WOLVERINE #28
© Marvel Comics

Mania Grade: B+
Issue: 28
Authors: Mark Millar, John Romita, Jr., Klaus Janson
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $2.25

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WOLVERINE #28

After only partially completing a reeducation program at the hands of S.H.I.E.L.D. and unsuccessfully stopping the zombie hoards of the Hand, H.Y.D.R.A., and the Dawn of the White Light from taking down the helicarrier, Logan is back to doing what he does best: killing everybody. This arc is called "Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." and that sums it up he's one of the good guys again. This issue finds our abbreviated Canadian on a good-natured revenge mission. It's good-natured because the three agencies plan to create weapons from Reed Richards's stolen technology. It's revenge because they turned him into a superhero-hunting murder machine a few issues ago. And Marvel used to make such nice comics.

Bring it on, I say! Wolverine hunts the evil zombies Northstar and Elektra, only to be captured and taken to Alaska. It would seem the villains have won the day, until Logan calls a few friends the Sentinels. Best line ever: "I want you to flatten these punks until they're nuthin' but blood and paste."

All right, I know I'm degenerating into Harry-Knowles-style hyperbole. I realize this all sounds quite over-the-top, but Mark Millar's dialogue and pacing really make this engaging. In the hands of a lesser writer, this would be sheer stupidity.

John Romita, Jr.'s art is still serviceable, although I did like that Wolverine resembles Frank Miller's Batman from THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS with the low points on his mask. I'm not normally a big fan of Romita's stuff, but I thought this issue was better. In the last few pages, I could see some of the grit that I used to like in his work. If Romita's reading this: I don't hate your art, but I like the way you drew about 12 years ago on THE PUNISHER: WAR ZONE much more. You draw well when things look dirty and rough. Please draw like that again.



If you hate Wolverine, you'll probably just hate him more in this issue. But, if you're like me and you love watching the furry little canuck slice people like so many Julian fries, this is a fun bit of Marvel mayhem.