Caught Up In Those Bloody Feels: Reviewing ‘Wolverine’ #48

Sometimes painful moments can make someone appreciate what they have. Other times, it makes them double down in murderous rage. As usual, Wolverine and Sabretooth inhabit different sides of a very flawed coin.

As the Sabretooth War enters its final phase, Wolverine #48 takes a moment for reflection and regrouping. Oh, and tossing in a new threat born of the sins of the original sparker of this bloody war. It’s time for a bit of a montage from Victor LaValle, Benjamin Percy, Cory Smith, Oren Junior, Alex Sinclair, and Cory Petit.

What a roller coaster these issues have been for me. All these highs and lows, built on issues that I disliked, found mid, or started to like. I still stand by my point that this arc was way too long and feels padded in places. Yet, this was an issue that resonated more, probably because there was movement and it didn’t wallow in nostalgia.

There is nostalgia, in those montages mentioned in the intro. Unlike the previous issues where it was too strong and was about just living in spaces Wolverine stories always live, this is a bit different. Powerless, ailing, contemplating mortality (as if we haven’t been here before), Logan begins to really think about how he dwells too much on the negative moments and forgets the positive, extraordinary, loving moments from his century+ of life.

At the same time, trapped in a death seed, Creed has the opposite epiphany. One where he feels life has always dealt him a victim hand and he is now alone. Seemingly justifying to himself why he waged war.

One of those lessons is sure to stick in stories going forward, bet you can’t guess which one.

I applaud (very lightly) Percy and LaValle for getting here with Logan. Especially since so much of Percy’s run has been about sour bitter Logan crapping on Krakoa and wallowing in his misery and past. To see him embracing the fact that people love him and choose to be involved with him, despite the danger, is a good one.

Unfortunately, as I alluded to, this will likely be (mostly) forgotten once we get a new run that once again delves into the sordid painful past of Logan. This is the way of books featuring this character, for good or ill.

Smith continues to bring a really solid eye and feeling to this series. It’s got enough lightness to it to feel at home in the superhero adjacent realm it lives within, while being very rough in all the right places. A heaviness is present through all of the panels, making sure the story has a tangible punch to it. Those panels are well crafted and shift around to keep things fresh and fluid. Junior’s inks help play into the present heaviness, giving everything a life-like weighty tone.

Standing in the middle space are Sinclair’s colors as well. Capturing the vivid nature of these costumed figures, cloaking them in heavy ominous shadows. Creating a dynamic that is natural for any Wolverine story, with his own little stylistic flairs.

So much of this story is about violence, despite the extreme violence having calmed down (thankfully) many issues ago. All along, outside of the goriest panels, the art and colors have kept things in a more neutral space. Blood and harsh imagery but done in a way that doesn’t make the stomach churn at the graphic nature on display. It’s like if the ratings of R and PG-13 had a child together. Violent but also blunted in a way that doesn’t negate the feelings the violence should elicit.

Characters have a lot to contemplate and share, rendered wonderfully by Petit. Who lets each character’s voice resonate, and dominate, as they move across the pages. Whether in caption or bubble format. Throwing little visual flairs in there to liven things up, pulling at the fantasy cape book strings.

Wolverine #48 is now available from Marvel Comics.