Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Marvel Universe vs Wolverine #1 of 4
Marvel Comics
Maberry, Campbell & Loughridge
The sequel to one of the best mini-series of 2010 starts things off with a jam-packed first issue that is as entertaining as it is intelligently plotted out. Maberry ties this series in nicely with the previous one, Marvel Universe vs Punisher, but allows this story the room it needs to stand on its own. To be fair, if you didn't read the first mini series and picked this one up you probably wouldn't even know the other existed because this issue barely lets on that some of these events transpired in another book. Overall, the first issue kicks this series into overdrive by the end while giving enough back-story along the way so the reader is in on the goings on. No doubt about it, this was a fun read cover to cover.
The issue begins with Wolverine murdering some of his fellow X-Men. At this point, Maberry decides to focus on Wolverine's relationship with Colossus. This is important because the pair have had so much history together that literally any reader of the X-Men from the past couple of decades would understand the relationship dynamics as laid out in this issue. Wolverine then is part of the team that apprehends a crazy, cannibalistic Spider-Man.
Spidey is being observed by some top scientists, such as Reed Richards, with Wolverine helping as best as he can. With Spidey apparently turning into a dumber version of himself that likes to eat meat, everyone is confused. He's not quite a zombie but he's close.
With Spidey in lockdown things go back to normal until Wolverine is witness to some heinous killings, some of which are his friends. This leads everyone back to Spider-Man. Wolverine calls in for some reinforcements from the X-Men but things in New York appear to be too far gone. By the end, there is a ton of bloodshed.
The issue is great for a number of reasons. First of all, the issue doesn't spend too much time trying to explain all of the details surrounding what the possibilities are for the spread of whatever Spider-Man has. This type of information would make this into a twelve issue odyssey and there is no reason for it. Secondly, Maberry grounds the story with some in-continuity pieces, such as the X-Men being based out of Utopia. This helps to make the issue feel less like an Elseworlds story. Finally, Maberry adds humor to this issue in good spots to keep the issue from diving completely down the horror track.
This leads into the art. The art stays very much in the horror genre. There is nothing subtle about the tones or the facial expressions that this book is going to have a lot of death in it. At first glance I was a little disappointed at, what I felt, was a lack of detail. However, I was stunned at the level of detail with the scene where Wolverine's eye is reflecting Spider-Man staring at him. This changed my outlook on this issue immediately and I was taken aback at how carefully the pencils shaped this story.
Initial issues of mini series are tough, especially when the series only has three issues left. However, I felt this issue put forth a good story to keep me coming back for more and that's all you can ask for from an opening issue. Truthfully, I couldn't put down the book and I am impatiently waiting for more. What else could you be looking for?
4 out of 5 geek goggles
