REVIEW: Logan #3

With the ability to review comics comes a renewed desire to read comics, and I was really looking forward to the conclusion of this story. It’s been an interesting tale that once again put Wolverine, aka, Logan, in to a historical situation. The story is about love found and lost, revenge and seeking a measure of solace.

And it would only work in a Wolverine story, and I think Vaughan knew that as well!

Logan #3
COVER BY: EDUARDO RISSO
WRITER: BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
PENCILS: EDUARDO RISSO
INKS: EDUARDO RISSO
COLORED BY: DEAN WHITE
LETTERED BY: VC – RUS WOOTON
Given Logan’s “pretty much can’t be killed” status, writers up for a challenge are pretty much capable of putting him in to any historical situation over the last century. This time, it really came as no surprise to find out that Logan was there when the bomb dropped on Hiroshima; and I mean there.

This issue picks up once again with Wolverine fighting the burning skeleton, a skeleton mind you that took me far too long to identify, but we’ll get to that in a moment. But after only a few pages we’re taken back to that night 50 years or so ago, prior to Little Boy being dropped. Logan is once again the unschooled uncouth young man, a little out of his depths with another woman.

As I’ve said before, this is a nice throwback to a world where Logan probably hasn’t had his share of half the female population. He isn’t as rough and tough and armored against the world as he now is, and it sheds a little light on his desires to help others.

These issues are very artsy in that they are not an action packed storyline, but rather a sentimental story with heart emotion written on the page. Logan lets his mind wander to the sensations he felt when he was with Atsuko.

However the pair was not entirely alone in this comic, with Lieutenant Warren playing his own macabre part. Last issue we saw him plunge a sword in to Atsuko’s heart, just prior to the bomb dropping. It was revealed that Warren was a mutant, unable to die – not healing like Logan – just unable to die. So all of a sudden – and far too late given the clues I now recognize – I realize that Logan’s fiery opponent is in fact Warren.

And now he’s ripped out Logan’s heart.

We’re safe in the knowledge that Logan will grow a new one, but Warren is not so in on the joke as we are. But nevertheless, Warren makes a show of eating Logan’s heart, when unexpectedly he is returned to his flesh and blood form (eat heart = become whole again apparently).

Some soliloquizing later, and Warren turns around to see Logan standing again, much to his disappointment. It was never going to go well for the young man, unable to deal with mutant powers, and he soon loses his head in a tight situation.

OK, that is a horrible pun, yet I do not apologize. Yes, if you haven’t read it, Logan decapitates him for what he did to Atsuko.

The story is capped off with Logan meeting Atsuko in some sort of limbo state, where she offers to take away a measure of pain and memories from him, specifying their time together, Warren and the bomb included. Logan is soon awake, and looking in to a very fiery Japanese looking sunset, and I’m not quite sure if he accepted her offer.

But my point in all of this is that the story told was neither action filled, thrilling or a roller-coaster ride, but it was nevertheless thoroughly enjoyable. Brian K. Vaughan knows very well how to tell a story, and I think that he really got a grasp of the Logan history and character really well.

Now I’ve mentioned in previous Logan reviews that the art seemed to irk me a little. But after sticking to a book for three months for the storyline, Eduardo Risso’s artwork became less and less of a problem. The watercolors by Dean White were suitably artistic for this books style and the imprecision in Risso’s work – while no means a trademark of all his work – did not end up affecting the book as I would have assumed.

There were a few points – such as where Logan has his heart ripped out – where you’re not quite sure what is happening due to the lack of finishing on the artwork, but all in all, less of a problem than I imagined.

Logan #3 receives 4 out of 5 Stars. I’m not sure how mini-runs like these get picked up in trade, but I do hope that it does, as it would be a pity not to find a TPB version of this in the near future. Either way, try and get your hands on this story, it’s well worth your time!