Customer Reviews

Wolverine: Enemy of the State, Vol. 2

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Continuing the second half of Mark Millar's year long arc on Wolverine, Enemy of the State Vol. 2 continues where Vol. 1 left off with the Hydra brainwashed Wolverine captured by Shield. With Nick Fury and co. trying to bring Wolvie back to his old self, the alliance of Hydra, the Hand, and the mysterious Gorgon strike (along with the help of the brainwashed Elektra and Northstar), taking out Shield, wounding Fury, and leaving Wolverine in a vengeance driven mood. Millar has really done something special here, weaving a bloody story of Wolverine seeking redemption for what he's done by launching a one man assault on the evil alliance, and the final confrontation between him and the Gorgon is one of the best fights in a modern mainstream comic you'll see today. John Romita Jr. once again provides his solid pencil work, even if it does look a bit messy here and there. All in all, Mark Millar's entire year long run has proven to be one of the best Wovlerine stories in years, and if you dug the first volume, you know you have to pick this up.

In Wolverine Enemy of the State vol. 1, Hydra and the Hand killed a little boy related to Mariko. While Logan was investigating the child's death he was captured and brainwashed, turning him into a brainless, remorseless killer. Then he was unleashed on the Marvel Universe.

Though a high cost was paid, Wolverine was finally captured. Shield managed to return him to himself, and Logan swore revenge of Hydra, the Hand, and the Dawn of the White Light. Never before has Wolverine been quite so frightening as in this graphic and it's processor. Seeing him wade into an ocean of ninjas and obliterate them is a beautiful sight to behold.

Guest stars include Elektra, Nick Fury, Northstar, Kitty Pryde, Sentinels, and an ocean of villains.

Mike Millar is easily one of the best writer in comics today. His stories are unrelenting, brutal, intricate, and exquisite. John Romita Junior has been drawing Wolverine for more than two decades and Elektra for over ten years. His expertise with these characters lends power to the brutal beauty of his line work.

While Wolverine Enemy of the State vol. 2 is better having first enjoyed volume one, it can be read alone. It also can be enjoyed by newcomers and seasoned fans alike.

Highest recommendations.

Very good story, fun to see how the 2nd half ends but had one or 2 spots of what is going on?!?!? Some of the enemy's history and abilities would have been nice to know before the story is too far along. The Gorgon is a bit over the top with his abilities but excellent read none-the-less.

New & Old School Wolverine fans alike will love this storyline.

If you haven't read the first part to this series, don't bother reading this one until you have. It's not that you won't understand what's going on. Not at all. It won't have the impact it should, however, if you did not read "Enemy of the State Part 1."

I won't give anything away here, but the story involves Wolverine, that lovable killing machine, doing what he does best against a whole lot of people who have done him wrong. It is brutal (though not as brutal as the first part), and it will go down in the history of the character as one of the best storylines involving him. That's not hyperbole. Read both parts and then say differently.

In case you hadn't noticed, the cover is an homage to Jim Steranko, one of comic's best creators. Normally such a move would be meant to distract readers from a subpar plot. Here it is an homage in the finest sense of the word. It is done out of respect, and it is thoroughly fitting based upon the story.

Wolverine is an overused, overhyped character. Few writers do him well. Few writers give him any depth. While there may not be much depth to the character here (at least not when compared to what Chris Claremont did with him), there is one bang-up job of a story that is pure action through and through.

I picked up Vol. 1 of this storyline years ago, and I've been meaning to complete the story for awhile now.

I wasn't as impressed with this volume (and, by association, the ending). The first volume saw Wolverine going up against other heroes (some that he doesn't often have much screen time with, even), and was written to show the character's inner monologue (which was actually his new HYDRA/HAND programming) and turmoil (the noble Logan trying to break free of this latest mental manipulation).

This second volume picks up after Logan has been taken down by the combined might of the X-Men, Avengers, SHIELD, and probably a host of other superheroes that John Romita, Jr. could just not fit in the panels. I was surprised to see them taking the time to show SHIELD still attempting to break Logan free of the aforementioned programming, but I thought it could be interesting. Turns out, not so much. The de-programming was never completed, but Wolverine miraculously rises with absolutely no hint of his previous programming coming up for the remainder of the book. Not even a hint of him losing it in a fight (dancing the line between "berzerker rage" and "mind-controlled assassin"), talking to himself, or questioning his actions. So the rest of the book is just mindless shredding through an estimated 50,000 bad guys until finding the boss battle--the Gorgon.

I would've liked to have seen what another writer could've done with this character, the Gorgon. No offense to Millar, who has written some very entertaining stories. He's great at large, Hollywood-style stories, and can add some interesting quirks to his characters. And I love, love, love, John Romita, Jr (look for his Spider-Man towards the end of the book)! Even still, I was just not as enthused by this half, and I really had to work to get through it. But I admit freely that some time had passed between the time I picked up the first half and this purchase.

I like the look of this book - who drew the cover? The Steranko homage is hard to miss.

The conclusion to the "Wolverine: Enemy Of The State" epic is one of the most thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced, no-holds barred superhero stories I've read in quite a while. Too often nowadays these big story arcs seem to wrap up in a hurry and have a weak ending -- such is NOT the case here: Mark Millar built up the tension, sustained the action and kept the pace just right, from beginning to end. Job well done. Here, Wolverine breaks free of the mind control that Hydra trapped him with, and is thus set loose to slice and dice to his heart's desire. Plenty of zombie ninja bite the dust, and Logan once again reasserts his butt-kicking bona fides. If you're looking for a good, simple, slam-bang superhero story, this is a darn good choice! (ReadThatAgain)

This issue has it all! You see Wolverine as every die-hard fan desires! Epic battles, chaotic conflicts, and devastation all over do not take away from the individual struggles and dilemas of Wolverine, Nick Fury, and Elektra vs. The Hand. Although the Hand's "Gorgan " resembles "Morlon" (who had the Juggernaut-like power and was in search of "spider essence" to drain from Parker's life force) from the Spidey issue, he has the arrogance and the brutality just right to match up against Wolverine's. You just don't mess with Logan's head and get away with it.
Even if you read this issue before reading the 1st Enemy of the State issue, you won't feel 'left out', but you will still want to read the 1st one too!

The side story in the back of the issue was pretty cool as well.

It had everything you can want, Vol. 1 and 2 are must own for any comic book fan.

Continuing the second half of Mark Millar's year long arc on Wolverine, Enemy of the State Vol. 2 continues where Vol. 1 left off with the Hydra brainwashed Wolverine captured by Shield. With Nick Fury and co. trying to bring Wolvie back to his old self, the alliance of Hydra, the Hand, and the mysterious Gorgon strike (along with the help of the brainwashed Elektra and Northstar), taking out Shield, wounding Fury, and leaving Wolverine in a vengeance driven mood. Millar has really done something special here, weaving a bloody story of Wolverine seeking redemption for what he's done by launching a one man assault on the evil alliance, and the final confrontation between him and the Gorgon is one of the best fights in a modern mainstream comic you'll see today. John Romita Jr. once again provides his solid pencil work, even if it does look a bit messy here and there. All in all, Mark Millar's entire year long run has proven to be one of the best Wovlerine stories in years, and if you dug the first volume, you know you have to pick this up.