For the past few weeks, Marvel has been teasing who will be in the new New Avengers lineup.

As most of us suspected, Wolverine has made the cut (see the teaser image on the left)…

In other Wolverine new, Comic Book Resources talks with Frank Tieri about this week’s “Wolverine: Mister X” (details)…

From Marvel, top writers discuss the “game-changing’ X-Men crossover event, ‘Second Coming’ (details)…

And finally, ICv2 reports that Christopher McQuarrie has turned in his script for Wolverine 2, rumored to be based on the classic Chris Claremont/Frank Miller miniseries (details)…

As for probable/possible Wolverine appearances this week (3/10/10), we have previews of…

-Wolverine: Mister X #1 (preview): Dreadful Frank Tieri villain returns…
-Super Hero Squad #3 (preview): More of Munchkin Wolverine…

Hey, everyone, jrpbsp here… I have not been feeling too well so I missed last week’s review, but I am jumping back to hit ‘Wolverine: Weapon X’ this week. Hope you enjoy it.

Wolverine: Weapon X #11 (preview)
Writer: Jason Aaron
Pencils: Ron Garney

SPOILERS BELOW…

RECAP: The issue opens with a new hero taking his first trip out into the city on rounds. He had been training and preparing for years but his night does not go as planned. He is gunned out and killed almost immediately by Deathlok. The cyborg then moves on to his next target.

Meanwhile Logan and Steve Rogers are catching up. Wolverine is taking Cap on a worldwide barhopping tour to celebrate his return to the living and filling Rogers in on what he missed. Logan has tapped his fellow X-Man, Nightcrawler, as the pilot in return for a promise to attend church in the morning.

The cyborg’s next target is a young couple on their first date. Deathlok confronts them and it turns out that their child will be a hero in the future. Once their identities are confirmed, they are executed.

Logan and Steve are on their fifth bar when they stop for a little heart to heart. Cap says he is glad that Logan stayed with the Avengers and Wolverine admits to losing hope when Rogers fell. They also discuss Wolverine’s love life and the state of mutant affairs before a local gets in Logan’s face about his taste in music. A bar brawl naturally starts. But since they had made it to five bars, Kurt won twenty dollars from Scott.

Deathlok fights his way through a horde of police and security in a hospital to reach his next victim but not even an ax to the chest can stop him. He enters the Maternity Ward and kills the next future hero.

Steve and Logan arrive back in New York the next morning and go their separate ways. But Logan is quickly confronted by an unknown woman who calls him by name and tells all about the Deathlok’s killing the heroes of the future. Naturally Wolverine does not believe her. Meanwhile the final low level target is killed and we learn that there are at least eight Deathloks and they now are all focused on killing Captain America.

MY TAKE: I enjoyed this issue quite a bit, especially the interaction between Captain America and Wolverine. While the Deathlok story line definitely has potential, the real meat of the story is the catching up of the two old friends. This is something we really have not seen before, Steve and Logan just sitting around drinking and talking, and I thought it was done very well. I hope these scenes will be followed up on in either the new Avengers’ series or in this title.

The Deathlok story is meant to be the main part of the arc but it felt like it was the lesser focus here. Still the idea is very solid even if it not the most original  plot and the Deathloks look to be a serious threat. The first sequence in particular was amusing and well done if a bit over the top. I enjoyed the single minded and focused pursuit of the cyborgs and the set up definitely pulled me into the story. The surprise reveal or the army of the creatures does a lot to up the stakes for the next issue.

I did have a little bit of an issue on how similar the plot was to Terminator 3 with the list of people to kill. It also did not make much sense to me that they would start with the lesser targets and leave the primes for later. That simply means that the harder heroes to kill have more advanced warning and time to prepare. Killing the children and the inexperienced heroes could have been done at any time. It would have also been nice to see a little bit more about the characters that are killed so it has more of an impact. Of course that might be addressed later in the arc.

In the end, this was a strong issue, mostly due to Cap and Logan interactions, but still has enough of hook to the overall story to keep things interesting. I am not sure on the use of another mysterious female character but I have not seen enough to judge her character yet. But even with the unknown elements, as long as the characterizations and interactions remain strong, the story will still be very good. I am eagerly awaiting the next issue to see where the plot goes from here.

Thanks for reading my review for Wolverine Files. I will be keeping to this format for the most part but please keep the comments coming and I will see everyone again next time.

