taking, it’s just that I really don’t care about his story because it won’t be followed up on, the characters will disappear, and soon the series will be over.
Before people get too upset about this statement, as many great series have gone the way of the Dodo in the past (Slingers, X-Factor, Generation X), they usually went as they came, with their strongest creative team. They left the door open for change, a new beginning, and lots of potential for the future. I suppose that Wolverine doesn’t really have to do any of this given that the new #1 will be out right after #189, but it’s the principle of the thing.
For one, I’m still not sure how much I want to start a new comic series from a new #1. I understand that Marvel sees the number as an arbitrary thing, but for someone who has been collecting for years it’s nothing more than an excuse to jump ship. And if #1 issues rule the market these days, why not make every comic a new #1? An endless series of one-shots…
My problems with this issue, however, go beyond simple numbering issues. For one, Wolverine barely makes an appearance in the book, and two, his latest adventures seem completely independent of each other, in that it may as well be two different characters out there righting wrongs.
Not that I mind this approach, or that I don’t see Logan walking that lonely road, but with him being as much as wallpaper in this issue, I don’t get the same feelings that I might from a Frank Tieri script.
The issue revolves around a cop trying to solve a murder in a bad neighbourhood. Okay. Apparently, as we’re lead to believe, he’s a bit of a screw up and a drunk, but reasons are never given. Okay. Wolverine is walking by in a bar, hears a key conversation, and decides to get involved. Okay.
It wouldn’t be the first time this kind of thing has happened for Logan, but here it’s just so slowly approached that I don’t see why he would care. There is nothing in the conversation that would push him over the edge, and Tieri already cashed in on the shock value of a random encounter with the previous arc. Way may not have known about what Tieri was doing, and in that case, this story works fine on its own, but with only two issues to go, the least he could have done was really write Logan into the story.
My fear is that next issue will simply be one long fight, with Wolverine getting shot up, and going off into the distance. That’s fine, except he isn’t the travelling hobo. Keep in mind here, that this ISN’T a criticism of Way’s writing, which is fine with believable dialogue, but rather the plot elements that editor Axel Alonso seems to be weaving in. Where it might work well for The Incredible Hulk, I’m not sure it works on such a permanent basis for Wolverine.
The art this issue is provided by Staz Johnson. Not being familiar with his work in the past, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality I encountered here. A lot of great detail, solid backgrounds, and excellent storytelling skills mark him out as someone to really watch for in the future. A few times I was less impressed, by some of the more ‘calm’ panels, but overall, I quite enjoyed his style.
So, Wolverine shows up for the last two pages of this book, which, as of this issue, was about a drunk cop hunting a crooked cop. All the elements are in place for a great follow-up, so I’ll try to really reserve judgement on the last arc for this series of Wolverine until then.
Maybe it’s just me, and I wanted something of a more proper send-off. Or have Tieri write his final arc right until the end. Something more fitting, I guess, than a story about a crooked-cop. I know there’s more coming right around the bend, but if this story is any indication about what I can expect from the ‘new’ Wolverine, I may have to bow out.
That being said, I’m sure some of you out there love it, and won’t be able to get enough. And hey, if anyone can make a popular book, it’s Axel Alonso. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/reviews/wolnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=55&cat=WOLVERINE) and save!