Wolverine: Revenge has lived up to its title and offered a heaping dose of great Greg Capullo art. The title is where the plot and depth of this story starts and stops, however, as is clear with Wolverine: Revenge #3. With Mastermind killed off in the last issue, it’s time to target Deadpool, Omega Red, and Colossus. Yep, there’s a lot of revenge happening in this issue!
This is an odd read in that there are plenty of words to read, but not a lot happens. Essentially, this is a fight comic with very loose bits that get us from one fight to the next. The issue opens with Wolverine seeking passage on a ship that means death for most. After Asteroid M turned the world into a post-apocalyptic nightmare, things aren’t great, but Wolverine needs his vengeance.
From there, he encounters Omega Red, conveniently has Deadpool nearby, and then heads off to kill Colossus. It doesn’t feel like a spoiler to say Wolverine is killing these characters since it’s the entire point. If you’re looking for any world-building, this issue has none. That’s somewhat unfortunate since some larger world stuff was established early on, but it’s safe to say that’s not the point of this series. It’s about fighting the characters that Wolverine deems unworthy to live.
Omega Red flips the berserker!
Credit: Marvel
That isn’t to say the writing is bad; it’s just simple. Jonathan Hickman’s best scene is one between Deadpool and Wolverine. Their “fight” turns interesting as Deadpool talks about his guilt about what he did. For a character like Deadpool, who can’t die, it’s a clever way to make him feel pain as Wolverine gets revenge. Meanwhile, Omega Red and Colossus are flat, with little to say nor much motivation beyond “kill Wolverine or I’ll die.”
It’s safe to say Capullo and his inker Tim Townsend and colorist FCO Plascencia are having the time of their life. Even though I’m reviewing the regular issue and not the Red Band, the blood and punctures given and taken are pretty intense. The fights between Wolverine and Omega Red and Wolverine and Colossus have intense moments, making them feel impactful. Given the caliber of each character, could they have filled an entire issue of fighting? Sure, but for three characters to get knocked out in this issue, the art captures their abilities. These aren’t fights easy for Wolverine to win.
Wolverine: Revenge #3 is about as basic as fight comics come. It reads like many comics from the ’90s, as it’s not interested in doing too much and honestly just gives Capullo enough pages to work with. If you’re here for the art, you’ll love it, but if you’re here for anything outside of pretty pictures, maybe wait for the trade at the least.
You must be logged in to post a comment.