Wolverine Infinity Watch #1 // Review
Wolverine teams up with Loki in Wolverine Infinity Watch #1, by writer Gerry Duggan, artist Andy MacDonald, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Cory Petit. This book comes on the heels of both Return Of Wolverine and Infinity War but does a good job of explaining what it's about without a reader having knowledge of either.
Logan goes to the X-Mansion and is greeted by Jean Grey… but realizes quickly that it's not her. Instead, it's Loki, who has been looking for Logan. Loki starts to ask him about when they let back in Marvel Legacy #1 and Infinity Countdown, but they are interrupted by the future Phoenix Wolverine, who explains that he was behind all of that and gives them a mission. After Phoenix Wolverine leaves, Loki explains how the Infinity Stones have bonded with beings from around the universe and one of them is on Earth. Meanwhile, Warbringer of the Chitauri has shown up to claim the man the Time Gem is bonded to.
This book does a great job of explaining a lot of stuff that readers need to know, especially if they hadn't read Infinity War. Duggan makes sure to lay everything out and keeps it interesting enough so readers stay engaged throughout an issue that is mostly just an info dump. He even finally explains why Logan in Marvel Legacy #1 had an Infinity Stone but Logan in Return Of Wolverine had no memories at all. It's very nice that this book ties up something that Charles Soule seemingly ignored in Return Of Wolverine.
Duggan gets Loki and Logan's characterization right and it looks like their relationship is going to be a fun one. It feels like their dynamic is going to be sort of like the Wolverine/Spider-Man dynamic from Jason Aaron's Astonishing Spider-Man And Wolverine, even referencing that book with Phoenix Wolverine giving Logan the Time Bat that was a big part of it. Duggan has long been one of Marvel's better writers and this book's premise and execution bode well for what's coming next. This book has an interesting premise, taking Logan out of his comfort zone and teaming him with someone he's never been around before.
Andy MacDonald's art works very well for the book. His figure work and character acting are very nice. This issue doesn't have any big action set pieces, but MacDonald does well with what's he handed, capturing Loki's big emotional outbursts and Logan's steely nonchalance perfectly.
Wolverine Infinity Watch #1 is a wonderful set-up for an intriguing story. In reality, this should have been the book to bring Wolverine back into the Marvel Universe proper. Duggan succeeds here where Charles Soule failed because he's not trying to add anything new to the character, but put him in a new situation, with stakes and characters that Logan has rarely had to deal with. Adding Loki to the mix is an inspired choice as well, as the two characters will play well off each other. Andy MacDonald's art is detailed and expressive and it will be great to see what he can do now that Duggan has gotten all the exposition out of the way. This is a pitch-perfect first issue.
