Having just reviewed writer Zeb Wells first issue on Nova, his latest offering on Savage Wolverine #7 might have answered my question. Wells has created the first truly compelling Wolverine story since Mark Millar’s Old Man Logan. Writing for the most famous X-Man is never easy, but Wells executes his version of Wolverine flawlessly. If he brings this kind of excitement to Nova, then comic fans will have multiple reasons to rejoice.
Things are looking grim for Wilson Fisk. The Hand has grown tired of his charge, and they want to relieve Fisk of it via a true horror. Cue Wolverine and Elektra, hired by Fisk to infiltrate The Hand and slaughter those who would rise against him. Elektra agrees for vengeance. Fisk tells her The Hand plan to bring Bullseye back to life and use him as their assassin. Wolverine joins because he gets to kill more Hand ninjas.
Wells sets up multiple angles in Savage Wolverine #7, and manages to wrangle all of them. Wolverine is nervous, something that never happens to him. There is a weight to this mission he’s never felt before. Elektra is too obsessed with revenge to see Fisk is playing her. Meanwhile, The Hand is calling upon the Arbitrators to kill Fisk. A grotesque consortium of assassins, the Arbitrators are combined with Hand ninjas to secure their ultimate goal – the resurrection of an undead killer to attack Fisk. Who this zombie killer turns out to be is actually shocking, as is Wilson Fisk’s calm reception of the new nemesis.
Wells weaves his tale masterfully. The pacing here is perfect, a solid mix of plot and straight action. He also understands how to write Wolverine. His attitude, his inner monologue when fighting, the release of the berserker rage – Wells hits all the touchstones with great style. The overall plot is wonderful, filled with twists and turns that you don’t see coming. Currently, nobody is writing Wolverine better than Zeb Wells.
Joe Madureira’s art lifts everything up a notch. There is a hyper-reality to his pencils, combined with an homage to horror comics. He knows how to make the Arbitrators look vile, and he also gives just the slightest exaggeration to Wolverine when necessary. It’s a trick the best Wolverine artists have always used with great effect. If might be a slightly bigger jaw, amore animalistic face, or just harsher claws. Madureira’s panels flow with superior movement, his action is flawless. It’s a perfect combination of great art and words.
(4.5 Story, 4.5 Art)
