Comic Review 245 // Marvel Universe: Wolverine

Had to break up the Batman comics for a bit with this Wolverine - kid-friendly collection. We found it at the library and were instantly interested. I had a quick flick through to ensure it wasn't too violent and chose to go ahead with it for this week's reading.

Title: Marvel Universe: Wolverine

Team: Fred Van Lente, Len Wein, Peter David

Blurb: Four classic all-ages Wolverine tales! Before he joined the X-Men, Wolverine was a secret agent, skilled in espionage and highly trained in combat. But when he's ordered to deal with a town being slowly covered by metal, Wolverine must use his greatest weapon to survive: his brain! Then, thrill to Wolverine's first appearance ever, as he battles the Incredible Hulk...but who or what is the Wendigo? Plus: Kitty Pryde's got a crush, and she's depending on Wolvie to help her get the hook-up. But what happens when that crush is Thor, God of Thunder? Finally: all Spider-Man has to do is follow Wolverine for one day and report what he does. What could go wrong? We're glad you asked... COLLECTING: Free Comic Book Day 2009 (Wolverine : Origin of an X-Man ), Incredible Hulk 181, Wolverine: First Class 15, Spider -Man (2010) 3

Format: 94 pages, library hardback.

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Review

Let's start with the good stuff. It is a fun, kid-friendly graphic novel. It stays focused on Wolverine throughout, which is good, as other titles have very much drifted in the past into other characters, and overall is super easy to read. The range of stories is well thought out, and the spread of themes and titles is enough to excite a younger audience and possibly hook them into reading more.

Of course, the best strip in the book is the Wendigo vs Hulk vs Wolverine. With a line-up like that, how could I pick anything else? Overall for a young reader, this is a solid B+.

As a slightly older reader, the stories are too simplified or dumbed down. Wolverine has lost his edginess in my opinion, and the drawings in some of the stories are just too basic. Very enjoyable to read to the kids but lacked the punch I want from a Wolverine book.

Got kids, grab it, read it with them and have fun. Looking for Wolverine action go elsewhere.

Cheers for reading!