Weapon X #26: The Price of Forgiveness

I find the idea of Sabretooth trying to atone for his “sins” fascinating.  Here’s a man who has been evil all his life and only within the past year or so (remember how comic-time runs differently) has he been “good”.  The inversion, however, didn’t make him forget all he has done, though.  And while he hides his guilt well, it’s pushed right in his face here.  He’s confronted by the face of one of the Morlocks he slaughtered who has a giant stack of paper detailing every little horrible act…and on the very last page it contains a small entry with Sabretooth’s attempts at redemption.

It’s clearly not enough and the realization that just because he was “inverted” does not absolve him hits Sabretooth like a ton of bricks.

And this, of course, leads him to attempt redemption.  Finding his son in hell, a product of Sabretooth’s wonderful parenting, gives him what he feels he needs to finally make up what he’s done.

This is what Pak and Van Lente have been doing so well.  What would it take to redeem a mass murderer?  Does suddenly becoming a hero grant you forgiveness for your crimes?  Maybe saving the one person you wronged the most?  And yet Graydon was just as bad (in his own ways) as Sabretooth, so would saving him really be such a good thing to do?

It’s not necessarily a subtle idea or issue, but I do feel this is some of the best development of Sabretooth we’ve seen in forever.

And the art.  Pizzari and Di Salvo, along with the colors from D’Armata, are absolutely fantastic.  The panels, the shadows, the close up expressions (especially the eyes) are all incredible.

Granted, we don’t see too much of the rest of Weapon X or even Azazel, but if you’re a Sabretooth fan, this book is one of the best.