Wolverine’s Shocking Reunion: Mother Alive and Old Enemies Await!

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In the latest issue #8 of Wolverine (which, confusingly enough, is also labeled as issue #400 using legacy numbering), we find Wolverine receiving a letter from someone he thought was deceased – his mother, believed to have passed away in the 19th century. However, it turns out that she’s actually alive and needs his assistance! This revelation sends Wolverine into a whirlwind of emotions as he grapples with the situation while also finding himself at odds with two sets of old adversaries.

In Wolverine #9, the creative team consists of writer Saladin Ahmed, guest artist Javier Pina, colorist Bryan Valenza, and letterer Cory Petit. It’s worth noting that Pina skillfully steps in to replace the series’ regular artist, Martín Cóccolo. Throughout his career, Pina has demonstrated exceptional storytelling abilities, and this talent is particularly evident in his character work. His knack for creating compelling characters was effectively showcased in the Manhunter series he worked on with Marc Andreyko around 20 years ago, where he succeeded Jesus Saiz as the second main artist on the series. In this issue of Wolverine, Pina’s skills are put to good use as the story revolves around Wolverine’s emotional response to a startling revelation about his mother.

How does Department H factor into this story?

The narrative commences by delving into the experiences of a mutant who appears human (since non-human passing comes with its own set of complexities), as depicted in Logan, while he is in a bar. Interestingly, another patron displays blatant anti-mutant sentiments towards his companion. Remarkably, this individual, even residing in a secluded region of Canada, admonishes him, “Keep your biases to yourself.” Ahmed skillfully satirizes common arguments, such as, “I wish mutants weren’t so eager to display their powers.

Despite being preoccupied with the shocking revelation that his mother is alive and needing his assistance, Logan finds himself confronted once more by Department H as he exits the bar. Notably, Department H has assumed a significant role in the series, with Alpha Flight functioning under their control essentially as work-release prisoners. It’s intriguing to consider if there will be any connection between Ahmed’s portrayal of the group and MacKay’s interpretation in the future, as Wolverine is bound to be curious about how the Hudsons are faring.

In an unexpected turn of events, Agent Mehta, initially presented as the only agent who suspected that Wolverine might not be killing innocent people indiscriminately, has been elevated in rank. Now, she’s informing Wolverine that she intends to monitor him closely, yet she chooses to disclose this now since she believes he could potentially sever ties if desired. This development is intriguing, and if Ahmed intends for Mehta to become Wolverine’s next romantic interest, he’s skillfully setting up a gradual build-up of their relationship.

What other old foes await Wolverine?

At his childhood home, Ahmed skillfully delves into the theme that Wolverine’s past trauma, stemming from his early orphanhood, is seldom discussed but clearly has had a profound impact on him. This unspoken burden seems to be surfacing significantly in the present moment.

Initially, Harpoon and Vertigo, two long-absent members of the Marauders, launch an assault on him. This situation allows Pina to showcase some high-octane action, while Valenza’s vibrant colors add a nostalgic, superhero-style flair to the intense fight scene between Wolverine and the malevolent villains. Naturally, once the dust settles, Wolverine deduces that if the Marauders are present, then it can only mean one thing: someone who knows both the Marauders and Wolverine has sent them. Interestingly, this person turns out to be Sabretooth, who was believed to have perished in the last Wolverine series. However, as Wolverine himself admitted during the comic, characters in comics seem to meet their end numerous times, so it’s no surprise to him that Sabretooth is still alive and kicking.

It appears that the villain could be linked to Wolverine’s mother, possibly leading us down a path where some previously established storylines might be revised or rewritten, as it seems Ahmed is considering resurrecting the familial bond between Wolverine and Sabretooth. If this were to happen, it would certainly add an intriguing twist, especially since the #400 reveal was quite a substantial surprise.

I’m quite fond of the design on the final page; it has a vintage feel reminiscent of romance/horror comic book tales. Sabretooth appears to be lingering menacingly over Wolverine’s childhood home in a chilling, climactic scene that resembles a splash page. This sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the story, which is exactly what a powerful splash page should do.

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2025-05-21 00:02