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Essential Wolverine #3
Essential Wolverine, Vol. 3
Logan Weapon X Wolverine. He is a man who has been known by many different names, but precious little is known of his enigmatic past. A mutant gifted with heightened senses, a healing factor, and razor-sharp Adamantium claws which allow him to cut through virtually any substance on earth, Wolverine seeks to control the struggling beast within him while seeking his place as a member of the mysterious super-powered team of mutants known only as the uncanny X-Men! Collects Wolverine vol. 2, #48-69
528 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2002
3 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Larry Hama
1,955 books152 followersLarry Hama is an American writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s.
During the 1970s, he was seen in minor roles on the TV shows M*A*S*H and Saturday Night Live, and appeared on Broadway in two roles in the original 1976 production of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures.
He is best known to American comic book readers as a writer and editor for Marvel Comics, where he wrote the licensed comic book series G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, based on the Hasbro action figures. He has also written for the series Wolverine, Nth Man: the Ultimate Ninja, and Elektra. He created the character Bucky O'Hare, which was developed into a comic book, a toy line and television cartoon.
During the 1970s, he was seen in minor roles on the TV shows M*A*S*H and Saturday Night Live, and appeared on Broadway in two roles in the original 1976 production of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures.
He is best known to American comic book readers as a writer and editor for Marvel Comics, where he wrote the licensed comic book series G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, based on the Hasbro action figures. He has also written for the series Wolverine, Nth Man: the Ultimate Ninja, and Elektra. He created the character Bucky O'Hare, which was developed into a comic book, a toy line and television cartoon.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 20, 2021
At the time of publication these comic books were on par with Peter David's 'All New, All Different X-Factor' as one of the best X-book of the early 1990s. Larry Hama's storytelling is compelling as are his wonderful characterisations. There's an amazing array of guest appearances with the likes of the X-Men and Jubilee, Nick Fury, Mojo, Spiral, Shatterstar, Sunfire and more. This volumes really starts to fill in some of Logan's mysterious past including his old team that included Maverick & Sabretooth! This also features the passing of two women in his life, devastating for Logan. 7 out of 12.
I read the comic books Wolverine #48-#69, covered by this volume.
I read the comic books Wolverine #48-#69, covered by this volume.
September 11, 2008
Wolverine's probably one of the biggest names in superheroics, partially because he was part of that wave of mid-80s Dark Badass Vigilantes that transformed the cape book landscape, and partially because Hugh Jackman looks damn good with stubble and a cigar. So it's easy to look at him as all hat and no cattle, a cartoonish (heh) adolescent wish fulfillment icon, a precursor to those dark days of hologram variant covers and Rob Liefeld illustrations, but you shouldn't! Because when he's written well, he's a very good character!
I love the Larry Hama run on Wolverine. Yeah, it gets a little Special Ops sometimes - the guy did spend a lot of time writing G.I. Joe - but it's something that works for Wolverine. Other things that work for Wolverine that Larry Hama writes well : his twisted relationship with Sabertooth, the way he runs around the frozen Canadian forests all the time, his avuncular relationship with his young pals, the way he's always struggling to balance his animalistic nature with his drive to do what's right and to protect his honor.
Yeah, it's kind of a goofy guilty pleasure, too. And okay, there is wish fulfillment in it for me, I want Wolverine to be my tough uncle who will teach me how to fight and who will take me to play pool in some dingy dive bar in Alberta. I have no idea if this is more or less embarrassing than my addiction to a Japanese comics series for teenaged girls.
Anyway, this collection gets a point taken off because Mojo's in it. Also, Gambit, although thankfully he's not around so much.
I love the Larry Hama run on Wolverine. Yeah, it gets a little Special Ops sometimes - the guy did spend a lot of time writing G.I. Joe - but it's something that works for Wolverine. Other things that work for Wolverine that Larry Hama writes well : his twisted relationship with Sabertooth, the way he runs around the frozen Canadian forests all the time, his avuncular relationship with his young pals, the way he's always struggling to balance his animalistic nature with his drive to do what's right and to protect his honor.
Yeah, it's kind of a goofy guilty pleasure, too. And okay, there is wish fulfillment in it for me, I want Wolverine to be my tough uncle who will teach me how to fight and who will take me to play pool in some dingy dive bar in Alberta. I have no idea if this is more or less embarrassing than my addiction to a Japanese comics series for teenaged girls.
Anyway, this collection gets a point taken off because Mojo's in it. Also, Gambit, although thankfully he's not around so much.
