The Good
Now this is how you write Wolverine! Charles Soule has won me over and then some with the way he's handling James Howlett and this chapter's a great addition to the story arc. It's character-driven, rich in Wolverine's mythos, moves the story forward (the plot thickens!), and has some very well choreographed action. The opening bit with Kitty Pryde is a real jaw-dropper and the extended sequence with this chapter's big bad is a gipping experience. Even when there's a little bit of downtime, it's still a totally engrossing experience because of how well-written the conversations are. The moment with Wolverine and Pryde sitting by the water and discussing his situation will have you leaning forward and giving their dialogue your complete attention.
Artist Steve McNiven, inker Jay Leisten, and colorist Justin Ponsor create a visual journey that's both beautiful and savage. From watching a vicious wound heal to immersing us in a peaceful and soothing setting, these pages are a delight and a tremendous compliment to Soule's writing. They capture Wolverine's heart when the moment is right and they capture his tough, formidable nature when everything begins to hit the fan. I especially love how the final splash page teases what's to come. It's a perspective that's been used time and time again, but I still appreciate the creativity behind it and it's done well. And the layout when Wolverine switches things up? Terrific stuff. Simply put, the visuals are oh-so-good.
As we race towards what appears to be his end, a gorgeous scene offered me a glimmer of hope.
The Bad
Minor gripe: why not take the regen serum? Wolverine just stated he has no desire to die in the near future, so why not take it just in case?
Potential continuity problems:
Doesn't impact the score: I get this is an event and they want to make as much money as possible, but cut the fans some slack and also offer a $3.99 version that doesn't include the bonus content. I admire McNiven's pages and I know an extra dollar may not sound like much, but when you're shelling out a bunch of cash on new comics, a $4.99 cover price really stands out.
The Verdict
I'll admit I was very skeptical when DEATH OF WOLVERINE was first announced. Wolverine's previous run left a lot to be desired and this just felt like a gimmicky move ("come see this popular character die!"). Thankfully, Charles Soule and Steve McNiven are making me eat my words and DEATH OF WOLVERINE is a fantastic journey. It's exciting, emotional, and absolutely gorgeous. You don't even need to be a Wolverine fan because this is a great story that'll hook anyone. If Wolverine is going to meet his maker, this is the right creative team to show us how it'll happen.