X Deaths of Wolverine #3 is written by Benjamin Percy with art by Federico Vicentini, colors by Dijjo Lima, and lettering by VC’s Cory Petit. It’s published by Marvel Comics. With a mysterious Phalanx-enhanced Wolverine arriving from a distant future, Professor X sends Laura Kinney (who also holds the mantle of Wolverine along with her clone/sister Gabby Kinney, aka Scout), and Wolverine’s son Daken to intercept the mysterious killer. But they soon learn why the Phalanx Wolverine has traveled back in time and how it is connected to Moira MacTaggert.
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One of the things I love about Wolverine as a character is how he’s become a surrogate and/or actual father figure to so many mutants, such as Kitty Pryde and Jubilee. This extends to Laura, Gabby, and Daken, who are Logan’s own flesh and blood. Seeing as how this was described as “the greatest Wolverine story ever” it only makes sense that Wolverine’s family would be involved in some way. Percy writes the trio just as well as he does Logan, including an opening sequence where Gabby asks Laura a million questions about her tenure in the X-Men and excitedly proclaims them to be “Wolverines” when Xavier asks Laura to find the Phalanx Wolverine.
Speaking of the Phalanx Wolverine, his mission is finally revealed and it’s a doozy. I mentioned in my review of X Deaths of Wolverine #2 that the story felt like an X-Men version of The Terminator. It turns out that I was pretty spot on with that comparison. And Percy also reveals a surprising connection to House of X/Powers of X that blew my mind. Jonathan Hickman would be proud of the plotting in this series. Between this and X Lives of Wolverine #3, the connection between the two series is starting to take shape.
Vicentini shows no signs of slowing down with his art. The Phalanx Wolverine hijacks a police car and sends it smashing into the front of a convention center and Petit fills the panel with a “SKERASH” sound effect that twists and bends like the shattered glass. The battle between Phalanx Wolverine, Laura, Gabby, and Daken is equally bloody, with adamantium claws clashing and blood flying in spurts when they lodge into flesh. The final page also recreates a key moment from Powers of X while putting a unique spin on it, which only makes me look forward to the final two issues more.
Finally, Lima uses a collection of bright colors to bring Vicentini’s artwork to life. Black and yellow are the most prominent colors; both Laura and Gabby have black and yellow uniforms while the Phalanx Wolverine sports a jet-black suit laced with glowing yellow circuitry. Even the trademark “SNIKT” sound effects of Wolverine’s claws are depicted in a bright yellow. Lima also manages to give Xavier’s astral form a glowing blue effect, which makes him look like a ghost.
X Deaths of Wolverine #3 brings Wolverine’s family into the fray, as they learn about the dark future that awaits mutantkind. With both X Lives and X Deaths heading to their conclusion, the future of mutantkind lies in Wolverine’s hands, and it remains to be seen if he can pull off both of his time traveling missions.
X Deaths of Wolverine #3 is available wherever comics are sold.
