C2E2 Report: Wolverine – 3 Months to Die

 

Though I didn’t plan it this way, my final panel of C2E2 was Marvel’s Wolverine: 3 Months to Die. And while I regret not being able to see a couple of the later panels, I can’t say that it was a bad note to go out on. Full of interesting questions and big announcements, it was definitely one of the most exciting panels of the weekend. And so with that in mind, I’ve decided to skip ahead and write about it early.

Before beginning, Mike Marts warned us that, “in true Marvel fashion you should stay till the end of the credits. And on that ominous note he introduced our panelists, Charles Soule, writer of nearly everything including The Death of Wolverine and Thunderbolts; Jason Latour, writer of Wolverine and the X-Men; Russell Dauterman, the artist on the upcoming Cyclops ongoing; Jordan White, the fantastically mustachioed editor of Deadpool and Thunderbolts; Mahmud Asrar, the artist on Wolverine and the X-Men; and Greg Pak, who might have seemed a strange addition to those who had not yet heard the rumors.

The panel started with Dauterman, who was unequivocal in his glee and honor at being invited to work on Cyclops alongside Greg Rucka. Dauterman attributed much of his love of the X-Men, Marvel, and comics to X-Men: The Animated Series. With an impish gleam in his eye, Jordan White immediately leaned forward and invited us to take part in a ukulele sing-along of the show’s classic theme song, despite its lacking any discernible words. Unfortunately the internet has thus far failed in its basic purpose by not providing a video of the event, though a quick search can probably turn up video of other instances. Regardless, take my word that it was extremely well received.

Marts then turned to Wolverine and the X-Men. He asked Mahmud Asrar who his favorite character to draw was. Asrar had trouble with the question, saying that they’re all growing on him, but settled upon Storm. Latour mentioned that the series has been juggling quite a bit but that we’re getting to the point in the opening arc where things start to fall.

Then Marts pulled up the covers for Wolverine 8-12, the titular “3 Months to Die” storyline, one at a time. I imagine the reaction was just about exactly what Marvel was hoping for but, of course, it’s hard to deny the striking power of the images.

While the first of “3 Months to Die”’s five issues drops in June the title is entirely literal, as Charles Soule’s The Death of Wolverine will be released weekly in September. Soule described the miniseries as hitting fast and hard and explained that it would consider how Logan explores his own mortality after over a century of life and relative safety. He also revealed that each issue will look at a different time in Logan’s life and, by extension, another Wolverine.

C2E2 Report: Different Perspectives – An Interview with Russell Dauterman

Some of you may not have heard of Russell Dauterman yet, but that’s likely about to change. Dauterman was the artist on the excellent Supurbia, closed out the last two issues of Kyle Higgins’ Nightwing run with a bang, and is now going to be launching the new Cyclops title for Marvel.

Russell has a unique and beautiful style and such a wonderful love for the material that I knew I had to talk to him and, thankfully, he was gracious enough to give us a bit of his time this past weekend at C2E2. Join me as we discuss character, representation, and working in the industry.

Nightwing #29 – Review

By: Kyle Higgins (writer), Russell Dauterman (artist), Pete Pantazis (colorist)

The Story: We’re all a part of the circus, some of us are just lucky enough to be performing with nets.

The Review: Nightwing is something special. I’m obviously biased toward that opinion, but I really do believe it. Nightwing is Robin, but cool. Nightwing is the hero who grew up with us. Nightwing is the hero you wish you could be. In the end, it’s not even the Nightwing identity that we’ve attached to, but the man behind the mask. Dick Grayson was Robin. Dick Grayson was Batman. But Nightwing is Dick Grayson and that’s something that Kyle Higgins understood from Day One.

The structure of Nightwing #29 is a beautiful, peculiar little bird. Caught somewhere between a seventy-four year past, a heart-breaking present, and an uncertain future, Dick’s final adventure under Higgins’ pen is a simple story well told. The story alternates between Nightwing’s attempts to stop Zsasz and rescue Jen and Dick’s musings on loss, grief, and identity. While each half surrenders space to the other they come together to form a rather beautiful whole.