April 4, 2017
Oh my dear, sweet Aunt Petunia! This was such a big steaming pile of male-chauvinist, pig-headed, testosterone-laden crap I couldn't believe how awful it was. Seriously. The art started out rather bland and just got worse and worse with every issue. By the middle of the book it was so bad that I was almost laughing, almost. See, I wasn't laughing, it was so bad. The combination of macho posturing and awful dialogue with poor (at best) art just left me feeling sick to my stomach. Then we get to the last issue: a breath of fresh air, but not enough to compensate for the nauseating drivel in the previous 20+ issues. Although, I suppose the reprint editors felt they had to end it with a big cliff-hanger or else no one would come back for volume 4. Be warned: only die hard Wolverine fanatics and right-wing fundamentalists will get any enjoyment out of this terrible tome of throbbing testosterone.
December 18, 2015
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May 20, 2018
This is a strong three stars. In my childhood, cartoon Wolverine, the loner-with-a-heart willing to sacrifice himself for others was my favorite. I related to his ability to care deeply for others, yet find solace in being alone.
I recently started reading Wolverine comics and haven't enjoyed the character - until now. Early issues were a mixed bag, both in plot and character development. This volume marks the first time I felt some consistency in his character. Moreover, I loved experiencing bits of his muddled past, the introduction of Jubilee and, most of all, Mark Texeira's art.
The bad issues are still BAD, the issues where Wolverine just rages are dull and forgettable. But in the good issues I enjoyed the Wolverine character for the first time since I was just a pup.
I recently started reading Wolverine comics and haven't enjoyed the character - until now. Early issues were a mixed bag, both in plot and character development. This volume marks the first time I felt some consistency in his character. Moreover, I loved experiencing bits of his muddled past, the introduction of Jubilee and, most of all, Mark Texeira's art.
The bad issues are still BAD, the issues where Wolverine just rages are dull and forgettable. But in the good issues I enjoyed the Wolverine character for the first time since I was just a pup.
April 10, 2009
Here, Larry Hama starts digging into Wolverine's past. It was helpful to have read Weapon X prior to this reading as there are some elements of that which keep popping up. There are also some take a break issues, written by other writers, that are mostly out of place and boring. There's also a Hama storyline with Mojo which was really unnecessary. However most of the quest for the past stuff is at least a little entertaining. This book also ends at a weird point: the first issue of an arc, whereas most essentials try to end with an arc. The only other cliffhanger at the end of an Essential I have read still made sense, as it did end one part of the arc and they were going to transition artists. That was also a worthwhile cliffhanger. The one to end this book is... not very tense.
Hama's Wolverine is still the annoying stereotype bad boy taken to its perfect form. Not a deep character to me, a far too idealized image, and not an image worth praise.
On art the two main artists are Marc Silvestri, carrying over from the last essential and Mark Texeira (not the baseball player). Texeira's art is a visually interesting style. Though not my preference in stylized artists, he still engages me more with his art than a lot of the standard comic artists. He also looks good in the black and white of the essential. My main problem with him is the characters are just too big.
Anyways, this essential is actually probably more relevant for the character than the previous two essentials. Not as fun as the Madripoor setting, but oh well.
Hama's Wolverine is still the annoying stereotype bad boy taken to its perfect form. Not a deep character to me, a far too idealized image, and not an image worth praise.
On art the two main artists are Marc Silvestri, carrying over from the last essential and Mark Texeira (not the baseball player). Texeira's art is a visually interesting style. Though not my preference in stylized artists, he still engages me more with his art than a lot of the standard comic artists. He also looks good in the black and white of the essential. My main problem with him is the characters are just too big.
Anyways, this essential is actually probably more relevant for the character than the previous two essentials. Not as fun as the Madripoor setting, but oh well.
June 22, 2023
Trying to relate how absolutely ridiculous these issues were, and the best I can come up with is that at one point, Wolverine eats a raw, live, vulture. HE JUST EATS IT. “Protein.” omfg.
I had already read about half these issues via different volumes (in color) but even getting through just the latter half was a slog. Like. I am HERE FOR the concept of exploring someone’s artificial memories and sorting out what’s real vs what isn’t; sifting through both recent and old trauma; all of that. Unfortunately, the execution was just a lot of clenched muscles and shouting. Larry Hama appears to be a fan of having characters just repeat the same lines endlessly; some of it is plot-relevant so the reader knows which memories Wolverine is reliving. But if I ever see the words “uppity squaw” again, istg - they even had Jean Grey CALL OUT THIS SLUR and still used it as nauseum.
I did like the stylized art in the issues drawn by Mark Texeira, with the characters sometimes hyper realistic, sometimes more of a sketch emphasizing individual traits, and sometimes, somehow, both. Looking at the issues with his heart made this bearable tbh.
