What if Wolverine turned evil and faced the X-Men, Avengers and all the other superheroes? Mark Millar tries to give us an answer to what would have happened then!
Brainwashing
In the comic book Wolverine: Public Enemy , published in our country by Mucha Comics, the title character goes to Japan to help find a certain little boy. The alleged kidnapping turns out to be a trap set for Logan – he ends up in the hands of the Gorgon, a mutant working for the Hand, Hydra and the sect known as the Dawn of White Light. He is brainwashed and starts working for the mentioned groups. His task is to hunt superheroes who – in the long run – will also be on the side of evil. The first to discover his power are the members of the Fantastic Four. And so Wolverine becomes the number one target for SHIELD, and Elektra follows him.
No claw
The script of the entire adventure is the responsibility of award-winning screenwriter Mark Millar, who also created such comics as Swamp Thing , The Flash and the Civil War event . One of his most important works is Old Man Logan . So we could count on Public Enemy being an engaging and captivating story. And that’s what it is, but it falls far short of being called a masterpiece. Although Logan is undoubtedly my favorite Marvel hero, which often makes me look at him less objectively (one “Snikt!” is enough and I’m already willing to raise my rating), in this case I have to complain a little. But let’s start from the beginning. The very idea of brainwashing Wolverine and turning him into a killing machine on behalf of the Hand and Hydra is great and it must be admitted that it had huge potential, but unfortunately it was wasted. And it’s not even the author’s fault. The comic in question belongs to the main canon of the House of Ideas, which means that Wolverine couldn’t just kill superheroes. Sure, resurrections are an everyday occurrence in comics, but it’s still hard to imagine that a pile of dead bodies consisting of main characters would be allowed. If the title had been placed in another universe or in the What If… series , Millar could have had some fun (as he did in Old Man Logan ), but yes – it was limited and it didn’t work out as well as it could have. Logan fights with the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Daredevil and Captain America, he shows great potential, but the fights lead practically to nothing. Only nameless SHIELD soldiers and one of the supporting mutants fall. And it could be such a beautiful carnage…
Later in the comic, the antagonists take control of numerous villains. There is even a scene where the entire gang flies to attack Nick Fury’s transcopter. And again, it would be great if there were at least a few famous bad guys in this group . Meanwhile… these are not even supporting characters. Spot and Rhino appear somewhere in the background and that’s it. The rest may only be known to the most ardent Marvel fans.
However, to avoid just complaining (because I mentioned that it is an addictive title), Public Enemy must also be praised. First of all, the second part of the comic turned out great. Fast-paced action and a good fight, that’s what Logan fans could count on. Wolverine doesn’t stop, he slashes and slices anyone who gets in his way. However, everything has a plot justification, so you can root for him and experience the adventure with him. The fast pace makes the whole thing read quickly, almost in one breath. And this despite as many as 352 pages! And Millar tries to have fun all the time and even gives the hero Sentinels! There are also plenty of twists and turns. Maybe not entirely surprising, but very cleverly inserted into the script.
Something was missing…
The graphic design of the Wolverine: Public Enemy comic book was prepared by John Romita Jr., an artist who needs no introduction to his fans. And from the very first pages you can see who is behind the drawings. At times they are too square and unfinished. If you look closely at individual frames, you can even notice differences between the same characters. Details in the background are also often missing. But surprisingly, it doesn’t interfere with the reception at all. This is a style that we have become accustomed to over the years and when we see the artist’s name we know what to expect. We can certainly praise the fact that Romita Jr. It keeps up with Millar’s frenetic pace and manages to convey even his strangest ideas. The above-mentioned scene with the attack of villains or the large Sentinel can be downright delightful. However, I regret that the comic itself was not rated 18+. That’s why there’s no blood in it. Such a bloodless carnage performed by Logan or Elektra loses its quality. So we only see claws that pierce others, fights in the dark, and Hand ninjas who are not human and instead of bleeding, they only release green liquid . Even their severed limbs don’t look right without the addition of red. And again, it’s a pity that Marvel introduced restrictions to the book…
Polish accent
In terms of release, the second volume of Wolverine from Mucha Comics is great. These are thick hardcover volumes available at a quite decent price. In addition to the story itself, you will also find an introduction written by Garth Ennis, a collection of alternative covers and sketches of several frames by the aforementioned Romita Jr. The most interesting bonus here, however, is a short story with Logan, titled Prisoner Number Zero by Mark Millar, with graphics by Kaare Andrews. It is an extremely dark story with a psychological background, and it takes place in Poland. More precisely, in one of the concentration camps during World War II. The publishers deserve thanks, because with such an extensive story as Public Enemy , they didn’t have to include anything else. Nothing but enjoy!
Is it worth hunting down Public Enemy ?
The second volume about Logan’s adventures is an issue that will appeal primarily to fans of this mutant. It’s everything we expect from a hero and even more. About fifty thousand corpses is an incredible result, even for Wolverine (not all deaths are shown, but the number is given by Nick Fury). The only thing missing is red in the frames. The title will also appeal to fans of antiheroes and people expecting a lot of action and fight scenes. There is no time here for moral dilemmas and consequences. The mad beast breaks free from the chain and rushes forward. If you have enough breath, I recommend rushing along with him and overcoming the obstacles along the way.
