WOLVERINE #16 (MARVEL COMICS)
Wolverine and Silver Sable have been compromised as Alpha Flight on behalf of Department H has taken them down and captured most of the Morlocks. Has Wolverine finally met his match, and has Department H finally captured Wolverine for good?
Wolverine #16 - Written By Saladin Ahmed - Art By Mike Henderson - Colors By Jesus Aburtov - Letters By VC’S Cory Petit - Edited By Mark Basso - Published By Marvel Comics
Credit: Marvel Comics
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
Wolverine has been stopped by Agent Mira Mehta with a special cardiac weapon that stops Logan’s heart. Alpha Flight has also captured Silver Sable and is rounding up the Morlocks that the two were protecting. At this point Vindicator is chomping at the bit to inflict punishment on the captives. However, Agent Mehta directs her to question the Morlocks to find more. As she prepares to torture the Morlocks, the rest of Alpha Flight stands up against her. But before she can hurt them, Silver Sable gets free and Vindicator must give chase, which doesn’t end well for her. Meanwhile, Logan is also making a final stand to hopefully allow the uncaptured Morlocks to escape. Fortunately for him they are tired of running.
WRITING:
This issue has some good action sequences and pays off the training of the Morlocks from previous issues. Saladin Ahmed does a good job of paying off the training of the Morlocks and building their confidence. Ahmed also brings an exciting fight between Silver Sable and Vindicator, as well as the psychological showdown between Logan and Agent Mehta.
However, there are a few questionable choices in this issue as well. First, the pacing is pretty slow and even when it heats up it’s a bit of a start/stop feel, which stalls momentum. Second, the attitude of Vindicator seems to come out of nowhere. Granted the character was portrayed as being happy with her role, but the flip of the switch to complete sadistic jerk was a strange choice. Lastly, the issue ends with the most anticlimactic finish possible. After all that Logan was put through, just letting the Agent leave in a catch you down the road moment was certainly a choice. Although in what appears to be an epilogue we get a tease of the next arc.
ARTWORK:
The artwork in this issue is the real highlight of the book. Mike Henderson really crushes the character designs in this issue. The situations our heroes find themselves in are truly heightened by the art in this book. Henderson portrays the action sequences in an exciting and kickass way. But my favorite pieces of art come in the epilogue where Henderson takes some inspiration from other IP’s for the fighters in the cage, well also drawing a badass version of the next arcs villain. Jesus Aburtov’s color selections match the art perfectly and compliment the artwork completely.
Check Out My Review of Wolverine #15
Final Thoughts:
Wolverine #16 is highlighted by the art and the action sequences but falls short in the storytelling. This issue, being the final one of this arc makes the shortcomings much more disappointing. The odd story choices coming off the previous issues really diminishes this small arc from the heights it looked to reach. Hopefully the tease for the future pays off in the next arc and we get a fresh start with the next issue.
FINAL GRADE: 6.5/10
Let me know your thoughts on Wolverine #16 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