Towards the end, they appear to have returned to a monthly schedule after trying to release two per month for a time. I hope this more manageable schedule for the creators resulted in some more bearable content.
I had already read about half these issues via different volumes (in color) but even getting through just the latter half was a slog. Like. I am HERE FOR the concept of exploring someone’s artificial memories and sorting out what’s real vs what isn’t; sifting through both recent and old trauma; all of that. Unfortunately, the execution was just a lot of clenched muscles and shouting. Larry Hama appears to be a fan of having characters just repeat the same lines endlessly; some of it is plot-relevant so the reader knows which memories Wolverine is reliving. But if I ever see the words “uppity squaw” again, istg - they even had Jean Grey CALL OUT THIS SLUR and still used it as nauseum.
I did like the stylized art in the issues drawn by Mark Texeira, with the characters sometimes hyper realistic, sometimes more of a sketch emphasizing individual traits, and sometimes, somehow, both. Looking at the issues with his heart made this bearable tbh.
Towards the end, they appear to have returned to a monthly schedule after trying to release two per month for a time. I hope this more manageable schedule for the creators resulted in some more bearable content.
June 28, 2024
The first half of this volume is a solid 4. The Spiral/Mojo issues and the Shatterstar one are esp great, then I also get a surprise to find a character referenced in a recent X-men 97 episode. The Japan story is also solid writing.
The second half is mainly Weapon X stuff and Wolverine trying to decrypt his memories stuff. All of it will be familiar with people who know the character through adaptations. There are some cool moments there but overall it just goes on for way too long and starts to bore me. Some absolutely stellar art tho and I did love to see Gateway of all people here.
Overall I prefer when Wolverine comics are their own thing rather than shoehorning in the X-Men but it works better in some cases than others for sure.
I read these issues digitally so not an issue for me but it's weird as hell that this collection stops in the middle of a 2 part story.
The second half is mainly Weapon X stuff and Wolverine trying to decrypt his memories stuff. All of it will be familiar with people who know the character through adaptations. There are some cool moments there but overall it just goes on for way too long and starts to bore me. Some absolutely stellar art tho and I did love to see Gateway of all people here.
Overall I prefer when Wolverine comics are their own thing rather than shoehorning in the X-Men but it works better in some cases than others for sure.
I read these issues digitally so not an issue for me but it's weird as hell that this collection stops in the middle of a 2 part story.
June 1, 2021
I was curious if my memories of '90s Wolverine were accurate. I mostly remember an endless stream of memory implants, bizarre twists, and muddled plotlines. All with a sauce of never-wrapping-anything-up. And, yeah, that's pretty accurate. It's more enjoyable than I remember--I mostly recalled the frustration--but still, pretty accurate.
May 28, 2021
A few typos.
Honestly the story flew really well for me, even between issues and storylines. I really enjoyed learning the truth of Wolverine’s past alongside him. Finishing his lost past storyline makes me wanna rewatch Wolverine: Origin
Honestly the story flew really well for me, even between issues and storylines. I really enjoyed learning the truth of Wolverine’s past alongside him. Finishing his lost past storyline makes me wanna rewatch Wolverine: Origin
September 25, 2019
As you may have guessed, he's the best he is at what he does. SNKKT!
July 9, 2020
Still good at times, but starting to get a bit repetitive and feels somewhat like this Wolverine is comprised of Hama's leftover Snake Eyes ideas.
May 23, 2024
hard to read at times the character Wolverine is very intense
August 9, 2022
Consists of Wolverine 48 through 69. This volume confused me. Maybe it’s because I haven’t read the X-Men comics yet or maybe it just jumped around too much but I was a little lost for the majority of the volume, especially the last five or so chapters. Something would happen but I couldn’t tell if it was in the past or present or if it had really happened or not. This could have also been purposeful to show the confusion Logan is going through but in this format it was too choppy and not “flowy” enough. And sometimes it took a few moments to figure out what was going on in the artwork. Due to my confusion I have rated it lower than the previous two volumes. The artwork is better than the artwork in the first volume and first half of the second volume. Different artists and I certainly like it more. I am looking forward to the next volume however. Wolverine is one of my favorite marvel characters so I'm not quitting now.
April 21, 2015
A great look into Wolverine's past. Essential reading, one sprawling storyline throughout... But what a weird note to end the book on. Had it ended with #68 it would have been a natural place, but it ended with the first issue of a new storyline. Thats just weird and shows how little thought the trade editors really put in.
May 18, 2024
66 - 3 stars
67 -
68 - 3 stars, March 2021
69 - 3 stars, March 2021
67 -
68 - 3 stars, March 2021
69 - 3 stars, March 2021
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews