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by David Scrimgeour & Kevin McCluskey   Cover Date- December 1982 Price- 60c Writer- Chris Claremont Penciler- Frank Miller Finisher- Josef Rubinstein Letterer- Tom Orzechowski Colourist- Lynn Varley Editor- Louise Jones Editor-In-Chief- Jim Shooter Publisher- Marvel Comics synopsisLogan goes on a tear, systematically dismantling Shingen's criminal empire en route to the ultimate showdown with the father of his great love, Mariko. (K) Dave So, on to the concluding chapter, what do you make of the cover? I like it. It's a great looking image of Wolverine, pausing before action and the background colouring works well. Each of these covers would make for good poster art. Kev Definitely. They're all iconic images actually. Each and every one of them are pretty synonymous with Wolverine as a character at this point. I noticed that we get the, "I'm Wolverine" to start off the issue again. We've had this declaration at the beginning of each chapter of the story. Dave It's a hallmark-of-the-series kind-of a catchphrase for the narrative, which reflects the character-driven nature of this story and his voyage of self-discovery. Kev That's true. I suppose at this point in time, Claremont and Miller were probably trying to make the definitive Wolverine story and redefine the character in many respects. We also get our regular run-down of Logan's abilities and a brief synopsis of the story thus far. You could pick up this issue, despite it being the last in the series, and still find it enjoyable, because you'd be up to speed in no time. Dave Also, it's his built in armoury as well. It's kind-of a quick user manual for the first time reader. Kev True. Almost like a tech spec of his powers and abilities. "Shingen spent years buildin' his organisation. I spend hours rippin' it apart." I would've thought that it'd take Logan a bit longer than "hours" to go "throughout Japan" though. This seems like something that might've been better if it had been spread out over a few days, or maybe even a few weeks. Dave I also think he is proud of this, and not having to carry around any handheld weapons, which is touched upon later in the issue. Kev Yeh, Logan definitely feels a sense of pride that he doesn't really need any weapons. After all, he IS the weapon. We're really moving towards the final showdown between Logan and Shingen now. Dave Again, there's a good full page panel for "Honor," which is still making use of the animalistic features of Logan's face, covered in shadows, with the eyes shining through.  No! No! It's "I am Groot." Kev Good point. You're right, it's a cracking image. The colour palette for it is amazing. It's very muted, with its purple and greens. Dave This is where the story comes full circle, with the age old tradition of honour and how powerful a force, in itself, it can be. Lord Shingen's treachery is now catching up with him and the price of betrayal of honour is valued highly in Japanese tradition. Kev Yep. Shingen's sins are definitely coming back to haunt him now. It's just occurred to me that this is a different colour artist on this issue. Whereas before it was Glynis Wein, this issue is by longtime Miller colourist (and sometime wife) Lynn Varley. Nothing against Wein, who did a stellar job, but I think Varley raises the bar here. She just knows how to make Miller and Rubinstein's stuff pop even more. Dave According to this reprinted edition, there are three people credited with set colour reconstruction. I reckon they may have recoloured some of this. Kev Right enough, so there are. It'd be good to get the original printings, to be able to compare them to this, but I'm not Jeff Bezos rich. Actually, just off the back of a quick check on ebay, they're not THAT expensive. Man, don't get me started on the modern colouring techniques used in these reprints. They just look alien to me on older artwork. Give me the old Ben-Day Dots style any day. Although, I think that goes without saying in our house, so to speak. Right, now that I've done my 'old man shouting at a cloud and yelling at the new kids to get off my lawn' bit, the high price of betrayal of honour is shown by how Shingen's own daughter is starting to distance herself from and turn against him. This interlude shows us just how conflicted Yukio is. Not only about Logan, but also her father too. Dave Shingen is losing face badly with Logan. Kev He really is, isn't he? It's all starting to unravel for Shingen and it's becoming apparent that he is everything he criticises in Logan. Dave Without honour, Shingen's life is nothing, to use a quote. Kev Yeh. He's nothing but your stereotypical, drug dealing, gangland boss at this point really. Dave A Japanese Kingpin. Kev That would certainly have seemed to be his intent, yes. Do you reckon that Yukio truly believes that her and Logan were at peace and in love? Or is she just playing Shingen, trying to buy herself some time before he executes her? Dave I think, again, she's playing another angle with Logan. Kev I think so too. I think she loves Logan, but surely she doesn't think they can ever have any semblance of a peaceful existence together, after everything that's happened between them now. Dave Yeah, it's definitely unlikely at this point. The panels where Logan has acquired the ninjas' weapons comes back to that earlier point of him not normally having to use this equipment. "I don't normally use hardware," as if his own claws and adamantium skeleton were software. Kev Yeh. Or certainly wetware. He obviously doesn't see them as hardware because they are actually a part of him. Dave That's a great panel of Wolvie standing with the crossbow, finishing off a smoke.  James Dean cool. Kev Yep. Great lighting on his face from the match as well. He looks good with the crossbow and the knife. It's a good look for him. Dave Wolverine is going a bit Punisher here, getting well armed. