Return of Wolverine #1: Forgotten Man Bloodied By Conspiracy

Return of Wolverine #1: Forgotten Man Bloodied By Conspiracy

Return of Wolverine #1: forgotten man bloodied by conspiracy, as he awakes, no longer dead, in a lab not unlike the one where Weapon X was born.

Is the return of Wolverine the birth of another type of Weapon X?

The following review of Return of Wolverine #1 contains SPOILERS for the first few pages***

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Return of Wolverine 1 by Writer Charles Soule and penciler Steve McNiven, inker Jay Leisten, and colorist Laura Martin

He awakes crouched in a pool of blood, his side torn open, and his claws are glowing orange, as if heated up.

Wolverine falls with his hands down in the puddle and when he stands his claws are no longer glowing but his hands are covered in crimson.

He dons his traditional blue and yellow costume, though it is torn to shreds.

Mystery looms large for the battered Wolverine

And the best part of the Return of Wolverine #1: he has no memory of who he is . . . or where he is.

Wow!

The mutant that has lived a couple of lifetimes and survived a radical weaponizing process to adhere adamantium to his skeleton, and the Weapon X process as well as his long life have often messed with his memories.

Partial amnesia has often been a part of Wolverine.

As has drinking, blackouts, and a regular cigar.

But now, in Return of Wolverine #1 we have something else entirely.

What that is yet we do not know.

There is a conspiracy afoot in the mysterious coastal base and lab, whose people are being experimented on. They know who Wolverine is . . . but he does not know who he is.

Although writer Charles Soule hinted that more of the plot will thicken in issue Return of Wolverine #2 and answer some of the questions surrounding our short, disgruntled X-man, Logan.

Wolverine, “HE’S BACK, BUB.”

And that is the only commentary or description for the story on Marvel’s own site.

You have to love a good mystery, especially when it involves a years long absence from the Marvel Comic Book Universe (Old Man Logan aside).

And Wolverine died. He lost his healing abilities and died.

Now Wolverine is healing again . . . but something is off about it (read the book to find out what).

But here he is again and he appears to be perplexed, angry, confused, vulnerable, and determined in all the right ways.

Soule and penciler Steve McNiven, inker Jay Leisten, colorist Laura Martin have crafted a fantastic and impactful return of Wolverine.

A cool homage to Wolverine’s past personas is seen in the book, but will not be spoiled here, and on the variant covers from McNiven, Leisten, and Martin where one can get a favorite depiction of their anti-hero.

I had to grab a copy of the Weapon X; I love that storyline.

Get yours from your LCS – Red Shirt Comics got me – before your cover is gone forever!

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“Return of Wolverine #1: Forgotten Man Bloodied By Conspiracy” was written by R.J. Huneke.

BATMAN DAMNED 1: Bloody Good Mystery Launches DC Black Label

BATMAN DAMNED 1: Bloody Good Mystery Launches DC Black Label

BATMAN DAMNED 1: bloody good mystery launches DC Black Label in a vivid horror-noir style spawned from writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo.

Who killed the ghastly corpse that is retrieved and found to be the Joker?

Who mortally wounded Batman? And why can’t he remember what happened?

BATMAN DAMNED 1: there is a buzz with this book!

The art by Bermejo is masterful in the bleak view of Gotham and the Dark Knight and the hyper-action sequences that flow and dance off the page, like a great swordfight.

The world, from gambling on dark street corners to bashing medical staff for an escape route, is very much alive.

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And just look at Bermejo’s BATMAN DAMNED 1 cover!

I thought Jim Lee and Alex Sinclair’s pentagram-backed caped crusader, and a lot of emphasis on a particularly badass-looking cape, was stunning (and it is).

But then I saw the steam coming off of the battered cowl in Bermejo’s Batman, and I realized the lunatic-like bloody expression beneath that cowl was worn and scraped, and either grimacing or . . . smiling!

Was Batman smiling like the Joker?

The depiction of a militarized Batman by Bermejo is iconic.

The Rambo-like Bat Belt and its dangling straps with rings for hooking weapons and tech to the beaten leather-like material and the many buckles on the worn army boots give a fierce edge to the amnesiac Batman.

And the talented scribe Azzarello crafts an ingenious and twisted tale of mystery, horror, and Bat-lore that shoots from page to page, impact to impact, whether it is physical blows, or mental, or emotional ones.

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His Batman has to deal with a supernatural influence, a hole in his memory, and the detective case of a lifetime.

But there are also the wrinkles and the deeply hidden crevices in the world where metaphors for Satanism and Christianity, for the Gothic towering over Gotham and the strange creatures crouching in Bruce Wayne’s past and present shadows.

The DC Black Label launch title BATMAN DAMNED 1 is incredibly enticing for the adult comic book reader with a dark side.

The oversized format is incredible to behold in and of itself.

BATMAN DAMNED 1 is ad free and chock full of gorgeously detailed and gritty oversized pages.

This book should not be approached by the faint of heart or the Puritanical among us.

Get yours from your LCS – Red Shirt Comics got me – before they are gone forever!

 

“BATMAN DAMNED 1: Bloody Good Mystery Launches DC Black Label” was written by R.J. Huneke

 

Catwoman #3: Chaos, Curves & Puurrfect Cliffhanger

Catwoman #3: Chaos, Curves & Puurrfect Cliffhanger

Catwoman #3: chaos, curves & puurrfect cliffhanger makes for an incredible tale from artist and writer Joëlle Jones and her team.

