Wolverine’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day continues this week in Wolverine #23. Not only are three of his adamantium claws snapped, but his healing factor is on the fritz. Could it be a coincidence that Taskmaster is trying to kill him with his powers so limited? How about the fact that Taskmaster has a healing factor? When it comes to Wolverine’s bad luck, nothing is a coincidence!
It seems we’re in an era of Wolverine where his powers are limited to pushing the character beyond their comfort zone. Sure, he’s lost his healing factor before, but he doesn’t know how or why it’s happening, putting him at a disadvantage with no solution in sight. This allows Wolverine to fight villains he’d usually easily defeat, while putting his mental state in a seriously rare place. You probably haven’t seen Wolverine this desperate and tired in a long while.
Julius Ohta continues to draw a great, bulky Wolverine, whose chest is as wide as a Volvo. The opening fight with Taskmaster is intense, with quick movements that look great against plenty of speed lines. Fight choreography is solid as well, like one panel showing Wolverine throwing Taskmaster, then on the next page, Taskmaster logically flips out of it. The final page cliffhanger is particularly detailed and epic as well.
Taskmaster doesn’t skip abs day.
Credit: Marvel
If you’re worried about the healing factor plot, don’t be. Writer Saladin Ahmed reveals that Wolverine’s healing factor is limited, so it’s not drawn out over multiple issues. The explanation is as wacky as it comes in comics, and most would never guess how. That makes for a weird sci-fi explanation that should pay off later.
Ahmed keeps a strong focus on Wolverine’s internal monologue via captions, at least at the start. His doubts shine through here, and the captions don’t overstay their welcome through the rest of the issue. Coming to his aid is Dr. Cecilia Reyes, who gets to shine as a doctor and as a mutant in the issue. It’s nice to see the lesser-used character pop up, who hasn’t appeared since Radioactive Spider-Man.
The second half of the issue delves a bit too deeply into telling rather than showing, with Wolverine confronting a potential thief of healing factors. Ahmed is getting his backstory out of the way so the next issue can open on action, but he’s very much a complete unknown at this stage.
Wolverine #23 keeps the momentum rolling by placing Logan in one of his most vulnerable states in years. Saladin Ahmed delivers satisfying answers about Wolverine’s failing healing factor while introducing a fresh mystery that promises bigger consequences ahead. Combined with Julius Ohta’s dynamic action and expressive character work, the result is another good chapter that leaves readers eager for what’s next.
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