X-Men Noir: Mark of Cain #4 (Preview)
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Art Dennis Calero

From Marvel: “The notorious cat burglar Katherine ‘Kitty’ Pryde was already legendary, at her tender age, for slipping in and out the most tightly guarded buildings as if walking through walls. But duping the headquarters of the Office of National Emergency would be a challenge even for her considerable talents…”

In stores March 3, 2010.

Share your thoughts of this X-Men Noir finale in the comments below.

And don’t forget to add any Wolverine appearances from the week that I may have missed (that still means you, Comusiv!)…

X-Force #24 (Preview)
Writers: Jason Aaron
Art: Ron Garney

From Marvel: “TOMORROW DIES TODAY, PART ONE: Beginning an epic, action-packed arc featuring the debut of an all-new, all-different Deathlok. Killer cyborgs have come from the future to kill the heroes of today, while Wolverine embarks on an international pub crawl with a certain recently reborn Sentinel of Liberty. Beer and bullets galore!”

On sale March 3, 2010.

Share your thoughts on the premiere Wolverine title in the comments below. And if you haven’t picked up the issue, make sure to read the preview, linked next the series title above.

A little slow on the news front this week, but Marvel Digital Comics has debuted a new exclusive Wolverine comic, “Wolverine: Worst There Is” by Matt Yocum and Jake Bilbao (details)…

As for probable/possible Wolverine appearances this week (3/03/10), we have previews of…

-Wolverine Weapon X #11 (preview): Wolverine vs. Deathlok!
-X-Men Noir: Mark of Cain #4 (preview): Miniseries finale…

Second Coming: Prepare (Preview)
Writer: Mike Carey
Pencils: Stuart Immonen
Inks: Michael Lacombe

From Marvel: “In the blink of an eye, the mutant species went from a population of 16 million to 198. To make matters worse the mutant gene had shut down and years passed with no new mutants activations. With extinction all but guaranteed, mutantkind’s outlook was bleak.

“Then, one morning, the impossible happened and a mutant baby was born. Her birth was greeted with carnage and death but her salvation came in the form of the X-Man Cable. Cable and the X-Men saved her from those who wanted to control or kill her, but, faced with the matter of her upbringing, chose to send her into the future with Cable as her caretaker. Thus, the X-Men were left to wait for this girl to hopefully become something that could save their species.

“The future proved just as dangerous as the present, but Cable kept her safe and taught her to be a soldier like him. After 16 years in the future, she decided to come back. Her name is Hope Summers, and she has returned.

“But the X-Men weren’t the only ones waiting. This story takes place two days after Hope and Cable returned from the future.”

Free ‘Second Coming’ prologue available February 24, 2010.

Wolverine also appears in the background of two panels in ‘Nation X’ #3 and on the cover of ‘Ms. Marvel’ #50.

And Daken appears in the very surreal ‘Dark Wolverine’ #83…

So feel free to share your thoughts of these Wolverine-associated tales in the comments below and don’t forget to add any Wolverine appearances from the week that I may have missed (that means you, Comusiv!)…

X-Force #24 (Preview)
Writers: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Art: Clayton Crain

From Marvel: “NECROSHA PART FIVE (of SIX): Death comes to X-Force! The final battle begins as X-Force storms Necrosha to find and kill the Black Queen… but there are 16 million of her slaves between them and her. As the team’s least likely member goes on a suicide mission to save Warpath, Selene achieves her heart’s desire… and someone doesn’t walk away from this fight.”

On sale February 24, 2010.

Share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you haven’t picked up the issue, make sure to read the preview, linked next the series title above.

Hey, everyone, jrpbsp here… Just doing the one review from last week, so here’s ‘Uncanny X-Men’. Hope you enjoy it.

Uncanny X-Men #521 (preview)
Writer: Matt Fraction
Pencils: Greg Land
Inks: Jay Leisten

SPOILERS BELOW…

RECAP: The issue opens with Emma and Scott scaling a mountain to check on Magneto. He has put up a mental and physical barrier, however, to make sure his work is undisturbed.

Meanwhile, Wolverine, Betsy and Colossus are fighting the team that sent the Predator Xs. Unfortunately, the group has in depth information from the nanocameras and can predict all of the X-Men’s attacks. But then Fantomex joins the battle to and gives the fight a random element. Underwater, Jeffries meets with one of Atlanteans and offers their help to finish the pillar. The marine dweller swims off to get Namor’s consul.

