Sabretooth is dead, but he’s also back in a new five-issue miniseries kicking off this week. To get around the whole “being dead” detail, The Dead Don’t Talk is set in 1909, when Sabretooth worked for Mr. Sinister at the Revencroft mental institution. Ravencroft isn’t a new subject for writer Frank Tieri, who opens up the history of the iconic location further in this series.
Sabretooth: The Dead Don’t Talk #1 opens in the present at a legendary bar where a streamer aims to get some viewers jazzed up as he trashes the place. Enter Wolverine, who wants none of it. Soon, Wolverine is commiserating with a regular and notices a picture behind the bar of Sabretooth in what seems to be a New York gang of the early 1900s. It’s a good opening to a historical fiction tale.
Much of the issue is about Sabretooth’s terrible time at Ravencroft. Mr. Sinister has him doing menial chores, and he’s not a fan. This opens up new employment opportunities. Tieri establishes the setting and slightly different characterization of our main players well. The new opportunity is a big part of the issue, as Tieri sets up a new kind of Sabretooth story.
1909 Sabretooth!
Credit: Marvel
Paired with Michael Sta. Maria, the art has an old-world vibe captured well by the clothing and locations. The colors lean into the grimy old-time feel thanks to Dono Sanchez-Almara.
The story is decompressed, though, with most of this issue setting up a new lease on life for Sabretooth. The potential is huge, however, as the vibe very much feels akin to Gangs of New York, even if that movie takes place fifty or so years earlier. Sabretooth has the look of any other guy but can literally take your head off with one swipe of his claws.
Sabretooth: The Dead Don’t Talk #1 takes readers back to 1909 for a historical fiction twist on the iconic character’s story, offering a fresh look at Sabretooth’s time at Ravencroft under Mr. Sinister, with strong world-building and grimy, atmospheric art that captures the era well. While the issue feels decompressed as it sets up a promising premise reminiscent of Gangs of New York, it leaves the reader eager for more depth and action in future installments.
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