Customer Reviews

Wolverine: The End

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Leaping from the alpha of Logan's life to the omega, Paul Jenkins (of questionable "Origin" fame) decided to use Marvel's "The End" series (a sort of "how did they die"/What If? occasional series) to cap Wolverine's life and, in the process, further seal the hero's storyline. Logan is now old, having outlived his X-friends by a century or so; his mutant healing factor is starting to fail but he continues to seek the answers to his identity that we regretfully learned in Jenkins' previous outing. Suddenly, Wolverine has a brother who knows all the answers and teases Logan with them -- but only if he assists in a scheme to wreak havoc on humankind. Ugh.

Coupled this time with muddy, unexciting art by Claudio Castellini, "The End" seems to say that Logan's life must both begin and end with a fizzle. If you like Wolverine, do yourself a favor and stick with the stories in the middle.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles editor

I didn't buy this book, I read it during my lunch break. After finishing it, I'm definitely glad I did not waste my money.

First of all, as others have stated, this is not the "end" of wolverine. He doesn't die and nothing gets resolved. Why call it the end if it isn't the end?

Secondly, the stories main antagonist is someone that people have never even heard about. Jenkin's resolves this fact in the novel partially, but the existence of John (and the past that Wolverine has forgotten which involves John numerous times) still feels foreign.

What makes it even worse, is that supposedly Xavier knew about John the entire time but never told him. Xavier tells Wolverine it was "for the best", but the reader is left wondering why. Wolverine's a badass, he wouldn't join his "brother" to conquer the world and Xavier of all people should have known that. My point is that Jenkins didn't do a good job of portaying an accurate Xavier, at least one that the normal X-men fan is used to.

Speaking of Xavier, that might be the only redeemable quality of this book. The fact that Xavier still lives 200 years later (he lives through astral projection I suppose) is pretty cool. But aside from that, there is nothing that this book offers. There is no closure, there is no enjoyment (because once you finish it you'll feel like you've wasted your time) and there is no feeling of quality. If you liked Origin, don't read Wolverine's End.

Paul Jenkins, who scripted Marvel's hit Origin, provides a fascinating follow up with Wolverine: The End. This time under the banner of Marvel's popular "The End" series, this 6 issue TPB begins with a much older Wolverine receiving word of the death of his life long arch nemesis Sabretooth. Soon enough, Logan is face to face with his long lost brother John, resulting in a confusing and bloody battle which doesn't quite end anything at all. Jenkins, who is one of the best writers in comics today, leaves more questions than answers, whether that was his intention or not is unknown. Wolverine: The End's main weakness however are the pencils of Claudio Castellini, which seem to break down as the story progresses. That aside, the TPB still manages to be an average comic at best, but for those hoping for some closure, you won't find it here.

Most of my knowledge of Wolverine has been from the movies/cartoons, back issues of the X-Men comics and crossovers. I recently purchased Wolverin: Origin and was very impressed with it. So naturally I wanted to see how his story ends (since I just read the begining) well, needless to say I was very disappointed. This book can be the first arc of his ending, but it is not THE END. Many more books can be written about Wolverine after this story arc. That was my biggest disappointment. Other than that, the story was okay.

I'm going out on a limb and say that I was pleasantly surprised by the power of this story. The depiction of an old Logan, grizzled by a life lived too long and scarred by memories too faint for true clarity and futile searches for answers unknown to him was quite engaging. I was strung along as finally the answers began to look as though they were coming. What he recieved were more mysteries and half truths and what has to be utter frustration and sadness. This is a violent book, not at all what I expected from Paul Jenkins. His grim vision of the future is unsettling but also too familiar in the post 9/11 world of American. The artwork provided by Claudio Castellini is an odd but strangely satisfying bridge for the over the top violence to keen moments of contemplation. His facial close-ups are both images of taut expressions and languid cynicism. The only problem with this artist is way his panels fairly explode from the stress of containing the characters and their actions. My biggest complaint is once again the coloring. It's too much of a distraction. The pallet is so dynamic that even the quiet moments suffer in their lack of subtlety and glossy, bold intensities come close to ruining even the exposive action scenes. Colorist Paul Mounts needs to take a refresher in painting course. Why is it one extreme to the next with these digital colorists? I'm glad Isonove wasn't the colorist but at least he can do subtle moments well.
Jenkins is in fine form portraying the older than dirt Logan as he heads out one more time to confront the questions of his past. In this case he discovers family. Too bad for old Logan because his own history should have set the warning bells to clanging.
This was a fun read, with intense characterization, taut action and nothing like "The End...". I'm glad there was no truth other than philosophical conjecture to the title.

I too, will join the ranks of protestors against "Wolverine: The End". I actually like the idea of an old Logan, following his final years, but this publication is simply not up too par. The story (picking up the "Origin" trail) is, too put it bluntly, bad. The amount of actual information given about Wolverine is next to nothing, no explanations are given, no insights. The plot is very weak and boring, bringing in a two-dimensional main antagonist in the shape of Logans brother and generally following a far too well known pattern.

The artwork is not the best I've seen, yet I don't find it as bad as many other reviewers seem to.

There's nothing new, nothing interesting, nothing plausible, nothing. A cup of thin broth. One for the completists.

Wolverine is my favorite comic book character, and I really would have expected better for him. The story just never pops. We just kind of meander through with an old Wolverine. I don't know that this book answers any questions (though should we ever know all there is to know about Wolverine, isn't have his appeal in his mystery) and this brother of his just seemed contrived. The art work didn't really do it for me, and I hated the mullet they gave Logan. It really was average at best, and I loved this guy's Origins story. Oh well, they can't all be great.

The artwork in the book is great, but the story was really blah. Origin was great, I dont like how this doesnt tie up all the loose ends either. Pass on this one, Wolverine fans.

This book it is not the end of wolverine is the begginig of an a new adventure of LOGAN'S sad (but full of action) life, the art is really good, but the history leaves you with more questions about the Howlet family and Wolverine's past. I liked this book.

Since this comic has been reviewed so many times I 'll just said that it was dissapointing. Not only for the coloring but mostly for the story. Just so unbelievable even for a comic book. It doesn't make sense that the brother decide to show up after more that 150 years. He tells wolverine that he has always been watching/following him. Then he beats him up so badly that Wolverine almost die and shortly after he offers him to be partners? Ha,ha