All-New Wolverine #27 review: The Orphans of X Strike
By Thomas Bacon
Laura has finally got her mother back – but all isn’t as it seems in Wolverine.
All-New Wolverine #27
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Juann Cabal
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
The All-New Wolverine is currently facing a terrifying threat. An unknown organization is out to kill all the Wolverines. They’ve already captured Daken, and are attempting to torture the location of the Muaramasa Blade. As any long-term fan of Wolverine will know, this is a mystic blade charged with hatred. It cuts on a molecular level, meaning even a healing factor can’t repair the wounds it causes.
This issue sees events continue to escalate. Returning to the old Weapon X facility, Laura was shocked to discover her mother, Sarah Kinney. At the same time, Daken has launched a desperate escape. He may have lost an arm, but the mutant is as lethal as ever, and even the Orphans of X can’t keep him captive for long.
A Tense and Dramatic Opening
Daken just strolls in. [Credit: Marvel Comics]The issue opens with a tense sequence in which Gabby, Laura’s 15-year-old clone, prepares to protect the innocents. Thankfully, the ones at the door are actually Wolverine herself, accompanied by a disconcerted Daken. Only minutes ago, he was fighting his way past a hail of gunfire. Now he’s among friends, and has no idea why they were so close at hand.
What follows is a sinister sequence, escalating to the point where Daken opens fire with a stolen gun. To Laura’s horror, she hears her mother’s heart stop once again. Cabal and Woodard render the whole sequence so very effectively, creating a real sense of growing tension. The page in which Daken does the deed is visually stunning, and you feel Wolverine’s shock seeping off the page.
It’s easy to guess what happens next. Daken is in no state for a fight, but Laura cuts loose – as does Gabby. The expression of grief and rage on Laura’s face is heart-wrenching, conveying so much emotion. Cabal and Woodard are both worthy of praise for capturing her reaction to the tragedy so well. The action sequence is stunning, with the violence oddly incongruous against the domestic backdrop. There’s a moment where you honestly don’t know where this is going; will Laura actually kill her brother?
The Orphans of X
The Orphans of X. [Credit: Marvel Comics]Meanwhile, this issue really creates a sense of how sinister and well-organized the Orphans of X truly are. There’s one disturbing sequence that shows how closely they’re watching Laura, and Woodard ditches the issue’s normal colorscheme to really make that page work. The leader of the Orphans explains his cause, one that seems familiar to the Victim Syndicate recently seen in DC’s Detective Comics. But their methods make the Victim Syndicate seem like they’re pretty laid-back.
We learn that Wolverine has been manipulated, and disturbingly it’s by a group who have the power to deal with her friends. She called on Captain Marvel to destroy the Muramasa Blade once and for all, but that was just what the Orphans of X expected. They have a weapon ready that can take down Captain Marvel, albeit briefly, and they use the opportunity to steal the Muramasa Blade.
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So the enemies of Wolverine now have a weapon that can be used to kill her…
It’s another effective issue from Tom Taylor, albeit an intense and emotional one. The whole creative team works together well to give this book the impact it deserves. The emotional damage Wolverine suffers in this page is shocking, and you can’t help but feel Laura’s pain. This is easily Taylor’s darkest arc yet.