Back in New York, the team is still not impressed with Fantomex’s arrival until E.V.A. blows up their computer and severs the link of data. Without that information on all the tactics, the villains are vulnerable. The three X-Men take them apart while Fantomex shoots their leader in the side of the head. The X-Men finish off their adversaries but the wounded leader releases an airborne virus targeted at mutants.

Fantomex makes E.V.A. save the X-Men knowing his artificial blood will protect him. The virus is a power dampening super flu that is confirmed to be effective for nearly all the known mutants and was designed by John Sublime. Unfortunately, the fight is over and Fantomex has no choice but to let the villains escape in order to save the X-Men. He calls Scott once they are airborne and relays the whole problem including having active samples of the virus retained by E.V.A.

Scott and Emma are unsure what to do about Magneto. His mind appears to be elsewhere and he is showing severe signs of physical distress. They decide to bring in the X-Club for advice. The X-Club considers the problem and comes to one nearly impossible conclusion. Meanwhile, somewhere deep in space, the enormous bullet containing Kitty Pryde changes direction.

MY TAKE: This is a pretty good issue although it travels some very overused ground. The ending has been spoiled too which always lessens the impact of a story. Still, it was well written and interesting enough to hold my attention. I really do like the idea of Magneto being the one to save Kitty. Although it does stretch the boundaries of his power, at least it is logical and a nice way to have him contribute to the team. It is definitely a better explanation then I was expecting for her return.

The fight scenes are not bad either and having the purpose of the nanocameras be to gather information on their moves and tactics is actually pretty smart. Although I would have thought such an important computer would have been off site to lessen its risk of damage,  it still allows for an interesting foe. It is a technological version of a telepath and it does give them a distinct advantage.

I did have an issue with Fantomex’s involvement.  I do not see a reason for him to have ever gotten involved in this. Of course it is no secret that I am not a fan of  his,  so that could just be my bias. But his presence does take away from my enjoyment. Still, to be fair, he is actually pretty decent here if you ignore the sillier aspects of the character. I would have preferred a little more for the X-Men to do, however. They are little more then window dressing in their scenes in New York.

My biggest complaint is with the unoriginality of using yet another anti-mutant virus. We have seen that story so many times and it always lingers on. While this seems to be a different type, it still made me roll my eyes. Especially, coming from a technology based group like this one. Even making it power suppressing nanobots would have been more original. It just seems like the Legacy Virus all over again and that is one story I do not want to revisit.

In the end it was a fast and pretty entertaining read. The New York scenes were the focus and had some great lines despite the virus sub-plot and the focus on Fantomex. Of course the highlight of the issue was Magneto’s quest and Kitty’s very brief return at the end of the issue. She is a personal favorite so I am glad she is returning. I would have preferred her return to occur at a more subdued time rather then being sandwiched in between events.  Still, there is hope that she will have a strong story and a memorable return for her welcome back present.

Thanks for reading my review for Wolverine Files. I will be keeping to this format for the most part but please keep the comments coming and I will see everyone again next time.

In its May Solicitations, Marvel proclaims, “THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE!” So, as usual, here are the core Wolverine appearances for May 2010…

ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN/WOLVERINE #1
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils by ADAM KUBERT
Spider-Man and Wolverine! Everyone’s favorite wise-cracking web-spinner and ferocious furball come together in their first major series ever! The super-star creative team of Jason Aaron (WOLVERINE: WEAPON X, PUNISHERMAX) and Adam Kubert (ULT. FANTASTIC FOUR, X-MEN) send Spidey and Wolvie to the edges of the Marvel Universe as they face such awful beings as The Czar, Big Murder and Doom the Living Planet! But who is the major Marvel villain pulling the strings? And can Spidey & Wolvie refrain from killing one another long enough to find out?

ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 (of 5)
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Art by KAARE ANDREWS
The superstar team of Warren Ellis and Kaare Andrews (SPIDER-MAN: REIGN) take X-Men into the Heroic Age! Something’s happening in the tiny East African city of Mbangwi. Something that requires immediate investigation. A newborn sprouts metal electrodes and explodes, taking out an entire hospital. Is this the first wave of mutant rebirth that the X-Men have been praying for…or something very, very different? Something sinister?

AVENGERS #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by JOHN ROMITA JR.
There came a day! A day unlike any other…where two of Marvel’s top creators teamed up for the very first time to create a bombastic new monthly Marvel comic that not only ushers in the Heroic Age of Marvel Comics but unleashes onto the world the most blockbuster Avengers team ever! Who will answer the call? And will they assemble just in time…because Kang the Conqueror is here from the future. And wait till you find out why…! Bonus back up feature: the oral history of the Avengers, part one. A brand new illustrated look at the Avengers in a way you have never seen before by series writer Brian Michael Bendis.