Though Dick’s tussle with Zsasz will not likely compare favorably with some of the more impressive fights he’s had in this series, the tension that Dick’s felt since the night his parents died and through twenty-nine issues is channeled through his reminiscences and into his worries about Jen, giving the issue the necessary dramatic arc and building the short battle into the climactic encounter that ends the series.

Nightwing #28 – Review

By: Kyle Higgins (writer), Russell Dauterman (art), Pete Pantazis (colors)

The Story: The more things change, the more they stay the same…

The Review: Dick Grayson’s time in Chicago has been something of a renascence period for the character. He felt at home, solidified his status as a solo hero, and finally started to put down some roots. It’s been a beautiful run, but we finally stand at the precipice. We all know that those roots are gonna have to come up, but while Dick is slow to tie himself down, the bonds he forms are iron cast and cutting them is going to be hard. Appropriately, Kyle Higgins delivers a wonderful introspective issue as the series begins to wind down.

While it’s something of a reflective issue, Higgins makes sure to give us another of his uniquely acrobatic fight scenes, calling back a character that I admit I was not expecting to see again. The surprising villain’s powers suit the style of the issue’s artist, Russell Dauterman, perfectly. The twisting combat is beautifully rendered and, while the snaking paths hurt the momentum of the scene at times, Dauterman pays particular attention to Nightwing’s movements, creating an impressively clear fight scene.

Higgins crafts a scenario that highlights Nightwing’s inherent heroism, while raising serious questions about what a mystery man hero like Dick can accomplish in the sci-fi madness of the DC Universe. It sets a tone for the rest of the issue, and an interesting one at that.

Supurbia #12 – Review

By: Grace Randolph (writer), Russell Dauterman (art), Gabriel Cassata (colors)

The Story: Shapeshifters, man…shapeshifters…

The Review: At Comic-Con, Dan DiDio commented that he didn’t want his superhero stories to be about a marriage. I found that to be a reasonable statement that I didn’t totally agree with, but I can’t help but come back to it as I read this climactic issue of Supurbia.

Supurbia #12 is a prolonged final clash between the Meta Legion and the shapeshifting androids that have haunted the cul-de-sac since the series began. And while the stakes are certainly high enough – an attack from within, a sixteen issue threat brought to bear, loved ones in danger – the issue doesn’t go where you might expect.

In keeping with their nature, the shapeshifters’ methods are more insidious than your standard endgame opponent. Those looking for a stream of escalating apotheosis will largely be left disappointed, though Eli gets saved in a rather satisfying way. Indeed, if there’s a weakness to this issue it’s that it’s really a comic of ideas.

Supurbia #10 – Review

By: Grace Randolph (writer), Russel Dauterman (art), Gabriel Cassata (colors)

The Story: Ever wanted to see a naked Superman demolish a house? Well, have I got a comic for you!

The Review: Some of you may have heard Grace Randolph’s Superbia described as the Real Housewives of the JLA. Technically that’s true, but Superbia is so much more.

Indeed, there are very few moments in this issue where you’d think ‘I’m reading about the hero’s wife.’ Most of the women are either heroes themselves or serve as essential support staff to the spandex set. What’s more, gender balance is more even than you might think. Whether it’s Sovereign, Eli, or Agent Twilight the men are active participants in the story. I actually would have liked to see a little more of some of the female characters, Batu or her daughter, for instance.

In fact, I’d have liked to have seen more of any of the characters. Superbia is a comic about a community rather than an individual, however, this month we see the down side of having so many characters in play. The comic flits around every couple of pages, popping in on another member of the cast. Some, like Sovereign get a moment out of this, but all too often it just feels like the writer taking inventory.

The tragedy of this is that Randolph has two excellent superhero adventures to play with and a myriad of interpersonal dramas yet can’t pick one to devote the issue to. Past months have focused on Hector Hall’s abduction of Zari, but that plot line ends up a bait and switch as we transition to the shape-shifter plot just in time for the comic to end.