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by Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey    Writer- Barry Windsor-Smith Artist- Barry Windsor-Smith Letterers- Jim Novak & Barry Windsor-Smith Editor- Terry Kavanagh SynopsisWeapon X closes-in on his prey. Dave So, any initial thoughts on issue 81's cover? I like the little Daredevil in the corner box and Cornelius is going all Chuck Norris with the gun in hand, poised for action. Kev Yeh, good ol’ DD in the corner box this month. That's a good point about Cornelius, he really does have a bit of a Chuck Norris look about him. It's perhaps the least “iconic” looking of the covers to the series, so far, but also perhaps the most dramatic one. Plus, it also actually relates to what occurs within the strip itself, so I suppose there’s a bit of give and take there. Dave I think it's pretty explanatory of the direction that this issue is going in. Kev Definitely, but what the cover lacks in iconic imagery, the splash page more than makes up for it. Now THAT is an arresting image. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Dave Yeah, I love the first full page. This reminds me of 'Aliens.' It's just a total carnage page. It really is an eye catching picture indeed. Kev Absolutely. The 'Aliens' comparison hadn't occurred to me until later in the issue though, to be honest. It puts me in mind of the Vader scene in ‘Rogue One.’ Particularly with Logan having that guy impaled on his adamantium claws over his head, thrusting him towards the ceiling. That or Galvatron standing on the pile of dead Autobots in ‘Time Wars.’ Dave The blood red works excellent in this panel. Kev Yeh, that red from the security lighting, obscuring the gore somewhat, is probably the only reason this image made it past the Comics Code.  A picture is worth a thousand words. And $177,890 as well, in the case of this image. Dave It just paints a picture of chaos unfolding. The pace of this story has really jumped up a few notches now. Kev Yep. It feels like Windsor-Smith has been building towards this. The slow-build pressure cooker of the lab is now singing its song. Dave I like that line, "I don't need a stretcher you fool, it's my hand that's missing, not my leg." The Professor has really switched from being cold, calculated, sadistic, to now a wreck of a person. I suppose losing your hand might do that to you. Kev Yeh, he's lost a hand, AND is starting to realise that his superiors aren't about to lend him one. He's actually quite a bad-ass though. “I’ll run. Not to the infirmary, to the adamantium reactor,” because he knows, “It’s the only safe place from the weapon.” Again, “the weapon.” Logan is not a human being. He’s just a product to The Professor. Dave Yep, a malfunctioning product. The colours are great in these first two pages, a good mixture of them being bright and muted. Kev The colours throughout this entire story have been outstanding. Not only have they been aesthetically pleasing, but they have also contributed a lot to the storytelling. Dave So the crafty old Prof. makes his way to the adamantium reactor, which ends-up being very much like a panic room for these guys. Kev Yeh, he clearly thinks it's their only hope of stopping, or at least protecting themselves from, Logan, whereas Poor Cornelius hasn’t quite grasped the severity of the predicament they find themselves in yet, has he? He’s still naive enough to think that their security has been enough to stop Logan. Dave I wonder if this is the first time Cornelius has had to use a weapon. That bottom panel shows a reluctance to use a rifle.  Snikt, snikt, turns to shlk, shlk. Kev I thought the exact same thing. There would certainly appear to be something of an aversion to handling a firearm on his part. The “SHLK” sound effect as Logan is walking through the viscera of what is left of the security detail is a fantastic touch by either Barry Windsor-Smith himself or Jim Novak. I can’t work out which of the two it was, unfortunately. Dave Exactly. "Just whaddaya think I'm going to do with this rifle?" That top page panel of Logan walking, with his claws out, ready to strike, with all the wires covering him, and his face looking focused, is awesome.  Blue Steel. Le Tigre. Ferrari. Magnum. Kev Yeh, that is a stunning panel of Logan, in one of his classic poses, at the top of page 4. Kind-of makes me realise how lucky we were to get someone like Hugh Jackman in the role for the movies. Someone who not only respected and embraced it, but who also worked so hard to get his body to match the aesthetic of the character. The relationship between The Professor and Cornelius is certainly continuing to fray, that's for sure. Cornelius has gone all southern in this chapter, what with his “Yuh,” his “farcryingoutloud,” his “Lookatcha,” and his “gotta.” Perhaps the mask of him being an intellectual is dropping, as he realises he’s in a fight for his life, and he’s reverting back to his upbringing, and his original, true self. And we also see here that Cornelius was not in on the real plan, that this is all part of the Weapon X test run, and that “another” is controlling this whole scenario. Dave I think Cornelius is processing so much in his head at this moment, that his words are coming out unconsciously, and his rate of speech has slowed down, with all the cognitive load he currently is experiencing. Kev That's a good point, man. I suppose the situation he finds himself in is pretty overwhelming. He is, however, also now showing some signs of medical skill. Is this part of the reason he was selected for this Weapon X program perhaps? Dave Probably is, they would need to have some trained medics on hand in case of situations like this. I like how Cornelius is shifting his outlook and realises he and Hines are just as expendable as anyone else. Kev Hines also seemed to have some medical experience when she applied the tourniquet to The Professor's arm earlier as well. Even The Professor realises he’s “considered dead wood” to his superiors at this point. I’m now starting to get John Carpenter, ‘Assault On Precinct 13’ vibes from this. Or George Romero, ‘Night of the Living Dead.’ And I am perfectly alright with that. Dave Good point actually. 'Assault on Precinct 13.' For certain they are having to rely on their wits and ingenuity now, but The Professor really is showing his more fearful side, "God..oh god...I beg you..please...answer." Kev Yeh, The Professor is starting to lose his cool. “Get away, woman.” And I love that she quietly schools him, “Is this connected to the main computers?” “It IS the main computer, Sir.” Ha, ha! "Mic drop," as the kids used to say. Also, “Pardon, Sir, that’s not a central code…..” The penny has dropped with Cornelius though. “Hines. Let it go… It’s out of our hands. I don’t think we’re part of the game, anymore.” Note his use of the word “game.” Cornelius knows what’s up now. The Professor, however, not so much. He thought he was above all this. Unfortunately for him, apparently he is not. Dave I love that panel of Logan running, in the shadow, with the bright yellow light in the background. That could have easily been a full page panel.  'Logan' didn't kill him, 'cause he'll be back for 'Deadpool 3.' Kev That panel in particular reminds me of Michael Meyers or the T-800. He really does have an unstoppable boogeyman feel to him there. Dave I like that panel of Cornelius with the rifle in his hand. He is starting to look like an action star in that panel. Kev Totally. We were wrong about Cornelius, apparently, he can use a gun. Perhaps what I initially took as a fear of using a firearm, was in fact a reluctance to use a firearm AGAIN, and perhaps this ties into his past. A less than ideal past maybe. Dave Yep it would be interesting to know a bit more of his backstory. Kev Absolutely. Windsor-Smith certainly seems to be suggesting that there is more, much more to Cornelius than meets the eye. Ha, ha! Dave Logan has that emotionless look in his eyes as he hacks and slashes his way through. Kev Yeh, Logan’s eyes look dead in that third panel on page 6. Unsurprisingly so. Dave I also like the aerial view of the power going down. I've got to say; these sound effects are bordering on 60's Batman Show, "SHHOMMM!" I like how everything's in such big writing. Kev I see what you mean actually, yeh. Although, tonally, this is about as far removed from the 60's Batman TV show as you can get. Excellent use of the caption boxes to indicate which character is which again. Not only different colours, as we’ve had before, but now also different shapes too, as The Professors’ is now ragged, to illustrate his panic, as well as his pain. Dave Cornelius is starting to get his mojo back as the Prof is whining on, "I dunno who he thinks he's talking to...an' I don't care." Kev Yeh, Cornelius seems pretty much done with The Professor by this point. Dave He knows he and Miss Hines are on their own, and that The Prof doesn't give a shit about anyone except himself. Kev Exactly. The Prof "has gone bye bye." The Professor has broken, mentally, Cornelius is stepping up into the role of gun-toting action hero, and Hines is still the smartest, most practical person in the room. Dave Plus, The Professor is going into shock on the 2nd last page and isn't making any sense. Kev True. I suppose having your hand sliced off, and the subsequent loss of blood would put you into a state of shock, wouldn't it? Dave I like the combo of Cornelius and Hines, I think they make a good team. Kev I like Cornelius and Hines as a double act too. They definitely have a John Carpenter duo vibe to them. Dave Good point, perhaps if this had been made as film or mini series, Mr. Carpenter would be the man to do this. Kev God, I would've watched the shit out of that. Either him or David Cronenberg. Dave And the final full splash page of a feral looking Logan, roaring at The Professor, is a great way to end this issue. He looks totally crazed.  The... Kev He looks absolutely terrifying here. This is one hell of a cliffhanger splash page. The month wait for the next issue must’ve been torture at the time. We’ve book-ended this chapter with a pair of outstanding splash pages actually. Dave We have indeed. What did you make of this issue overall? Kev I absolutely loved it. I thought this chapter moved the story into new territory. It really dialled-up the horror elements, from Cronenbergian body horror, to a Carpenter, slasher style horror. It also has elements of a Romero, 'Night of the Living Dead,' zombie horror to it as well. This is rapidly becoming top tier, of all time, stuff for me. It’s exquisitely constructed. The mastery of craft is undeniable. What about yourself? What did you make of it? Dave It is definitely amping up the tension, and with it being a small issue, it really focuses on each segment, allowing the story to unfold too. It isn't rushing through it though. It is a really good issue. (D) & (K)  The Weapon program couldn't afford the leccy bill anymore, due to to cost of living, and energy bills crisis.
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