Two Guys Walk Onto An Island: Reviewing ‘Wolverine’ #45

Wolverine and Sabretooth. Like a merry-go-round if it just featured two blood-soaked clawed mutants with healing factors and old grudges. Round and round they go, as they take us along for the ride.

We are at the halfway point of Sabretooth War with Wolverine #45 from Victor LaValle, Benjamin Percy, Geoff Shaw, Alex Sinclair, and Cory Petit.

I’m starting to think this story arc is ten parts only to make sure the series hits the golden 50 issue mark before the line relaunch. Not saying there are no ideas here, but this issue sure felt like padding. A bunch of characters headed for a confrontation, dealing with obstacles, and extraordinarily little is revealed or allowed to progress.

Oh, and we’re getting some more Team X stuff because that is just par for the course with these characters being in a story together.

It’s interesting that a story that began on the premise of being the “most violent Wolverine story ever” has quickly cooled to a pretty typical story. Lot of characters expositing at the audience, minimal levels of development, and plentiful plot setup. The only violence this time was some Stark Sentinel blasts and Sabretooth taking down a Krakoan sentry.

Look, I made my feelings clear about the levels of violence previously. I’m just saying it’s a roller coaster of sorts. It’s more of a Sabretooth Cold War right now.

Overall, LaValle and Percy continue to deliver solid versions of Logan and Creed. Even if their feud, nostalgic trips, and circling of each other is becoming a bit tiresome.

It’s Shaw’s turn again to deliver the story. Bringing back the sharp roughness that permeates every bit of the artwork, whether stationary chatter or action-packed motion moments. Shadows are around the characters and their locations, keeping things sort of dark and heavy. A bit of muddiness is always there which enhances those heavier rougher beats.

That muddiness of sorts plays into the colors too. Sinclair delivers a palate that feels very muted through most of it. Backgrounds and overall colors that feel natural but also slightly washed out. Characters are mired in darkness, they are old dark characters, and we feel that.

As mentioned, there is a lot of talking. Between characters, around characters, about characters, and even talking to oneself. So Petit has plenty of stuff to work with. Tossing in some well-used colorful bubbles, font shifts, and other tools that give the lettering even more life. It’s got a similar rough sharp bite as the artwork, matching some of the ones speaking it into existence.

Wolverine #45 is now available from Marvel Comics.