WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #1

By: Kurt Amacker
Review Date: Thursday, April 20, 2006

This first issue of WOLVERINE: ORIGINS continues where the 40th issue of Logan's main series left off. After obtaining his sword from the demon lord Muramasa and embarking on a bloody quest for revenge, we still don't really know who Wolverine's after. Having regained his memories at the end of HOUSE OF M and seemingly intent on assassinating the prime minister of Japan, Logan cut a swathe of destruction until he reached the Silver Samurai -- his real target. He encountered the Winter Soldier, who revealed his very significant (and very retconned) role in Logan's past. Then, Wolvie got the sword, and we still don't really know what's going on. Col. Dugan at S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to know, and the Secretary of State (maybe Condoleezza Rice) seems in on it, but no one wants to tell you, the reader. Ordinarily, this wouldn't bother me much, but with a first person narrative from Logan, it seems unlikely that he'd only drop hints. Even when he confronts the Secretary of State and a killer Shiva robot arrives, he only remarks on its mission and questions its origins before dispatching it. While it's clear that Logan doesn't know everything, it will be tricky for Way to clarify the particulars of his memory, in light of his restoration. I may be jumping the gun before a fantastic revelation in a few issues, but I suppose I'm getting impatient with the buildup. But, I was wrong about IDENTITY CRISIS, so we'll see.

However, this issue isn't without its charms. Steve Dillon brings his usual talents to the fore, though his patently realistic style makes Wolverine look slightly awkward. Head-to-toe brown spandex looks great in more stylized, less realistic art. Dillon makes Wolverine look like a guy in a Halloween costume. And yet, there's something charming about seeing an unexaggerated portrayal of the character, almost akin to first seeing an actor in costume for a film adaptation. Daniel Way also kindly keeps S.H.I.E.L.D. on board in a significant supporting role, and that's always welcome. Now, if only Nick Fury could drop in and join the fray. I suppose we'll have to wait for CIVIL WAR.

Despite my reservations, I'm interested to see how this plays out. I'm usually reticent about multiple titles for individual characters, but I've always enjoyed Wolverine more away from the X-Men. He works better as a drifting mutant, riding a motorcycle cross-country and getting into trouble. WOLVERINE: ORIGINS promises to focus more on both the character and his muddled past, so even this good-not-great first issue couldn't keep me away.

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