Comic Review: Wolverine #8 – Nostalgia and Poetry in an Adamantium-Soaked Mess
“Wolverine #8” is one of those issues that reminds you why you love the character… and also why sometimes you want to throw the whole run out the window. A double-sized issue (a whopping 64 pages!) meant to close the current story arc with a bang and kick off a new chapter in Logan’s life. It succeeds… partially.
This issue has it all: an epic final showdown, a monster’s dumb death, a totally random Arcade appearance, a cannibalism morality lesson, a family drama twist, visions of pantless Wolverine, and thankfully a brilliant short by Daniel Warren Johnson that completely outshines the rest. Sounds like a mess? That’s because it is.
Romulus: “Wait, that’s it?”
The issue starts by wrapping up the arc with Romulus, a long-standing, problematic character whose biggest talent is showing up in stories and adding nothing. Here, he’s taken out by Wolverine stabbing him through the mouth. That’s it.
All that build-up, and the climax is a single stab? Then the “Adamantine” (yes, the sentient metal) takes on a humanoid form completely out of nowhere. Why did it ever need an avatar in the first place? Instead of meaningful myth-building, we get flashy nonsense. There’s no emotional payoff, no insight just a limp finale.
From Horror to Saturday Morning Cartoon
Before you can even process Romulus’s anticlimactic demise, the story abruptly shifts to a new arc. And not in a smooth way it feels like several pages are missing. Suddenly, Wolverine’s in a new setting and... Arcade shows up. Yes, that Arcade. But not the fun, over-the-top assassin version.
This is “sadist billionaire” Arcade, whose motive seems to be: “I’m rich and bored, so let’s torture Logan.” That’s it. There’s no client, no deeper plot, no payoff. Just another familiar name thrown in to spice things up, but with no flavor.
Wendigo, Cannibalism, and After-School Morals
Then comes one of the most baffling scenes: Wendigo sacrifices himself to protect Logan. The unkillable guy. His death conveniently undoes a teenage boy’s monstrous curse, and the kid just… walks off home to mom. The comic gives us a moral: “Don’t eat people, kids!” Seriously.
This was a storyline that could have explored the mental and emotional trauma of transformation, of losing control. Instead, we got a Disney-fied wrap-up with no consequence. The curse is gone, no therapy needed. No nightmares. Just a smile and a lesson. Ridiculous.
Wolverine’s Costume… and Tiny Legs
Let’s talk about the costume. Wolverine’s new look? A harlequin-style outfit with diamond patterns that make him look like he’s moonlighting for Cirque du Soleil. Add a scene of him crawling around with acid-melted stumps instead of legs and no pants and you’ve got imagery that’s more meme-worthy than menacing.
The main art in the issue isn’t bad, but feels rushed and lacks direction. Panel flow is off. And the visuals just don’t match the tone the script is trying to hit.
DWJ to the Rescue
Enter Daniel Warren Johnson, and everything changes. His short story at the end of the issue is a masterclass in storytelling. His scratchy, kinetic art style oozes emotion. The story? Grounded in Wolverine’s past but told with fresh poetic flair. It’s raw, honest, and brilliant.
DWJ doesn’t need lore dumps or retcons. He just gets Logan. And in a few pages, he delivers more depth and heart than the rest of the issue combined. It’s such a high point that it accidentally makes everything before it feel worse in comparison.
Final Thoughts
“Wolverine #8” is a frustrating but fascinating comic. It tries to do a lot, maybe too much. It has action, drama, mystery, mythology, and even humor. But it juggles all of them with uneven pacing and questionable execution.
The main arc ends with a whimper, the new arc starts with confusion, and the emotional beats land inconsistently. But buried beneath the mess is a spark of brilliance especially thanks to Daniel Warren Johnson’s segment.
Pros:
+ Daniel Warren Johnson’s short story+ Some cool ideas in Wolverine’s lore expansion
+ Beautiful splash of the humanoid Adamantine
+ Emotional closure for Leonard
+ A full 64-page issue packed with content
Cons:
– Romulus continues to be pointless, and his arc ends flatly
– Random shifts in story without proper transitions
– Poor characterization and irrational behavior
– Main art is inconsistent and at times laughably awkward
– New Wolverine costume is a visual misfire
Final Score: 7.5/10
Not the best Wolverine issue, not the worst. Worth picking up for the DWJ story alone, but temper your expectations for everything else. Long-time fans might find glimmers of what they love. New readers may wonder what the hell just happened. Either way, it's a chaotic but intriguing ride.
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