Marvel Read-Through: Wolverine Goes Solo
It’s 1982 and Uncanny X-Men is one of the best-selling comics. It has redefined the American comic book and captured the hearts of readers everywhere. It was inevitable that one of its major characters would get a solo book. Wolverine, the group’s gruff violent brawler with a secret heart of gold, proved to be the perfect choice for Chris Claremont to examine outside of the team aspect. Now he’s one of the most popular fictional characters ever, rivalling only Spider-Man in number of comic book appearances. He was the lead character of most X-movies including his own trilogy (not to mention his MANY animated and video game adaptations). And it all goes back to a four-issue limited series written by Claremont and expertly drawn by the equally legendary Frank Miller. It is four perfect issues that I could not put down.
In Uncanny X-Men #168, Wolverine takes a temporary leave from the X-Men. His whereabouts are recounted in Wolverine #1–4. It’s a simple story (for a superhero book): he goes to Japan to see Mariko, the woman he loves and intends to marry. Upon arrival, he learns her presumed-dead father, Shingen, is alive and has married her off to an ally to satisfy a deal. While she is unhappy and her husband beats her, Mariko cannot dishonor her family and leave for Wolverine. Shingen poisons him but he is saved by the assassin Yukio. Together, they battle the ninjas of the Hand, who are working for Shingen, and begin a whirlwind booze-fueled romance. She uses him to assassinate a crime lord under the guise that it is a blow to Shingen, but it is all a ruse. Yukio is working for Shingen and used Wolverine to take out Shingen’s number-one rival. After a crisis of faith, he resolves to rescue Mariko from her corrupt father. Wolverine kills Shingen while Mariko’s husband is caught in the crossfire. Logan and Mariko are soon engaged.
Claremont’s magic is once again at work here. The part I find most interesting is how different it is from Uncanny X-Men, while still feeling connected. The story is darker, the protagonist is darker than we have ever seen him, it is violent and bloody, and extremely introspective. Despite its more mature content and themes, Claremont’s writing style is what keeps it a clear part of the X-Men story. His narration remains the same with one major difference: it is told from a first person perspective. All four issues are narrated by Wolverine’s internal monologue, as opposed to the industry-standard third person narration and thought bubbles to show character’s inner thoughts. This is common practice now and is the format for nearly every modern comic I read. I don’t know if Claremont was the first to use this technique, or if this is even the comic that popularized it, but it’s a welcome departure for the medium in 1982. It still reads just like Claremont, but it provides a personal view of the events of the book that sucks the reader directly into Wolverine’s troubled mind.
Miller’s art is the part of this that stood out the most to me. It’s beautiful. He uses angles and perspectives unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. His use of shadows and lighting allows for some of the coolest and most gorgeous panels to jump right out of the page. I don’t know if he designed the layouts as well, but they are innovative and unique. The book relies heavily on art to tell the story, especially during action sequences which are void of the old-school style of narrating what is on the page. Instead Wolverine’s thoughts provide more insight into his character as he fights. It’s all much more modern. I can see the comics transforming into their contemporary formats. This pays off since Miller’s artwork is so incredible. There is not a single panel that I did not like. Everything inch of the page could be framed. If this is what is in store for his iconic Daredevil run, then I am in for a treat.
The story seamless carries into Uncanny X-Men when the team visits Japan for the wedding. The team goes up against the Silver Samurai wanting revenge for Shingen’s death. Storm meets Yukio and is inspired by her darker edge. This helps her with her internal conflict and she debuts her legendary punk look complete with leather jacket and mohawk. Finally! Every Marvel reader loves this version of Storm, myself strongly included. This design is the only good thing Paul Smith has done for the book, I still can’t stand his artwork.
Unfortunately, Mastermind has gotten ahold of Mariko and uses his powers to influence her to call off the wedding at the last minute. In the aftermath, a heartbroken Wolverine rejoins the team, Scott & Madelyne’s and Kitty & Colossus’ romances grow, and Rogue starts to integrate into the team. Issue #174 is completely devoid of any action or superheroics until the final pages and it is surprisingly not a bore or a detriment to the book. Claremont has made all of these characters so rich that taking time to focus on them as people and not just superheroes is just as engrossing as the flashy fights. The team takes down Mastermind after he uses Madelyne and her identical likeness to Jean to make them believe Dark Phoenix has returned. Scott and Madelyne then get married??? WHAT?? Already??? He’s still suspicious of her connection to Jean! Come on, Scott, that is the stupidest move!
Claremont has a knack for balancing the large cast and giving everyone a chance in the spotlight. I’ve never read any other team book that has every character, even the recurring ones, so fully fleshed-out. He does this by interspersing small but strong character moments throughout the issues.
I’ve often described superhero comics as soap opera’s for nerds, and I’ve also frequently seen Claremont’s X-run described as a soap opera. It is an apt description. He is balancing an insane amount of story arcs and planting seeds for the future everywhere. It is all so impressively planned out and interconnected. Whether it’s a quick moment like learning that Binary joined the Starjammers or a more major development like Kitty and Colossus’ relationship slowly coming together (but I still feel icky about the age gap), it is all one big story that even carries through the spinoffs. This is truly the greatest Marvel saga.
Next time: Contest of Champions!
Issues Read:
Wolverine #1–4
Uncanny X-Men #172–175
Favorite issue: Every Wolverine issue is in contention here but I’ll give it to #3 for Wolverine overcoming his self-doubts and deciding to be the hero Japan needs
