Wolverine and the X-Men #29

There's something I've never understood about almost every single story Marvel does about the future: why is it that Wolverine is always old and gray, even if it's just twenty years later. How is it that the man who lived through most of the modern era looking maybe middle-aged, at the oldest, can't make it through a glimpse of the future without showing his age? It's ridiculous, to say the least.

Regardless of the feelings Wolverine's graying locks give me, this month's issue of Wolverine and the X-Men was a pretty solid issue. It's one of the best transition issues I've ever read. With the great literary devices of flashbacks and flashforwards (thankfully no sideways jumps), this issue was able to tie up the previous storyline of the field trip to the Savage Land while also giving us a taste of what's to come in the highly advertised Hellfire Saga.

Seeing a few of the newly introduced characters in their future roles as actual X-Men, instead of just students, was one of the coolest parts of this book. Particularly Eye Boy. Now, I'm not going to tell you what he does, but you should know that it is totally appropriate.

In this issue, Ramon Perez delivers the best art he's done on his run on this book. He's always been consistent, but this issue has a couple of excellent panel layouts, and some fun designs for the future of the Marvel universe.

Granted, by the time it actually becomes the future of the Marvel universe, these designs will be old fashioned and passe, but for now, they're fun.

I'm particularly fond of the way Perez designed old Wolverine. He's different enough that he shows the age and it isn't literally Wolverine with his hair colored gray, but it's still very clearly the same person. I'd give him the same praise for older Eye-Boy, but...he's Eye-Boy.

If you're not able to recognize Eye-Boy, regardless of age, either the artist is doing something horribly wrong or you're actually blind.

Mostly, this issue is about how Wolverine feels he's doing as a headmaster. If you've read even one issue of Wolverine and the X-Men, you know that he doesn't feel like he's doing so hot. But you get to see how he feels now, when he's in the Savage Land, and years later.

Guess what? They're all different. Subtle changes, mostly, but they're there. It's very cool to see Wolverine grow in an area he's pretty clearly uncomfortable with.

All in all, a solid issue and a reminder that this title belongs firmly in the grasp of any mutant lover. Also, I still have no idea what the hell the Bamfs really are, but apparently they age.