Wolverines 13 review

Normally I save Wolverines for a monthly review, but any issue that makes itself worthy of exception will get its own. Wolverines 13 is worth its own review. This whole thing is sort-of an April Fools joke, with Deadpool wearing Wolverine’s outfit and trying to take Logan’s role in his absence. This issue is hilarious, yet sentimental at the same time.

Right from the bizarre cover, this issue hits with the humour at full force. Deadpool started with hiring Fantomelle to gather Wolverine-related items from various collectors (see Wolverines 9-12) and googling Wolverine’s first appearance. Since Wolverine fought the Hulk in his first showing, Deadpool decides to do the same. Thus brings in this issue’s best cameo, She Hulk. Their fight scene is hilarious. After he predictably loses his fight, he tries to join some of the teams Wolverine belonged to and in the process, learns how hard it is to be Wolverine.

While that’s going on, Fantomelle has her own side-story that brings this issue’s sentimental side. Rather than selling Wolverine’s main outfit to Deadpool, she gifts it to X-23 as a thank you for saving her in Wolverines 3 and 4. The telepathic conversation between Fantomelle and her fox finds a good balance between entertaining and dramatic, showing that Fantomelle has a sense of honour despite being a thief. Personally, I hope that if anyone takes Wolverine’s mantle, that this is foreshadowing who it is. After all, Laura’s the only regular in this series who deserves it. In any case, it’s a touching moment that ties this issue together.

The art by Jason masters is good. Deadpool’s version of Wolverine’s costume is hilarious, being a mix of his first appearance, his fang look, the eyepatch, the leather jacket from Grant Morrison’s New X-Men run and the claw gauntlets. There’s a fair amount of environmental detail, from the park in the background while Deadpool and She-Hulk fight to the broken glass scattered around She-Hulk’s office. The art takes a faded look to match a classic feel during their actual fight. Facial expressions are also good; Jennifer’s eye rolling panel is particularly great. The montage where Deadpool tries to join the team is complete with a variety of annoyed expressions and confused looking characters.

Writer Charles Soule brings us an awesome issue, whether you’re reading Wolverines as a whole or not. If you’re a Deadpool fan looking for a laugh or a Wolverine fan looking for a spoof of his first appearance, this is an easy recommendation. I would even recommend this to She-Hulk fans if only for her extended appearance. For those who are reading Wolverines, this is an amusing break from the main story that’s so much better than the last 5 issues, while also leading into the next issue. For the first time, Wolverines manages to be my favourite comic of the week.