Wolverine: Revenge #5 doesn’t just serve as a conclusion to Jonathan Hickman and Greg Capullo’s miniseries, but also a summation of the entire story: revenge is cyclical and often leads to ruin. This is not a new concept, especially where Wolverine is concerned, but Revenge has raised the question: How did two of the biggest talents in Marvel Comics (and comics in general, for that matter) turn out a book that feels average?
It’s frustrating because I know Hickman can write a great story. His Fantastic Four run, Secret Wars, the Krakoan age of X-Men and Ultimate Spider-Man all prove that: They’re well-crafted, compelling comics that put a neat spin on beloved Marvel heroes. Here, it feels like he was either going through the motions or didn’t have enough time to truly dive into the implications of the world he was setting up. Magneto dying and crippling the world’s technology? Colossus having a son who can harness his powers, as well as Magik’s soulsword? Wolverine dismantling the Brotherhood of Mutants? These were all great concepts that are begging to be explored, yet Hickman only scratches the surface.
It gets even more frustrating toward the end, which in true Hickman fashion takes a turn I wasn’t expecting, but once again shows that there was much more promise to this story. If anyone could explore the toll violence had taken on Wolverine, and bring a new dimension to his everlasting rivalry with Sabretooth, it would be Hickman. My fingers are crossed that Hickman’s upcoming projects, particularly Imperial, fare better in their execution.
Marvel
For all the issues with the story, Capullo doesn’t slack off with the art. Keeping in line with the rest of Wolverine: Revenge, this issue features plenty of bloody violence. Limbs are hacked off, bodies shorn in two…and Capullo depicts it all in grim detail. The bulk of the issue is dedicated to Wolverine’s battle with Colossus’ son Nikolai, and it’s a battle laced with brutality – especially when Nikolai takes the fight to the hellish dimension of Limbo. This results in a two page spread where Capullo depicts Wolverine clawing through dozens of demons, sending green blood flying. Alex Sinclair’s bold colors, combined with the level of detail in Tim Townsend’s inks, make it an art piece fans will want to hang in their rooms.
The fight between Wolverine and Nikolai is also one that features a few emotions rising to the surface, and once again hints that Wolverine: Revenge #5 could have been something special. Close up panels show the blood dripping off Logan’s claws, the flames dancing across Nikolai’s soulsword, and the resolve in both their eyes. It’s clear that each man wished for a different life, yet they know violence awaits them…and that’s more of the stuff I wanted to see from this comic.
Wolverine: Revenge #5 caps off a miniseries that had so much promise. The idea of Jonathan Hickman and Greg Capullo working together on a Wolverine comic sounded epic at first, but the end result only scratched at the surface of said potential.
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