Getting old sucks, if you don’t believe me, then
just ask Old Man Logan! In Marvel
Comics series Wolverine: Old Man Logan
(Wolverine Vol.3 issues 66-72 and Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Size #1, (August
2008-September 2009) the feral berserker has sheathed his claws in favor of
domestic life. Umm...why? Why would an adamantium clawed killing machine decide
to hang it up to spend time with a wife and kids? Good question, let’s find
out.
Before we delve into this modern key series I would
like to extend my condolences to the family of Bob Clarke. Mr. Clarke was an
artist for MAD magazine, working on Spy vs. Spy and many great covers. I spent
many summers as a kid laughing like a loon at his work, and he will be missed.
Full disclosure moment: I will never be accused of
being a Wolverine fan. To be completely honest I wouldn’t normally purchase
Wolverine or any X-related title (sorry Bendis, I realize Marvel is pretty much
an all X-Men, all the time kind of place now) not my gig. There are many Marvel
titles I have and do love, X-men has never been one (dear fanboy…I hear you,
shut up.) I have been asked on many occasions “why, why dude” and “dude X-Men
is the shit”…whatever. The writing and story lines were less satisfying than
other team oriented titles for me. I know, I speaketh blasphemy and profane the
good name of Professor X, but to each his own. I will take a good dose of Thor,
Spidey, Conan, or Daredevil any day.
With that said, you might wonder why Wolverine, why
now? Simple. The story kicks ass. No, I mean it really kicks ass!!! Many of you
are well aware of Logan’s comic story (Alpha Flight, Weapon X, going to Hell,
Daiken, X-23, part of the team, not part of the team, loves Jean etc. etc.-
What? I said I don’t buy’em, I never said I hadn’t read them), but Old Man Logan, written by Mark Millar
and penciled by Steve McNiven is a comic book achievement.
Millar crafts a story set far in a possible Marvel future,
most of the world’s super-heroes have been killed off in an extinction event
masterminded by the Red Skull. The country has been divided as spoils of war to
the villains involved in the hero genocide. Logan (one of a few survivors) is
residing in the American West with a wife and two small children, determined to
never again use his claws (the answer "why" to that question is a real tear jerker
for X-fans...oh and yeah I laughed, because apparently I'm evil,)
Along comes a familiar face, and another survivor;
Hawkeye. The Archer, who is now blind, begs Logan to escort him and a shipment
of “drugs”, east to what was formerly New York. He promises Logan enough money
to keep the gangs (roving inbred Hulks) from harassing him and his family.
Logan agrees (reluctantly) and forewarns Hawkeye that he will not resort to
violence to help him.
The adventure they set off upon leads them past
newly carved landmarks in the American landscape. “Hammer Falls” where Mjolinir
falls to earth after the death of The Mighty Thor, The New Mt. Rushmore,
defaced with the visage of the Red Skull, amongst other new "monuments." It is this
reimagining of our country that draws the reader in, each issue giving new
windows into a world remade in the face of evil. The odds are certainly stacked against our heroes, and I won't go any further into the story as it would ruin a great run for you. Trust me, X-fan or no, you want to read this.
Issues of Wolverine:
Old man Logan should be fairly easy to come by from your comic retailer. I
invite you to check out this modern key series and wait for the “snnkktt”, you
won’t be disappointed!! Next time on “Bubble”
we will examine a few Silver Age writers of note, until then boys and girls
keep ‘em bagged and boarded!
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