Wolverine: Old Man Logan
Mark Millar and Steve McNiven
In a post-apocalyptic future, the heroes are dead and the villains rule the world. Wolverine, now aged, weak, and retired from heroics, sets out on a dangerous journey across the country with his old pal Hawkeye.
Review
This is the now classic story that inspired the movie Logan. I’ve heard so much about it but somehow never got around to read it until now. First impressions: I loved this story. Millar and McNiven nailed the post-apocalyptic, desert wasteland setting and the neo-Western themes. With a solid premise (a retired Wolverine embarking on a dangerous journey through a country) we get to see our protagonists face supervillains, thugs, man-eating monsters, and even dinosaurs. The protagonists are written well enough that they make their predicament seem real. The narrative carried the story at a fast pace, with each issue leaving me curious about what happens next, and periodically revealing details of what happened to Wolverine that made him quit heroics. Even if you saw and liked Logan, this story is different enough that you’ll be surprised by the few twists here and there.
The only negatives I have were how one-dimensional the antagonists were all presented. The few times the villains are showcased, they feel too derivative of other Millar characters from Kick-Ass or Wanted. The edgyness that makes Millar’s stories somewhat unique can be a detriment to the reading experience here. I also disliked the amount of gore shown, which at times became gratuitous. It sometimes felt like I was reading an Avatar Press book instead.
If you like films like Mad Max or the Book of Eli, you’ll love this story. If you like superheroes or neo-Westerns, you’ll like this story. It’s an enjoyable tale that sometimes intentionally upset me, but in the end had a satisfying ending while still leaving me wanting to read more.
4.5 out of 5 stars
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