Review — ‘Wolverine’ #5 Spins Its Wheels

The cliffhanger ending to the previous issue suggested some notable developments in the Adamantine subplot. In practice, Wolverine #5 stands as a pretty classic example of a water-treading issue. Rather than advance the storyline along significantly, it more or less restates already established information. It seems to stretch out the overarching narrative so it — or at least its first arc — can conclude in a trade-friendly sixth issue. There’s at least one element of the issue that helps make it an entertaining read despite this, but it’s hard not to feel letdown by the lack of promised plot progress.

The previous issue concluded with Wolverine becoming infected by the Adamantine, the ancient and seemingly-non-corporeal anti-adamantium entity which has been infecting a variety of Wolverine foes throughout the young series. After Cyber, Lady Deathstrike and the Constrictor — all significant Wolverine villains and/or villains who use adamantium — were infected, their silver metal turning gold, the Adamantine finally reached Wolverine. In the process, it was implied more about its entire deal would be revealed.

Yet as Wolverine #5 opens, writer Saladin Ahmed quickly swerves. While the first page, cleverly constructed by artist Martin Coccolo, serves as a sort of visual representation of Wolverine’s experience while infected, it quickly gets interrupted, the focus shifting to the world outside Wolverine’s mind. From there, the issue settles in for more standard superhero fare. Along the way, Wolverine learns more about the Adamantine, but importantly, it’s mostly information readers already know. Thus, most of the plot functions more as a recap than a vehicle for new information.

More entertaining is the way Wolverine #5 continues the character development of the teen Wendigo Wolverine has taken under his wing. Earlier issues had positioned the character in the context of Wolverine’s propensity for adopting teen sidekicks, but this issue makes that connection literal, as Kid Wendigo swoops in to save Wolverine from the Adamantine-possessed villains (concluding with a page that Coccolo has to have constructed as an a intentional homage to the scene in Fellowship of the Ring where Frodo hides from a Ringwraith under a tree).

Later, Kid Wendigo acts somewhere between Wolverine’s loyal pet and his sidekick, angrily crying out “Wen-di-go!” when he thinks Nightcrawler is hurting Wolverine. It’s far more entertaining than it has any right to be; if this series wants to become “The Adventures of Wolverine and Kid Wendigo”, well, it could do far worse.

In a testament to the issue’s wheel-spinning nature, it concludes more or less where it begins: with another bravura full page splash from Coccolo as the Adamantine takes control of Wolverine once more. Hopefully, this time, it’s setting up some actual narrative progression to occur next issue, for real this time. As far as Wolverine #5 is concerned, the most entertaining material — the continued development of Kid Wendigo as a character — unfortunately has little to do with the overarching Adamantine plot.