Laura Kinney Sabretooth #1 : Family Affairs

The primary reason most people are going to take a look at this book is to answer the question as to why Laura Kinney has taken up the mantle of Sabretooth. Schultz doesn’t mess around this issue and sets the pieces on the board straight away. We learn that Laura joined Revelation’s side to protect mutants, but also that she has a son and has taken up the name Sabretooth to honor the dead father of that child. When I learnt who the father is, I was reminded of a line from Dune regarding sealing the breach between House Atreides and House Harkonnen. Schultz puts a lot of cards on the table for this issue but in a very clear easy to understand manner. I think that’s my favorite thing about this issue. It sets a clear path, it knows what it’s about and orientates you as the reader with enough info to let you loose in this unfamiliar setting and know exactly which direction it’s going in.

Revelation is more circumspect in this issue than he was in Overturer to tell if he’s being deliberately manipulative of Laura or honest with her, but time will tell. Wolverine as Death is silent and menacing. Gabby at complete odds with Laura over Laura’s choices but still willing to take on the responsibility of taking Laura’s son Alex out the territories speaks to a wonderfully complex dynamic between the sisters that Schultz paints effortlessly with the script. Laura still feels like Laura from the pages of All New Wolverine, even though life has taken her down a different path. There are some fun cameo’s in this opener from Shark Girl and Sage too.

I’m not familiar with Valentina Pinti’s other work at all. It’s less angular than Belviso’s style but also has it’s own unique character. There are some great splash pages, solid dynamic movement and expressive expressions throughout the book to keep you engaged with the story. There is the odd panel or two where the facial dimensions seem a bit rushed so the image breaks down a little but overall it’s a solid first issue on the line work from Pinti, and I’m glad to see another woman drawing an x-book. Rachelle Rosenberg does a sterling job on colors particularly in facial contouring adding some great dimension to Pinti’s linework for the close up moments. Petit is solid as always on the lettering. The art team also get to leave us with a hell of a last page too.