If it wasn’t painfully clear to you that Beast is a real bastard, you probably haven’t been reading Benjamin Percy’s run. The character, who was once chipper and a regular joke machine, is now so sociopathic he’d kill a Titanic-sized boat of puppies if it meant his plan for a ham sandwich would come together. That’s never more obvious than in Wolverine #31, out this week, which features a major turning point for the character as he exits Krakoa.
You’d think leaving Krakoa meant Beast broke bad, but if anything, he seems to think his stealing the X-Force headquarters and piloting it into the ocean was helping the nation. It’s unclear if Beast knows he’s piloting a headquarters that looks like an evil lair only Dr. Evil could appreciate, but that’s neither here nor there. The issue starts with him retrieving the base, but before that, he observes the island’s beauty. Ironic that the base is a giant skull with a root and rock body.
Things have turned this way for Beast due to Wolverine having enough of his messing around and killing him. Logan killed him expecting to bring him back. Of course, that’s possible in the Krakoa era, but alas, we soon learn his body has been given an “enhancement” that fights back. More specifically, mushrooms burst from Beast’s head to attack Wolverine! It’s a gross moment that continues to show Percy is a great horror writer.
Through data pages, we learn some important information. One is what Beast thinks of morality, which sounds profound like he has none. He rationalizes there is no right or wrong and his actions are amoral. He’s gone off the rails. The other data page hints at where we might pick up with Beast once he’s beaten if he can be beaten.
Beast’s base is basically the envy of all evil geniuses.
Credit: Marvel
As part one of the “Weapons of X” story arc, Percy and artist Juna Jose Ryp reveal Beast has evolved into a kind of monster that will continue to do the immoral to achieve his goals. He doesn’t think he’s evil, but he certainly acts like it. Like Mr. Sinister, that includes cloning himself and others, which means big trouble for Wolverine and the mutants who will follow him into battle. Given the title, Wolverine has plenty to be angry about regarding what Beast is up to, although it’s unclear what Beast has for an end goal. He wants to “save Krakoa,” but how, and from what? Is he simply raving mad, or is there some larger plan at work besides saving himself?
Ryp’s art captures all sorts of elements well in this issue. That includes the action scene with Wolverine with some rather nasty slashing and slicing. The new base Beast controls are also impressively detailed. Holograms and science stuff in the base look great too. Ryp’s style has an organic and curvy style that suits all the gore and Krakoa tech.
Wolverine #31 kicks off a Beast vs. Logan showdown you won’t want to miss. Everyone’s favorite blue mutant genius has gone off the rails with only more evil and immoral actions ahead of him, and he must be stopped. Given the stakes and how powerful Beast seems to be, there may be only one mutant left who can do it. He’s got six claws, and he’s all out of patience.
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