Just when you thought Marvel was done with Hellverine, he’s back this week with a new ongoing series. Wolverine’s son Akihiro was once dead, but now he’s reanimated thanks to the demon Bagra-Ghul, and he’s a different kind of flaming hero. He may be inclined to kill, but Akihiro is still finding his way at the start of the series, which sets up a new direction for the character.
First and foremost, Benjamin Percy continues to bring a heavy dose of horror and body gore in this series. I noticed he was slowly sticking more and more ultra-horror into his books for a few years now, and any limitations are fully off with this series.
There are horror visuals in this book that put the polybagged Red Band editions to shame. Artist Raffaele Ienco and color artist Bryan Valenza are up for the challenge, fully realizing some of the worst nightmare imagery you’ll see in a comic all year.
This is a good jumping-on point, even for those who missed the previous miniseries by the same name. The story opens with Akihiro sleeping in different places only to wake up as the Hellverine. It’s a relationship to the spirit, not unlike Ghost Rider. This issue reveals that the spirit doesn’t out to cleanse the evil of the world but possibly the good, too. That’s a tough thing for Akihiro to wrestle with, especially when we get a flashback of his past and the incredibly hard and painful life he’s led.
He has had a hard life.
Credit: Marvel
A lot gets done in this first issue, from establishing the character to saving innocents and even a visit with Doctor Strange. The latter element draws the story into the supernatural realm of Marvel Comics and shows Percy has big plans for the character.
Something that works a bit against the main character is a loss of identity. Throughout the issue he’s quite monotone, still reeling from death and being practically enslaved by the demon. While the underdog nature of the character is clear, his personality is rather flat. That’s on purpose, but it makes for a rather one-note main character out of the gate.
Hellverine #1 is a gruesome, visually arresting start to a new chapter for Akihiro, blending supernatural horror with classic Marvel elements. While the protagonist’s flat personality may leave some readers wanting more emotional depth, the series sets the stage for an exciting and eerie exploration of Akihiro’s struggle with his fiery new identity.
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