Wolverine - The Road to Hell

Released yesterday at comic shops everywhere was Wolverine: The Road to Hell.

It's an issue to kick off the all-new Wolverine saga going on right alongside the relaunch of Wolverine and Family titles. Titles such as Daken, X-23, Wolverine, and Uncanny X-Force.

Yup, this is an X-23 blog, you're not mistaken, but this title in question also features a short story featuring X-23 called 'Brace for Impact' written by Dan Way and Marjorie Liu. A rather interesting story. It confirms a couple details like the outcome of Dr. Zander Rice, and a few other snippets. While putting the 'short' in short story, it does manage to keep Laura in character, and help setup what to expect from her upcoming on-going. So far all signs are pointing to great. In this story, albeit quickly, X-23 uses her training, and shines as the one we've all grown to know and love. It's a quite accurate, albeit quick, depiction that really starts to wet the appetite for what's to come.

Personally? I can't wait for the upcoming on-going if this is any indication of what to expect from Marjorie Liu. It treads softly and quickly, but hits the key notes of X-23. She comes across as free to live for herself, not knowing what that means, so engages on her own mission to keep how she was raised from happening to others. Leaving at a cliffhanger to keep the reader hanging on till the new Wolverine Family ongoings start. This really quells my fears of Marjorie Liu taking over the character after her other attempt in the one-shot that seemed too random to truly figure out what the intent was with hiding behind a mcguffin to cover any characterization issues that ran abundant in Laura's usage. Seems the wait between titles has really helped Liu get in touch with the character and how she's portrayed. No Mowgli traits here, just pure unfiltered X-23 in her Pinnochio nature trying to stop her childhood from happening to others. The art itself is complimentary of the story, yielding more panels of great angle usage, and character conveyance, plus it helps that it's purdy to look at too. The art is by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Onofrio Catacchio, and Will Conrad, with colors by Marte Gracia and John Rauch.

I might have to start watching for the Daken title too, as it seems all 3 of these titles may criss-cross in an event to kick them off. Well, the relaunched Wolverine's issue one doesn't feature her, so you may be able to skip that title spottily for now.

And remember, 13 more days to go before X-23 #1 hits shelves.