Reviews

Wolverine: Old Man Logan Vol. 7: Scarlet Samurai by

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this volume which is also the first Old Man Logan story I've read. I like Lemire's writing, and the art was well done - distinctive and effective for the tone of the story. The main downside to the volume is the fact that the story is rather simple. It establishes what is going on, but it's fairly small in scope and mainly sets up further events. But it is still enjoyable and well-crafted all around.

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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5.0

I continue to love this series. The art is great. The story is great. It does feel a little short/simple just because the story is so contained, but so much about this series and this version of the character just works. It's a great creative team and I love the work they're doing here.

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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4.0

Despite the fact that the overall premise of this particular volume is kinda familiar, I think it largely works. Lemire has done some great things with this series and in many ways brings it to a strong conclusion. The last section of this volume works particularly well for bringing Logan's emotional arc to a close.

The artist for this volume is talented, and is close to Sorrentino's style which has helped defined this series, but the lack of Sorrentino is evident throughout in spite of his presence in some of the issue covers.

Additionally, as much as the past lives element of this story worked to close out Logan's personal journey, his helplessness throughout left him feeling rather passive and weakened the story overall - particularly since he has been such a force for so much of this story.

So, there were some disappointments with this final volume, but I've loved this series and Vol. 5 still manages to bring it to a satisfying conclusion.

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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4.0

When I learned that Old Man Logan was continuing uninterrupted, but without Lemire or Sorrentino, I was concerned about what we would be getting in vol. 6. After the satisfying conclusion to Lemire's run, and without the creative team that shaped this series, I worried I would be disappointed.

It turns out that my concern was not really necessary. Brisson and the rest of the team begin a new arc of Logan's story with volume 6 by bringing echoes of the original Old Man Logan comic to the forefront. Logan's time in the wastes are present, not only in the details of the story, but in Deodato's art and the overall tone of the volume.

With the reappearance of the feral hulks Logan had previously battled, this volume maintains a harsh and brutal tone consistent with the original. Additionally, Hawkeye's return reunites Clint and Logan for another adventure--albeit in a way that balances Logan's existence as a part of two different worlds.

In hindsight, I can't help but wonder what might have been achieved if Brisson had taken Logan in a new direction, rather than having him again face the conflicts of his past. And as well-done as the story is, it never quite rises above a certain level of impact and complexity. It's not a volume that astounds, but it does satisfy in every way I wanted it to.

So, overall, I am happy with the continuation of Logan's story. The change in creative team is evident throughout, but there's enough strength and potential here that I enjoyed reading this on its own, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

joshgauthier's review

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4.0

It's difficult not to judge these later volumes against the quality of Lemire and Sorrentino's original run. Overall, it feels like the series is struggling to keep up momentum. The writing in Vol. 7 is fine, but never really rises above a certain level. Similarly, the art remains stylistically similar to what came before--and it's good art--but it hasn't quite achieved what made this series such a stand-out early on.

It's a series I'll keep reading. I like the character, and I like the concept that both creative teams have operated from. And there is still a skilled creative team driving each of these volumes. I just find myself hoping to be surprised. I don't think the new team is ever going to reach the same level as was achieved in the initial run of this series--so I'd rather see something new than have these volumes feel like entertaining echoes of what this series and character have been in the past. There's still potential to take this comic in interesting directions, and I await seeing what is to come.

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a fine volume that tells another chapter of Old Man Logan's adventures in his new timeline. The main story of Logan vs. Kingpin is somewhat familiar but otherwise well told--and its conclusion works well for wrapping things up in a not entirely expected manner.

Then, the shorter arc of Logan going back to Xavier's school and stumbling into a brief but dramatic conflict maintains the lighter-heart and sincerity of an X-Men story while also furthering Logan's own journey. It stands pretty independently, but works well on its own.

Overall, it's a fair volume with a couple surprises. Satisfying but not astounding.

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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4.0

With some good visual moments and a bit more character development on the gradually more injured Logan, vol. 9 finds more ways to stand out than some previous volumes--and is certainly good enough in its own right--but this run of the character continues to lack a certain depth that I'd really like to see come back.

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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3.0

Bringing us back to elements of story and character that made the earlier volumes the better half of this series, the final volume of the Old Man Logan Run delivers on some things that have been a long while in coming. Unfortunately, the end result is much like the past few volumes have been--it's fine. I don't have any real issue with it, but it never quite measures up to what it could be.

I am curious to see where things go next. With some new direction, there is a potential to keep the best elements of this series and breathe new life into the rest of it.

ugmug's review against another edition

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3.0

Lacking in the villain department, but art and dialog are great as always.

ugmug's review against another edition

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4.0

Beautiful art. Great story built from Millar's solid (classic, really) foundation.