Rating: 2.5/5 – Art and story don’t live up to the “Origin” name.
by ComicSpectrum reviewer Shawn Hoklas.
After reviewing the first issue of Origin II, I felt that the story was pretty straight forward and didn’t quite leave the feeling that this story would be as big, or as important as the first Origin series from over a decade ago. This third issue has moved the story along quite a bit, but unfortunately now over halfway through this series, I can’t say that I feel that it’s as epic or as important as the first. Regrettably it’s also not as enjoyable.
This third issue has Wolverine being held captive by a traveling circus who is using him as their main attraction. He’s unable to break free from this group as longtime villain Sabretooth is helping the circus hold him as a prisoner. It feels a tad forced to have Wolverine’s longtime villain show up here, but I’m willing to see how it plays out in the concluding two issues. In addition, writer Kieron Gillen has long time X-villain Mr. Sinister taking an intense interest in Wolverine, eventually coming into conflict with the circus. This is probably the weakest of the three issues in terms of story, and sadly art as well.
Adam Kubert’s art is hit and miss in this issue. His panels that include close ups are well drawn and have a nice level of detail. The panels that show the action from a distance lose a lot of that detail, and really just look like they’re nicer layouts. Faces lose their distinctive features and the backgrounds look bland. A particular panel in this issue shows Wolverine in front of a circus crowd where the crowd has no details whatsoever, and Wolverine and his captors are really just plain figures. It took me out of the story since it feels as though you’re looking at a layout before the finished pencils. Overall, I just don’t feel as though this series is living up to the expectations that the title Origin brings. It has two issues left, but I just don’t think that’ll be enough time to turn this series around.
Reviewed by: Shawn Hoklas
(shawn@comicspectrum.com)
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