Hunt for Wolverine: Claws of a Killer #3 Review
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Pencillers: Butch Guice & Mack Chater
Inkers: Cam Smith & Mack Chater
Colourist: Dan Brown
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics
In earlier Hunt for Wolverine mini-reviews, I pegged Claws of a Killer #1 as my first-round favourite. When Claws #2 came out, our site was down with IT sickness, sparing me from eating a heaping helping of crow. Now #3 is here, forcing me to chow down.
Turns out, Mariko Tamaki and Butch Guice weren't delivering the greatest villain-protagonist horror story since sliced bread; in #2, the pace fell apart and the action visuals were hopeless. Claws of a Killer #3 improves a bit on the last issue's performance but doesn't climb as far as "satisfactory" or "entertaining." I think the reasonable reaction to #2 was, "Holy Loki farts, there is no way I'm buying these comics at full price," and #3 does nothing to change that.
Daken reunites with Sabretooth and Deathstrike, reveals what he's learned about the "Soteira" goons running this zombie show, and somehow talks them into storming their glowing green Frankenstein device. His hope is that it just might restore their healing factors. As they Butch-N-Sundance their way out of their squat, though, they make Disturbing Discoveries about the Soteira goons. Mariko Tamaki has the gall to end this issue with a hidden identity cliffhanger; Daken and Sabretooth are face-to-face with a goon who could be but probably isn't Logan. I can say for sure it's not a compelling enough mystery to get me to buy #4.
Ms. Tamaki does speed up the pace a bit in this issue. It's gone from "frustratingly slow issue of the Walking Dead" to "thoroughly average issue of the Walking Dead," but this series as a whole hasn't provided anything close to $12 worth of entertainment.
On the art, I think it's safe to assume that Mack Chater is on board to help Butch Guice with the action scenes he's not interested in drawing. The result is not enjoyable. Mr. Chater does a shabby job of matching Mr. Guice's naturalistic style when it comes to character portrayal. He also does a shabby job of making the action look either believable or exciting. Dan Brown's cold, mud-centric colour palette is actually assembled with some care, but the overall effect isn't positive.
Claws of a Killer shambles onward like the zombies it features: slow, cold, and ugly. Though there's a reasonable argument to be made that that feeling is intentional, this series shows how dangerous it is to chase an unpleasant tone without offering readers something compelling to offset it. Our recommendation comes down firmly on: Skip It.
Pencillers: Butch Guice & Mack Chater
Inkers: Cam Smith & Mack Chater
Colourist: Dan Brown
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics
In earlier Hunt for Wolverine mini-reviews, I pegged Claws of a Killer #1 as my first-round favourite. When Claws #2 came out, our site was down with IT sickness, sparing me from eating a heaping helping of crow. Now #3 is here, forcing me to chow down.
Turns out, Mariko Tamaki and Butch Guice weren't delivering the greatest villain-protagonist horror story since sliced bread; in #2, the pace fell apart and the action visuals were hopeless. Claws of a Killer #3 improves a bit on the last issue's performance but doesn't climb as far as "satisfactory" or "entertaining." I think the reasonable reaction to #2 was, "Holy Loki farts, there is no way I'm buying these comics at full price," and #3 does nothing to change that.
Daken reunites with Sabretooth and Deathstrike, reveals what he's learned about the "Soteira" goons running this zombie show, and somehow talks them into storming their glowing green Frankenstein device. His hope is that it just might restore their healing factors. As they Butch-N-Sundance their way out of their squat, though, they make Disturbing Discoveries about the Soteira goons. Mariko Tamaki has the gall to end this issue with a hidden identity cliffhanger; Daken and Sabretooth are face-to-face with a goon who could be but probably isn't Logan. I can say for sure it's not a compelling enough mystery to get me to buy #4.
Ms. Tamaki does speed up the pace a bit in this issue. It's gone from "frustratingly slow issue of the Walking Dead" to "thoroughly average issue of the Walking Dead," but this series as a whole hasn't provided anything close to $12 worth of entertainment.
On the art, I think it's safe to assume that Mack Chater is on board to help Butch Guice with the action scenes he's not interested in drawing. The result is not enjoyable. Mr. Chater does a shabby job of matching Mr. Guice's naturalistic style when it comes to character portrayal. He also does a shabby job of making the action look either believable or exciting. Dan Brown's cold, mud-centric colour palette is actually assembled with some care, but the overall effect isn't positive.
Claws of a Killer shambles onward like the zombies it features: slow, cold, and ugly. Though there's a reasonable argument to be made that that feeling is intentional, this series shows how dangerous it is to chase an unpleasant tone without offering readers something compelling to offset it. Our recommendation comes down firmly on: Skip It.
A Look Inside
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