Panini Comics collects the continuation of Wolverine’s original adventures in deluxe size, and it’s loaded with killer material.
Following on from the long-awaited volume that featured Madripur as its main attraction, published nearly a year ago, Panini Comics now brings us a second installment that follows the adventures of this mutant with adamantium claws. We get some truly iconic pieces. This volume comes to us under the title Marvel Gold. Wolverine 2 – Back to basics.
Scorpio relationship
The first thing we get in this volume is the adventure of Archie Goodwin and Howard Chaikin, a couple of old soldiers who have a lot in common. Both Nick Fury and Logan have experienced many wars in the 20th century due to their longevity and that experience has left an indelible mark on them. Both are far from being the epitome of a hero, rather they are two men navigating the gray terrain of believing that the end justifies the means. And you can share cigarettes.
This story they share is in honor of Jim Steranko, who, as stated on the first page of the story, is the original creator of the Scorpio character. Filled with the clichés of spy and action cinema from the sixties and seventies, with its international settings, amazingly illogical gadgets, toxic masculinity and action moments, it’s a perfect statement of purpose for the tone the comic is about. Rapids.
While Goodwin does an interesting job sticking to the expectations of such a story, we find Chaikin, who seems completely out of place in the graphic department, full of secrets and revelations in his overcrowded plot. Taste, something that often happens to the artist when he is not working on his own projects. Either way, the Scorpio relationship is one of those legendary Marvel Comics stories that any adamantium-skeleton mutant lover will appreciate.
Simonson and Mignola
Below is another notable episode in this volume: a story written by Walter Simonson and illustrated by Mike Mignola. Simonsen, who has already brought stripes after the legend in Thor, in this chapter the adventure in the forest tells a story that serves above all so that our protagonist can look as he deserves in an environment that is very suitable for him, creatures where you can take out your claws and stay comfortable. Bridging the gap may be reminiscent of what Frank Cho did with Savage Wolverine in recent times, basically in both cases we get a simple but very interesting and fun story in Savage Land.
Unlike Simonson, here Mignola has not yet become world famous thanks to Hellboy, but it can be seen in his work that he is already showing signs of success. It’s not as abstract as Dark Horse, but it shows signs of the heavy use of black and light that would later make his style known. This story, which ends with a showdown with Apocalypse, makes us wonder how this artist would have evolved if Hellboy had not won and remained a superhero at Marvel Comics.
John Byrne, let’s get back to basics
Some time ago, John Byrne confirmed that he would not draw Wolverine in comics again. But with the success of The Scorpio Connection, Goodwin elected to continue the character’s regular series with complete independence, and used his confidence to ask Byrne to join the team. Out of admiration for the scriptwriter, the cartoonist had no choice but to return to the character after a decade of working with him.
As good as Goodwin’s scripts are, there’s no doubt that it was Byrne (with the invaluable Klaus Jansen on colors) who gave credit to the regular series issues included here. Unfortunately, the collaboration between Goodwin, Byrne and Jansen lasted only a few issues, less than desired. In the final editions included in this volume, authors such as Peter David, Mary Jo Duffy, John Buscema or Barry Kitson, the decline of creativity is noticeable, and perhaps leaves a bitter taste at the end. A great collection of stories.
The second volume of The Wolverine Marvel Gold Line, published in hardcover by Panini Comics, is 17 x 26 cm in size and contains 480 color pages. And the US edition includes Wolverine/Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection, Wolverine: Jungle Adventure, and Wolverine issues #17 through #30, as well as an article by Ramon Fonseca, with all issue covers included. And a nice extras section at the end. It has a recommended retail price of €49.95 and goes on sale in January 2024.
Brilliant gold. Wolverine 2 – Back to basics
The death of an old friend leads Logan to Nick Fury. What is the amazing secret hidden under the mask of the new Scorpio?
Next, Wolverine travels to the jungles of the untamed Savage Land. When an old enemy is kidnapped, Logan follows a cocaine trail from Madripur to Central America.
All this in the second installment of the classic Wolverine adventures, with the return of John Byrne and Peter David’s creator-owned adventure, none other than Howard Chaikin’s legendary graphic novel shared with Nick Fury, Walter Simonson and Mike Mignola’s visions of the character, and a never-before-released sequel to Logan. .
Authors: Howard Chaikin, Barry Kitson, Bill Jaska, Klaus Jansen, Mike Mignola, Walter Simonson, Mary Jo Duffy, John Buscema, John Byrne, Archie Goodwin, Gene Colan and Peter David.