Catwoman #3 Has It All: Mystery, Epic Fights, A+ Style, Twists

Catwoman, Joëlle Jones, Raina Creel, Joelle Jones, Stanley

Let’s discuss the 30-pound cat in the room (yes, my kitty, Cosmo is a big-boned boy):

The variant covers by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau have been nothing short of amazing for the entire run so far, but Catwoman #3, I mean . . . WOW!

There are few words that can describe the powerful, scintillating, and, just, stunning depiction Selina Kyle in the Joëlle Jones-designed dress that Stanley “Artgerm” Lau paints.

There is no superhero costume in view and none needed.

See for yourself.

The Catwoman #3 variant cover

Catwoman, Joëlle Jones, Raina Creel, Joelle Jones, Stanley "Artgerm" Lau, Artgerm, dc comics, batman, batman wedding, fernando blanco, laura allred, josh reed

Now onto the book!

If you have not read Catwoman #1 or #2 or Batman #49 or #50 there is a mild Spoiler in the following paragraph, but otherwise we are operating SPOILER-FREE today.

Coming off a heart-wrenching abandoned wedding, Selina Kyle abandons Gotham for San Francisco where a new villain’s plotted narrative grabs a hold of the opportunity to frame Catwoman for murder and subdue her to her will. And Selina finds herself in a warehouse full of Catwoman costumes and many ready to fight.

The story is growing in intensity as the still grieving Selina attempts to heal in a city gunning for her.

The writing overall, from the character arcs, the new villain, to the dialogue, to the many wrinkles, twists, and turns of the plot, is extraordinary.

Catwoman #3 further proves Joëlle Jones has so much more to add to the Catwoman mythos and we can only sit riveted waiting for more.

And that puppeteer-villain is grotesque in every way imaginable.

DC Comics describes her aptly:

The secret shot-caller who’s been borrowing Catwoman’s M.O… steps out of the shadows…and her “secret origin” is unlike anything Selina’s run into before!”

Raina Creel, wife of the governor, is creepy, manipulative, murderous, and ruthless.

Her network reminds one a little of the Court Of Owls, if they had a San Francisco chapter. But we will have to read more to see how deep her malice and power goes.

The art by Joëlle Jones and Fernando Blanco, color by Laura Allred and John Kalisz, lettering by Josh Reed, the main cover by Jones and Allred, and the wild variant cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau is top-notch in every respect.

The look and feel of San Fran varies greatly from Gotham and is captured very well, as is the ballroom, the ice-cubed filled bathtub recovery space, and the myriad Catwoman costumes.

The depiction of martial arts, and even brutal bat-swinging, spring off the panels in Catwoman #3.

And at the climax and the very last page we get a major cliffhanger that deals with Selina’s own backstory!

To say this book and series is a gem is an understatement!

Grab a copy at your LCS now – Red Shirt Comics got me!

“Catwoman #3: Chaos, Curves & Puurrfect Cliffhanger” was written by R.J. Huneke.

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Cover #1 By Bendis, Mack: CIA Comic Creator Spy Spectacular!

Cover #1 By Bendis, Mack: CIA Comic Creator Spy Spectacular!

Cover #1, from powerhouse creators Bendis and Mack, is ingenuity and incredulity at its best!

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Blast off into a whole new territory of comic book creation complete with comic artist humor, scintillating spies /slash/ love interests, and a much more creative CIA recruitment process than this writer previously suspected possible.

Cover #1 is fresh and page-turningly addictive

The art, from character building that is good enough to feel their very bones, to the sharp dialogue, to the insanely surreal artwork that echoes feeling, suspense and often transcends panels, is fresh and page-turningly addictive.

Cover #1 from Jinxworld by writer Brian Bendis, artist David Mack and colorist Zu Orzu truly captures the imagination of James Bond fans, artists, and comic con fans alike.

Both covers are so rad!

Both covers of issue #1, by David Mack and the variant by Zu Orzu, have readers floored.

Each encompasses the main characters Max and Julia in stark silhouettes filled with words.

These point to secrecy in the CIA and a nearly subliminal and powerful new dynamic between the recruiter and artist.

The colors in the book itself (and on the covers) by Zu Orzu bring amazing tones where pieces of color and story significance jump out at the reader.

And the father-son samurai flashbacks are absolutely gorgeous.

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The father-son dynamic for Max is something that must be of extra importance to the character and must be further explored in the series.

The premise is fairly simple at the onset: a talented comic book creator, Max, who travels a lot to showcase his craft meets a fan of his, Julia, who purchases some of his original artwork and coyly states that she follows him online.

It is likely not a chance encounter.

We will not spoil anything.

But comic book creators can make for the perfect cover as operatives in an ever-volatile world where intelligence and counter-intelligence operatives tread dangerously.

Artist David Mack has worked with the US Embassy to volunteer his art and mentoring to help youths across the globe after all.

He certainly has insight and perspective and has been collaborating with writer Brian Michael Bendis to birth Cover for years now.

Cover #1 is the launch of another creator-owned gem from Jinxworld

Cover #1 is the launch of another creator-owned gem from Jinxworld and with an award-winning team like Bendis and Mack at the top of their games, not to mention artist Zu Orzu’s accentuating colors, readers are hungry for Cover #2!

Grab a copy at your LCS now – Red Shirt Comics got me!

“Cover #1 By Bendis, Mack: CIA Comic Creator Spy Spectacular!” was written by R.J. Huneke.

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