Written by David Lapham
Illustrated by David AjaWOLVERINE FIGHTS FLYING BATTLEROBO SUITS IN JAPAN!!!!
Yes, that is the shortest solicit ever. Yes, it is a $3.99 book. Yes, it’s ANOTHER Wolverine comic.
But good god people, it’s David Aja!!!!
Find out my thoughts on this book after the jump.
I’ll start with some personal bias that will run throughout this review: I think David Aja is one of the best artists in comics, and I would buy a comic simply because he works on it. His cover work has been what we’ve getting from him lately, and it’s all been great (his Red Skull covers are excellent) but I wanted interiors. So when I saw he’d be working on this book, I had to buy it, even though I knew nothing about it besides that it apparently features Wolverine fighting flying battlerobo suits in Japan. Given that, even though I think David Lapham is a talented writer, I was buying this strictly because of Aja. No matter how many battle robots Wolverine may be fighting.
So when I say it is a surprise that this book not only doesn’t feature one fight sequence with Wolverine (unless you include Wolverine popping his claws to help slow his fall from a SHIELD Helicarrier) involved and is still an excellent comic, you’ll believe me.
While this book is inarguably a kind of unnecessary exercise in the grand scheme of the world – why do we need another Wolverine story set at some point in his past in Japan? – it is also without a doubt a very well told story that fits into the work and themes of Jason Aaron’s current work on the primary Wolverine title and Rick Remender’s work with the character in Uncanny X-Force.
Lapham is a writer who understands this character and the honor at the core of him. He tells a story that fits well into the character’s history, and that he gets to blend that in with some sweet, sweet Steranko-esque SHIELD action and a tale of betrayal is more than welcome. It’s an excellent read that is brilliantly paced and delivered with wall-to-wall quality character work. In particular, I enjoyed the last page of the book, featuring Fury and his SHIELD compadre discussing whether or not Wolverine survived the ordeal and what he’s doing if he did. The juxtaposition of Fury’s suggested reality (which he assuredly knew was false) and the truth was heartbreaking, and cut to the core of the pain this character is permanently in.
Plus, there were giant battle robots in Japan. Come on now people.
Oh yeah, and that David Aja guy? This guy is good.
From a storytelling standpoint, Aja is one of the best in the business. His depiction of the SHIELD raid on the battle robot attack in Japan is grade A+++ execution, engaging the reader into the sequence with clever layouts and brilliant composition. That’s just one good example, but really, every page is. This is an exquisite looking book.
One of my favorite things Aja does, though, is the way he can turn a sound effect into a panel, such as one panel towards the end where the Helicarrier is under fire but is depicted as such within a panel that is shaped to say “KBOOOM.” Others have picked up on that move, but Aja is by far the best at executing it.
His Wolverine is one that clearly carries the weight of a long and hard life on his frame, with measured poses that reflect the emotional and physical toll he has taken in his life. This is not an artist who is going to give Logan gritted teeth and call it a day. In his hands, Wolverine looks and feels like the Wolverine I love.
It’s hard to really convey why David Aja is such a good artist. The more I try, the more I’m just saying the same words over and over trying to be as convincing as I can be. The way I’ll try to convince you is by saying this: go to your shop. Open this book and look at it. If this book isn’t one of the best looking books out of everything on the racks, then don’t buy it. But if it is, you owe it to yourself to buy it. Especially when you factor in Bettie Breitweiser’s beautiful colors that do a wonderful job of enhancing the tone and atmosphere of Aja’s work.
Continued belowWolverine: Debt of Death is a stunning looking book with a very solid story and superb character work from Lapham. Sure, it’s not something that is going to “matter” in the long run. But would you rather have a compelling story with top notch writing and art, or a comic that is special only in the fact that it is a new number one and is part of some epic endeavor? While rebooting a whole universe is exciting and good for the industry, I can tell you what is more important: making good comics.
And Wolverine: Debt of Death is good comics.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
