Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1993-12-01 05:10:30 |
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Wolverine #76-77
Issue(s): Wolverine #76, Wolverine #77
Cover Date: Dec 93 - Jan 94
Title: "Northern dreams" / "The lady strikes"
Credits:
Larry Hama - Writer
Tomm Coker / Adam Kubert - Penciler
Al Milgrom / Mark Farmer, Mike Sellers, & Mark Pennington - Inker
Lisa Patrick - Assistant Editor
Bob Harras - Editor
Review/plot:
Having lost his adamantium, Wolverine heads up north to Canada on his motorbike. He takes a spill on the road, and is brought to Heather Hudson's house by some friendly bikers (he "looked like a bro").
But when Wolverine crossed the border, Ronald Parvenue was alerted, and he told Lady Deathstrike.
Meanwhile, we see a little bit about Wolverine adjusting to a post-healing factor world. In a more recent power loss (in 2013), Wolverine was shown to be terrified of shaving and even crossing the street. In this he's already handled a motorcycle crash and here he is shaving.
This isn't to say that he isn't feeling his mortality, but he's handling it better this first time.
While he's with Heather, he asks her to use her access to find out more about the Weapon X program. She finds information from Dr. Hines (first name said to be Monica, not Carol) which confirms that his healing factor is somehow linked to his adamantium, and without it, it doesn't work.
Then Puck shows up...
...and then Lady Deathstrike attacks. Adam Kubert was taking a break for issue #76, but he's back for #77. So we go from this...
...to this.
Guardian and Puck get sidelined for this fight. Which is disappointing, because Heather first got trained in the Guardian suit against Lady Deathstrike, back in Alpha Flight #33-34. It would have been nice to see her go against Deathstrike now that she's got more experience. But that encounter isn't even mentioned; only Puck's previous meeting with Lady Deathstrike (which was also written by Larry Hama) is referenced.
The fight is cut short anyway when Wolverine reveals that he doesn't have his adamantium anymore.
Lady Deathstrike therefore leaves, putting at least a temporary hold on her grudge with Wolverine. But she doesn't stop Skullbuster or Bloodscream when they show up to go after Wolverine.
Quality Rating: C+
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A
References:
- Wolverine has a dream encompassing scenes from when he was kidnapped for the Weapon X program, from Marvel Comics Presents #72-84, when Mariko died in Wolverine #57, and when the adamantium was torn out of him in X-Men #25.
- Carol Hines was killed in Wolverine #60-65 and Wolverine talks like the Monica Hines was the same person.
- Puck remembers Lady Deathstrike tipping over his rowboat in Wolverine #35.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
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Comments
Issue 76 came out 2 weeks after issue 75 and issue 77 came out 2 weeks after issue 76- part of Marvel's attempts to get its books back on schedule. Hence, the different artists and the 3 inkers on issue 77.
Regarding the difference in Wolverine's reaction to the loss of his healing factor in 1993 vs. 2013, it's largely due to how ridiculously overpowered Wolverine's healing factor became from 1995 onward. The idea behind the 2013 storyline was that Wolverine never had to face death like other heroes because his healing factor made him unkillable. Of course, if you actually read any of the pre-1995 stories, Wolverine and/or his friends were constantly worried he might be killed despite his healing factor, and it was certainly possible to hurt him badly enough to weaken him for days or weeks.
I think Wolverine #78 should be grouped along these issues since it follows-up the Bloodscream/Cylla sub-plot at the end of #77
Wait, Wolverine let Lady Deathstrike GO? And Puck was ok with that? For crying out loud, man, she tipped over your rowboat!! Are you just gonna let that slide?
