From the ashes of Krakoa, a new Wolverine series begins, from writer Saladin Ahmed, artist Martín Cóccolo, colorist Bryan Valenza, and letterer Cory Petit. Volume one, “In the Bones”, is in stores May 27th.
As the story opens, Wolverine has retreated to the wilderness and cut himself off from his family and friends. But when old threats resurface (with some fresh twists), the hero realizes that he can’t hide from the world forever.
“In the Bones” is a solid start to this new Wolverine run. In some ways, it feels very familiar: Logan isolates himself from the rest of the X-Men, viewing himself more as an animal than a human. He faces off against other adamantium-based villains who he has history with, and even a Wendigo. There’s a comfort to the familiarity. But then there are the aforementioned “fresh twists.” There’s a new puppet master behind the old villains, one who promises big changes for Wolverine’s story. The Wendigo, meanwhile, turns out to be a teenager who Logan decides to help instead of kill. These changes to the familiar keep the story interesting.
Ahmed is writing a smaller, more personal Wolverine story here—at least in this first arc—with a bigger action story building in the background. He leans heavily into the “animal instincts versus humanity” theme, and to great effect, especially with the addition of the Wendigo. Here, Ahmed gives Logan the opportunity to tame a savage beast and teach it how to be human again, a responsibility Logan does not take lightly given his own history. There’s plenty of action in this new Wolverine series, but the scenes of Logan helping the Wendigo are where the book shines. Sometimes they’re humorous, sometimes they’re heartfelt, but they always stand out and make you care about both characters.
And that’s due in no small part to Cóccolo’s artwork. Yes, the action sequences are exciting and dynamic, and the motion is fluid, but the real story here is being told in the facial expressions and close ups. Cóccolo is able to say volumes through these characters’ eyes, especially Logan’s. Even when the cowl is up and his eyes are whited out, you can still feel the Wolverine’s rage. But when the cowl is down, there’s a softness to Cóccolo’s faces where you can almost read Logan’s mind through his eyes. You can sense his concern, his fear, and his pain. As mentioned, this is a more personal Wolverine story, and Cóccolo’s work is what builds the emotional connection with the readers.
Valenza’s colors set the atmosphere for the story. “In the Bones” largely takes place in the Canadian wilderness, so Valenza utilizes a heavy amount of blues, especially in the opening chapters. This adds a cold, isolating feeling to the book (while also allowing Wolverine to pop off the page in his yellow costume). When the action picks up and Valenza starts mixing in more reds and oranges, it creates an explosive sensation and adds an impact to the battles.
Ahmed, Cóccolo, Valenza, and Petit have started a Wolverine run here that seeks to explore all different facets of Logan’s being, and add new depth to the character’s long history. There’s plenty here to enjoy whether you’re an old fan or a new one, and you’ll definitely be coming back for volume two!
