Your weekly dose of Wolverine is doubling up this week with X Lives of Wolverine #4 and X Deaths of Wolverine #4 both coming out in comic shops. There’s a big reason why Marvel didn’t offer press X Deaths of Wolverine #4 early, and that’s likely due to the implications of the story, but also some major reveals. Expect a lot of entertainment value in this issue.
This issue does a lot of heavy lifting to explain how this futuristic Wolverine got to the present. That’s a satisfying development and it’s also interesting since it ties to Powers of X. In subtle ways, this series feels like it’s making a statement about where we left off in the far future, and where we go from here. Could writer Benjamin Percy be setting up the fact that the grand design teased in House of X and Powers of X is going off track? One might assume so, especially with Destiny being a major player in this issue.
This series has had an interesting focus with Moira taking center stage early on, but now Wolverine and his family become the main protagonists. Percy cleverly made readers question whether Moira was a true villain or a victim, but that becomes far more clear after reading this issue. Moira does something that will have X-fans losing their minds over, and it’s so reprehensible we may all be cheering if Moira gets the punishment she deserves.
Percy continues to play with the Wolverine family well in this issue. Daken, Gabby, and Laura are supportive of Logan, which is a rare thing. They have no time to connect in a meaningful way, but there are small moments. All in all, this is a tightly written issue.
Cadbury Creme Egg?
Credit: Marvel
Sticklers of continuity might be wondering where all the mutants are and why Xavier isn’t getting more help. One can imagine he wants to keep this drama a secret, but given how dangerous Moira is that’s rather ridiculous. Also, where is Mystique? It’s minor quibbles, really.
Federico Ficentini draws this issue with Dijjo Lima on colors and it has a good blend of fast-paced action and quiet, internalized character moments. The design of this futuristic Wolverine is top-notch and deserves a Marvel Legends figure. Early on in the issue, readers are given a full-page splash explanation of why Wolverine must save the future and it’s all kinds of awesome. Sentinels and Nimrod are seen in the background tearing Krakoa apart, literally. Putting Wolverine and Forge in the bottom left inside a cave excellently frames things as if the Sentinels are a vision, when in fact they are actually there digging at them. The Moira of the future is also pretty slick looking.
The narrative in X Deaths of Wolverine is ramping up to a delicious level of danger, action, and key characters getting their just desserts. It’s an exciting time to be an X-Men fan, as the line hasn’t felt like this much was on the line since HOX and POX. Now, can Wolverine seal the deal, or will the X-Men forever be stuck fighting the future?
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.