The definitive origin story of Wolverine, the one that has been copied, expanded, and transformed ever since. No newer retelling of this story can escape its shadow. But 33 years later... it doesn't make such a great impression anymore.

What I liked the most of this comic is its uncompromising vision. Barry Windsor-Smith combines all of the means that this medium allows for to serve a single purpose - tell a raw, visceral, and mysterious story. The vibes are strong here and art, composition, script, down to lettering enhance the feelings that author wants to evoke, and they are neither nice nor comfortable. Some of the art is simply iconic! It has been reused and referenced probably too many times already and it's clear why.

While the vibes department overdelivers, the story department lags behind. There is no strong arc, character development is minimal, and the story seems to go in circles sometimes. Some panels don't seem to add anything new, just increase the pagecount. I think this story could be told more efficiently and have even a bigger impact.

Writing is especially weak when it comes to villains - how the speak, act, and their motives... everything requires a huge suspension of disbelief. At some point they become more annoying than menacing, more cartoonish than dreadful. I admire the juxtaposition of Logan's savagery with his oppressors' inhumanity as it begs the question when we lose what makes us human, where is the line that shouldn't be crossed and if there's a way back. It's a great concept but its execution here is far from good.

Overall, I'm happy that I read it, but I don't think I'll ever come back to this book. It's too iconic to skip, but at the same time not interesting enough to re-read it. ( )

I remember reading this when I was a wee lad. As familiar as it was, I'd read it again and again. ( )

It has a cool feel and unfolds slow and eerie and Windsor-Smith doesn't overdetermine. I think in some ways the only X-Men stories I wanna read are the ones that could also be told the same way with no X-Men involved whatsoever. ( )

Review forthcoming. ( )

Collects
Marvel Comics Presents #72-84 ( )