WOLVERINE #12 REVIEW

[Linsey Duncan]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/wolv3-12.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/wolv3-12t.jpg" align=left alt="Wolverine (3rd series) #12"></a>Reviewer: Linsey Duncan, existentialratchildren@hotmail.com
Quick Rating: Excellent!
Story Title: Dream

Can't even get a break when you're sleeping.

Written by: Greg Rucka (Darick Robertson and Tom Palmer (page 9))
Pencils by: Darick Robertson
Colors by: Studio F
Letters by: Virtual Calligraphy's Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Darick Robertson
Editor: Warren Simons
Supervising Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

This issue is strange -- almost starts with a splash page of lightning and birds, riven ground splitting a beast's footprints, the only word bubbles "Kill me" and "Kill me again" isolated contextless among the images. The rest of the issue is about the same level of surreal. We know it's a dream -- Dream is the title, after all -- but this dream is knotty, contorted, a slew of confused images. This is not here to spell out psychological answers for readers, although there may indeed be some. Real dreams are seldom even this coherent.

In fact, this is a headache to try to interpret, piece by piece, to try to set the images down in a linear Freudian line. There are some threads that are easily recognizable -- we have the endless dichotomy between Logan the man and Logan the beast, devourer and judge, love and hunger. We have the dichotomy between women and men -- the latter to be killed as needed and ignored otherwise -- women, well, women die, too. In Logan's worldview, his dreamscape, this is his litany, the names of women gone and gone.

Then there are the dark figures, the men-in-black to restrain and cage--but perhaps the caging is needed and necessary--the figures don't speak, only repeat the onomotopeia of Logan's own claws and he finds himself losing . . . losing his humanity, losing his honor, trapped in a flux where he can't be a man or hero or decent guy, but struggle endlessly against an existence that will always take from him -- because the thief is not an external force. It's within him. It robs from himself.

More importantly, it robs from everyone he cares about.

Of particular interest is the appearance of Jean in the issue -- she seems to be connected to the red and gold bird that waits in most of the panels. We have both Logan and Jean complaining of being heatless, of being frozen, of needing the warmth -- and Jean analyzes Logan's possibility for heat in mechanical terms. It's a little baffling and Logan is dragged away as Jean seems to be trying to express something -- the red bird's last appearance is right before the appearance of the men-in-black to take Logan for the final time -- its eye is wide with something.

These faceless snick-snacks who haunt him, the loves that plead for death, there is nothing particularly in here that makes Logan more lovable or even justifiable, but this is a fine issues that bears thoughtful rereading. It is simply packed.

I like Fernandez, but I'm glad to see Robertson back on the book. Wolverine has his all-too-appropriate grimed appearance. Whatever changes might have been made to make Logan somewhat more palatable is, I think, nicely balanced with the bestial side of this Logan, who is pink with blood-rush under his skin, flecked with saliva, as human as any rabid thing can be, screaming names like snarls, but mostly clawing. The normal Logan, with his red gums and a set of expressions which from indifferent to frightened to a wide series of perplexed is also uniquely Robertson's and the fusion between art and writing is beautiful.

And what can I say -- I love the red bird motif.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=55&cat=WOLVERINE)

[Wolverine]

man o man this was good.

[Siobhan]

A strange story, beautifully surreal.

This was the first time in years that I've had to re-read something because I couldn't make head nor tail of it and, boy, is that a refreshing change.

I have to agree with the review in almost every respect, this issue was a treat both for the eyes and for the mind.:D

[NicholasRogue]

This issue rocked! Rogue was in the dream too! :rogue: ;)

[LizardKing27]

What I liked about this issue was it was accessible for readers to make connections to various story points (i.e. Origin), but because we are dealing with the surreal landscape of dreams, the story is not supposed to make a whole lot of since, either. Connecting this issue to "Origin" for instance, Jean's comments mirror what Frank Tieri stated in the "Logan Files' Epilogue" about who and what Wolverine is. Also, it was very nice to see Nightcrawler, Rogue, Mariko, and even a "cycloptic" bartender make an appearance. Having said that, the most poignant statement Rucka made in this issue was Logan's comment about not feeling anything, including warmth. To me, this is at the heart of Rucka's objective on this series. And with only seven issues left in his run, Rucka is sticking to his guns about placing Wolverine's entire belief, value, honor code, or whatever you want to call it into serious question. All and all, this was an excellent read. Can't wait for the next issue.

[Wheeze]

Wolverine, if used, should be given character. Sure, he's had googles in the past, but nothing is being done with him now. I may not enjoy the new Wolverine series, but I will give it credit for trying to bring something to the character (which appears to have started with this issue). I'm hoping something is done with him here rather than all the fluff he's used for in the X-books. Good looking out!

[Negasonic Warhead]

When I tried to make sense of this issue, I disliked it very much; it frustrated the heck out of me. But going back and keeping in mind that there is no need to analyze every little detail -- that this was a labyrinthine dream that may or may not have any meaning -- I actually enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong; I understand that not everything was meaningless, and I believe you, Linsey, and the other posters pretty much nailed some of the images and symbols.

The art; what can I say that I haven't already said? Robertson's art is beautful, it is gritty, and it matched Rucka's surreal script perfectly. These two honestly need to work on something else even after Rucka leaves this title.

I am at a loss to figure what will come after this Dream issue, but I'm sure Rucka and Robertson will deliver more greatness.

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Excellent review, Linsey. I definitely enjoyed reading this ish and the creative team's work was superb. Darick's version of Jean looked great, and all the other characters that were in the ish were also great looking. I look forward to seeing how Darick draws Sabretooth in the next ish.

[BoomBot]

Well, I felt neutral basically. It didn't stand out in any particular way but did have some cool symbols like Jean as the bird and Scott as the Cyclop-man in the bar.

Also, it was Fernandez who did the art on the last arc.