Return of Wolverine #3 When Friends are Foes…

This is a slightly more engaging issue than the previous one with a wider spread of players as we get a better look at the mysterious Soteira’s private Island.

Having several of the X-Men show up is always exciting especially when this version of Logan, who has still not unlocked all the memories in his head, comes face to face with them. There is some well-written dialogue for the characters and Charles Soule has kept genuine mystery to the story. We a learn bit more (but not much) about Persephone including that she isn’t a wanton killer and that there are larger plans afoot, which are kept shrouded in mystery in this chapter.

The focus of the issue is, of course, Wolverine coming face to face with Kurt, Jean, Bobby Storm, and Kitty and the skirmish that ensues. The art team of Declan Shelvey and Laura Martin help that along with a well drawn, solidly colored and well-choreographed fight scene. The whole issue is drawn well, easy to look at and read with Shalvey’s no nonsense style.

Soule balances the action out with the cerebral element of Logan and his subconscious memories which sees him turning to a tactician part of his subconscious which unlocks the know how he has buried in his memory of how to take on his former teammates. The issue culminates with the “Heroic” Logan opening (despite a warning from other parts of his subconscious) the one cage he has shied away from since issue one as an act of desperation… the cage of the berserker which while predictable is also a very necessary part of the Logan persona that defines who he is as a character  and along with the return of the berserker comes those hot claws there is so much talk about.