Wolverine: Old Man Logan
Plot Summary and Credits
Fifty years ago, the supervillains of the Marvel Universe took over the world. The Red Skull is in the White House, an insane Bruce Banner and his sadistic grandchildren rule California, and the country between them is a lawless wasteland. A retired Wolverine is called to take on a dangerous mission to provide for his family, despite his vow to never again unsheathe his claws after being tricked into killing his closest friends. His journey across a ravaged America brings him into contact with old friends, even more old enemies, and plenty of opportunities for tragic flashbacks. When he finally makes it home with the money, he [SPOILER ALERT!] finds his family murdered by the Hulk gang. Showing his claws for the first time in fifty years, he cuts through the Hulk gang, leaving only the baby alive. With a little Hulk now in his care, he rides off into the sunset, ready to take on what’s left of the world.
Mark Millar (writer), Steve McNiven (penciller), Dexter Vines, Mark Morales, Jay Leisten (inkers), Morry Hollowell, Christina Strain, Jason Keith, Justin Ponsor, Paul Mounts, Nathan Fairbairn (colourists), VC’s Cory Petit (letterer), Michael Horwitz, Aubrey Sitterson, Jody Leheup (assistant editors), John Barber, Jeanine Schaefer (editors)
Collects Wolverine #66-72 and Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Size #1
My Copy
There isn’t much of an interesting story behind my copy of Old Man Logan. I went to the comic shop and bought it. That’s pretty much it. I know my reviews are supposed to tell the grand story of my collection, but unfortunately not every entry has that.
Before Reading
This was my first Wolverine comic, so I was looking forward to read it. I was a little hesitant about the grim futuristic setting, where I would likely see a bunch of my favourite superheroes meet gruesome endings, but I was more excited about seeing Logan outside the confines of a family-friendly title.
After Reading
This comic is one of my all-time favourites. Which is saying a lot, since I’m not usually a fan of grimdark dystopias, but it works perfectly for a tale about an elderly Wolverine. It gives the comic free reign to be as violent as it wants, which is how a Wolverine comic really should be. And oh, is it violent. I won’t go into too many details here for the benefit of any younger readers, but it lets Logan shine in all of his R-rated glory.
The story follows the classic western trope of the ageing hero pulled out of retirement for one last job. It’s a perfect fit for Logan, a hero past his prime who wants to leave his old life behind him, but is willing to go to desperate lengths for the sake of his family.
My only gripe with the story is with the reveal that Logan killed the X-Men under the influence of Mysterio. In a situation like this, it’s safe to assume that the X-Men would have put up much more of a fight, even if they weren’t trying to hurt him. I don’t think that even Wolverine could have taken on Storm, Gambit, Cyclops and a dozen others all at once, and Mysterio seems like kind of a random choice when one of the team’s own villains like Mastermind or Madelyne Pryor would have been a better fit.
One of my favourite comic moments ever is at the end of Part 7, when Logan pops his claws for the first time in fifty years. We turn the page, and the next two are completely black, with a giant red “SNIKT!” splashed across them. Due to the number of pages in the omnibus, this moment is interrupted by a cover page. I don’t see this as an interruption, but as a peek into Logan’s memories of who he really is before he reveals his claws. I know this probably wasn’t the writers’ intention, but I think it worked out quite nicely.
I also thought it was fitting that an elderly, insane Hulk should be the final boss, since Wolverine’s first appearance was when these two fought in Hulk’s own comics. Just imagine if he still had his mask with the little whiskers in this scene!
Closing Thoughts
Old Man Logan is considered a Marvel classic, and for good reason. It’s a superhero western about one of the franchise’s most beloved characters in a world ruled by the villains, where one man is left to stand against them. What’s not to like?
Next week, I’ll be going from the X-Men’s darkest future to their classic past with one of the most iconic storylines of any superhero team.
