As a collector,
it’s always fun to go back and look through the bin and comb through the past
issues and series you've amassed. Not so much
to appraise their value, but because it’s just plain fun! The experience is much more unique as an
adult. While pouring through the adventures of the teams and characters of
yesteryear you often notice things that weren’t cognizant of as a kid, or maybe
didn’t fully understand at the time you initially read it. I’d like to tell you about a couple of books
or rather two consecutive issues that caught my eye in this fashion.
If you were to
pick up Wolverine #105-106, they would certainly appear to be little more than two
filler issues, part of the cool down from issue #100 (a supposed landmark issue
where the story made absolutely no sense and the titular character gained a ‘new
look’.) But let’s look a little bit
deeper shall we? Both issues, Written and drawn by industry veterans Larry Hama and Val
Semeiks respectively, offer both covers and interiors that stand in stark
contrast to one another.
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| WOLVERINE #105 |
Issue #105 takes
place during Marvel’s all encompassing ‘Onslaught’ saga and takes a look at the
collateral damage caused the eponymous villain.
It’s a pretty fast story but not hectic that you’re turning the page
before you have a chance to understand what you’ve just read. The premise seems simple enough; a superhero
rescues a kid from a burning building.
But the story takes a turn when he goes back save an old man. I won’t give away the ending. You’ll have to head down to your local comics
store and browse the back issues.
 |
| Wolverine saves the day! |
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| WOLVERINE #106 |
#106 is a step in
the other direction pulling Logan out of the action and sending him on
something of a vacation. The book guest
stars Elektra, who is a staple Marvel’s Daredevil franchise and they’re pairing
is mention in the previous issue. The
story starts as camping trip in Wolverine’s stomping grounds in Northern
Canada, and from there the two travel to her Elektra’s family home in Greece.
The tone of the story is rather passive, showing a Wolverine that fans rarely
see—laid back, social. It’s not without
its action however as we see a flash back to the hero’s WWII days.
The drawing style
of Val Semeiks lends itself to the character’s physical look extremely well,
specifically his depiction as quasi-neanderthal type (explained in the above
mention issue 100). His visuals are
solid and he presents clear and kinetic illustration that compliments Larry
Hama’s dialogue, which had always been a keystone of the books
popularity. Having written the book
throughout most of the ‘90’s, Hama’s take on the character is the one many fans
have come to know and love.
These stories did not involve the overly hyped up dramatic changes, that we’re so rampant in the industry in the boom of the 90’s, but if you’re a fan of great writing and wonderful art, then these two issues certainly deserve a place in your collection.
-RYAN
(All images are the property of Marvel Comics)
