Beast has a new job for Wolverine in Wolverine #27, by writer Benjamin Percy, artist Juan Jose Ryp, colorist Frank D’Armata, and letterer Cory Petit. For anyone who hates Beast, this issue isn’t going to make anyone like him more.

The issue begins in Arbor Magna, with Wolverine being resurrected. In a feral state, he lashes out at Tempus and Hope, with Tempus using her power to freeze him. Beast arrives and puts a special necklace on him, which makes him docile, and they leave. From there, things kick into high gear, as Wolverine kills multiple targets on solo missions while X-Force goes their own way. Domino asks Sage about Wolverine at the Green Lagoon, but she gets too drunk. A flashback to Legacy House shows Beast killing Wolverine and then everyone else there, taking Logan’s severed head with him. At a meeting of X-Force, Beast tells them that they’re embracing a bold new direction and has Black Tom modify the Pointe to show the world what X-Force really is. Later, at Beast’s biome, he talks to the severed adamantium-laced skull of Wolverine.

Percy has been building up Beast’s malevolence in X-Force, and this issue goes full out with it. Beast’s experimented with Krakoan telefloronics from the beginning, and he knows enough about Logan to know that things are going to wear on him. A great part of X-Force has been Percy showing how the work affects the various members of the group. Wolverine refused Beast last chapter, and this is something he’s definitely been anticipating. That’s why when Beast brings the necklace to the Arbor Magna, most readers can tell it’s not exactly for the best reasons. Beast has relished his role as X-Force’s leader, and this issue sees him embrace it like never before.

Beast’s heel turn has been a long time coming, and it’ll be interesting to see if Percy pulls the trigger. There have been several fan theories that the Krakoan Beast isn’t the 616 Beast but instead is the Dark Beast. For this plot to really work, though, it would be better if it wasn’t. Beast has been on this road for years, and him finally going full megalomaniac is a fascinating plot element. In some ways, this definitely feels more like a chapter of X-Force than Wolverine, but these two books have traded off stories before.

Ryp and D’Armata make an excellent art team. Ryp’s pencils are tight and detailed. Domino and Sage’s faces get a bit wonky sometimes, but he does a great job throughout with his character acting. There’re some cool before and afters of Wolverine’s kills that look awesome, and he draws Beast very well. All in all, the pencils are wonderful. D’Armata has been coloring for a long time, and it’s amazing how he can tailor his style to new pencilers. He uses his palette to really bring out all the best parts of Ryp’s pencils.

Wolverine #27 is an intriguing addition to this book. Percy has been building towards this for a long time, and it will be interesting to see exactly where he takes it. Ryp and D’Armata are a fantastic art team, and they work well together for this story. This is another fabulous issue of this comic.

Grade: A