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. Channelling his inner Frank Castle. Mariko is finally beginning to step out from her father's shadow. She's got some real agency in this chapter and is starting to come to the forefront of the story actually. Dave She is caught in a real quandary as to how to deal with her father's actions, knowing the heavy price his betrayal could cost him and there's also her feelings for Logan too. Kev Definitely. There's also a personal price for her too. Her father has disgraced their family name, married her off to an abusive gangster. However, she's all too aware that to get her family name back onto an honourable path, she must betray her own father and in doing so, dishonour herself. It's a quandary, alright. Dave The artwork and visuals have been nothing short of terrific in this series. They've really given the story a great look. Kev Yeh. Miller is on cracking form here. Especially when teamed with Rubinstein and now Varley too. I love her use of block, often primary colours. It often doesn't make sense, or have any consistency in terms of light sources etc, but it's just so stylish and it really elevates Miller's already bold linework to such a level that you're willing to overlook those details. Dave Yeah, the changing of the background colours is an effective technique. It keeps the attention of the reader and, like you said, especially in this issue, there has been some really rich colours on which to feast your eyes. Kev It's interesting that Yukio now saves Mariko and buttons it with her catchphrase, "Gotcha!" Consequently, this is what causes Logan to see the balance in her actions and allow her to flee to freedom. Dave The page consisting of the half page of the castle and then Yukio's appearance, those are cracking images. I reckon a couple of these pages here have been given some recolouring. Kev Do you think they're some of the ones that have been recoloured? I love the use of the reds in them, if they have. Despite what I said earlier. Those two half page panels are excellent, aren't they? Dave Yeah. Those reds and shadows work so well. Kev Particularly when contrasted with the blues, greens and purples on the next page, definitely.  Yukio doing her best Spider-Man impersonation. Dave That next panel of Mariko, with the stunned expression on her face and her hair standing on end is really funny. Kev Ha, ha! She's almost got a Kid, from Kid 'n' Play, high-top fade going on there. I love the little bait and switch to make you think that Shingen has cut Yukio's throat with the blade, when all he's really done is cut the ropes that are binding her hands together. Although, I always feel that those kinds of reveals work best when you have to turn a page to get to them. It draws out the tension in my opinion. It almost makes it feel as if time is standing still as you turn the page. Dave Plus, there is a grin on Yukio's face too in this panel.  Hands.....free. Kev Yeh, she thinks she has a chance against Shingen. Although, he quickly demonstrates to her that she doesn't. I love the those panels on that page with the dead members of The Hand, after they've been taken out by Logan. Dave Totally, Logan has demolished The Hand. Plus, those two fight panels cleverly swap around three main colours; green, white and black. Kev I also love the "Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!" and the blood splatter on the panel with Noburu. It leaves us in no doubt as to what has happened to him. Dave Definitely. Yukio puts Logan in that position where he knows he can't really kill her for saving Mariiko, even though she killed Asano. "Gotcha." Kev Ha, ha! "Gotcha!" indeed. Logan sees that she has achieved balance, through her actions, regained some semblance of honour and so he allows her to flee. " I can't forgive her for Asano---and I can never repay her for Mariko----so I let her go." Dave Then of course there is the final showdown with Shingen, to finish it off once and for all. Kev Yep. I absolutely love the last panel on that page. "< Am I worthy now?>" It's superb. Dave Yeah, the tension is really building and, again, the silhouettes work well. Kev They really do. The use of light is excellent. Dave These are quickly followed by the pages of a swift and bloody battle. Just as well Logan does have his healing powers, otherwise he would be cut to ribbons.  Cut to the bone. Kev Ha, ha! Definitely. That and the fact that Shingen's blade can't actually sever his limbs due to his adamantium skeleton. The use of those widescreen panels in this series has been excellent. Particularly, I feel, in these fight scenes. The silent movie vibe in this particular battle is great. We essentially get four pages of near silent, superbly choreographed combat here, which ends with Logan delivering the killing blow to Shingen's neck with the trademark, "Snikt." Dave Yep, better than unnecessary dialogue.  When the red mist descends. Kev Totally. Dialogue wouldn't have added anything here. If anything, it would have taken away from the scene. Spidey spouts dialogue and quips in his fight scenes, Wolverine does not feel the need to do so. "Show, don't tell," right? I like Logan's bloodshot eyes on the final panel of that fight.  Ol' Red Eyes Is Back. Dave Then, the next two panels really round of the themes of love, betrayal, honour, worthiness and how Mariko feels after her father's death. It's quite a long bit of dialogue after such a silent battle. Logan has proved he was what Shingen could never be and never achieve; self discovery through self sacrifice, not greed and corruption. There's so much going on in those two pages. Kev Definitely. We're wrapping things up here. The journey is complete, shown by Mariko presenting Logan with the "honour sword." There're some great panels on these two pages as well. The "I do nothing" and the "I am unworthy" panels, as well as the panel with the silhouette of Logan and Mariko are all excellent. Dave Again the colours enhance the noirish mood of the piece. Kev Yep, they certainly do. Mariko was ultimately going to avenge the family honour by killing her father and then taking her own life. I love the word "seppūku." I think I first came across it in 'Action Force' through Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. Dave Yeah, I'm familiar with the whole seppuku tradition.  "We're not worthy! We're not worthy!" Dave The last page of the issue cracks me up a bit. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. It's one of the few pieces of light-hearted relief in the entire series. Dave The expressions are so funny on that panel where Logan says, "I'd give anything to see their faces when they open the letter." Kev Ha, ha! They are, yeh. That wedding invite panel is good, "Hey elf don't forget the beer." Of course, Logan's got to have his beer for the wedding, right? I think this series has been pretty much perfect, if I'm being honest. It's straightforward, there are no surprises or crazy plot twists, but it's immensely satisfying. It's an excellent character piece that fleshed-out and helped to further establish Logan and it has some fantastic action set pieces as well. It's superior stuff. Not surprising considering the creative team though. Dave Yeah, it is a great story and really suits Wolverine, which allows the anguished, self loathing side of his character to shine and I agree, there are plenty of great action pieces too.  Wedding of the year. (D) & (K)
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