Wolverine MAX #4 Review

The worst thing Wolverine MAX could do is offer a simple retread of the traditional Wolverine story with an extra dash of violence and blood. Not that the series has been guilty of taking that approach in the first place, but issue #4 moves the plot even further from familiar territory. The copious flashbacks in this issue illustrate just how much this version of Wolverine differs from the old, and why he may be an even more tortured and conflicted character than ever before.

Jason Starr answers some of the questions regarding Wolverine's murky past in this issue, most notably what exactly transpired on the plane crash and whether Logan was truly at fault. But the circumstances regarding Mariko's death and Logan's disgrace in the more distant past are also a focus. The sense of mystery and uncertainty that permeate this series are a major reason why it works so well. We've seen Wolverine and Sabretooth do their song and dance countless times, always with Sabretooth trying to force his nemesis to embrace his own inner beast. The difference here is that the reader can't be sure that Victor isn't right about Logan being a stone cold killer. This issue packs in enough twists to ensure readers will stick around for more.

Issue #4 again divides the art between Roland Boschi's present day material and Felix Ruiz's flashbacks. The blend continues to work well, as both artists offer harsh, noir-tinged styles that are just similar enough to mesh but different enough to highlight the distinct periods in Logan's life.

With as many Wolverine comics as there are, I really never expected to be enjoying a MAX spinoff as much as I am. This series proves just how much life there is still in this oft-ignored imprint.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com