UNCANNY X-MEN #524
Written by MATT FRACTION
Penciled by TERRY DODSON
“SECOND COMING”, CHAPTER SIX: A beloved X-Man died defending Hope, the returned mutant “messiah.” As they lay their comrade to rest, the remaining X-Men are left to question: Is she worth it? “Second Coming” continues in ‘New Mutants’ #13, ‘X-Men Legacy’ #236 and ‘X-Force’ #27.

WOLVERINE #900
Written by David Finch, C.B. Cebulski, Dean Motter, Marc Bernardin, Todd Dezago & Matt Yocum
Penciled by David Finch, Greg Scott, Pow Rodrix, Jason Craig & Jake Bilbao
X-Man. Avenger. Soldier. And that’s just the HALF of it. In this atomic-sized special, superstar David Finch leads a platoon of comic’s most talented creators in giving the Canadian killer a 21-gun salute. Ninjas, bar-room brawls, Morlocks and pirates (yes, PIRATES!): this issue sees the most marvelous mutant of all put through the paces. And if five-all new tales of Snikt-tastic action wasn’t enough, there’s classic reprints featuring some of Logan’s greatest hits!

DARK WOLVERINE #86
Written by MARJORIE LIU & DANIEL WAY
Pencils by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
“RECKONING” Part 3 of 4: For decades, Daken has waited for the moment that has now finally arrived. In one fell swoop, Daken plans to both destroy his father and achieve his destiny. The streets of Ankara run red with blood as Daken faces off against…Romulus!

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #48
Written by DANIEL WAY
Penciled by WILL CONRAD
“RECKONING,” CONCLUSION: Revenge. It is what has motivated Wolverine for over a century. But now, with that revenge within reach… is it really what he wants? More importantly, is it really what he needs? A new era begins as Wolverine finally considers his future instead of his blood-stained past.

WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #13
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils by RON GARNEY
The time-bending saga of the all-new Deathlok continues as Wolverine and Captain America fight for their lives against an army of cyborg assassins. Outnumbered and outgunned, our heroes turn to desperate measures but learn the hard way that when you tamper with the time stream, you better be ready to expect the unexpected.

For the complete list of Marvel’s May Solicitations, visit Newsarama (details)…

As for other Wolverine News…
–ComicBookResources reports on ‘Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine’ by Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert (details)….
–Newsarama talks to Kaare Andrews about the new ‘Astonishing X-Men’ (details)….
–And ComicBookResources dishes on Brian Michael Bendis and the Avengers (details)….

As for probable/possible Wolverine appearances this week (2/24/09), we have previews of…
–Dark Wolverine #83 (preview): Siege continues (with a twist)…
–Ms. Marvel #50 (preview): Wolverine makes the cover at the very least…
–X-Force #24 (preview): ‘X-Necrosha’, part five of six…

Incredible Hercules #141 (Preview)
Writer: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Artist: Rodney Buchemi

From Marvel: “ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS, Finale! IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS! The past two years of storylines in Incredible Hercules have been building to one climactic moment, and here it arrives at last! The final showdown between Hercules and Typhon! Amadeus Cho becomes a true hero at last! And just why was Athena so happy at the end of “Sacred Invasion,” anyway? All secrets are revealed in what is undoubtedly the most shocking ending of the year! Don’t tell the Internet why we had to call this issue, EVERYBODY DIES!”

Wolverine appears, but only barely, as Hercules fights for his life…

On sale February 17, 2010.

Marvels: Eye of the Camera #6 (Preview)
Writer: Kurt Busiek & Roger Sterm
Artist: Jay Anacleto

From Marvel: “The grand finale! As the X-Men face a splashy televised death in Dallas, Phil Sheldon and his family have a quiet and unexpected late-night reunion. Will it be their last time together as a family? What will it mean for Phil’s legacy, and his book? This issue brings the second great story of Phil Sheldon and the Marvel Universe to an unforgettable conclusion.”

This recap of ‘Fall of the Mutants’ is a surprisingly emotional and bittersweet final issue of the series…

Also on sale February 17, 2010.

Feel free to share your thoughts of these Wolverine-associated tales in the comments below and don’t forget to add any Wolverine appearances from the week that I may have missed (that means you, Comusiv)…