The set-up prequel for Armageddon continues with Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon #2. Written by Chip Zdarsky, the scribe behind Armageddon and Captain America, and drawn by Luca Maresca, this mini-series promises to help establish the tone for the upcoming Marvel event and to set up Wolverine’s involvement in the broader story.
The issue picks up with the group hunting down Logan and the missing Tyler Cannon. Nuke, a character fans will be familiar with from Daredevil and previous Wolverine stories, is the main enforcer sent to hunt them down. Meanwhile, Wolverine and Teri find themselves in David Colton’s home. Colton, a character introduced in Zdarsky and Schiti’s Captain America, is a super soldier himself, with a shield to match. He was the one who attacked Primewarrior and aided in Tyler’s escape, and now the trio calls an uneasy truce to track him down.
- Title: Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon #2
- Creative Team: Chip Zdarsky (Writer), Luca Maresca (Artist), Jesus Aburtov (Colors), and VC’s Cory Petit (Letters)
- Characters: Wolverine, David Colton, Teri, and Tyler Cannon
- Villain: Nuke and Primewarrior
- Format: “Weapons of Armageddon” Mini-series
- Our Rating: 8/10 Stars
Tragic Heroes and Villains
But the issue’s main focus is Nuke, and the parallels drawn between him, Wolverine, and Tyler. Nuke is a force for aggression and tyranny, but his story is a tragic one. He attempted to flee his government captors, who sought to turn him into a weapon, only to be captured by Wolverine and taken back. His hatred for the mutant has burned ever since, and now he finds himself in a position to be the one to hunt down Tyler and return him to the Primewarrior program.
Tyler, as it turns out, has adamantium implanted in his body and also possesses the power to wield it as a fluid, metallic weapon. He has a healing factor to boot and has the potential to be more dangerous than any Weapon X or super soldier before. Wolverine and Colton have a responsibility to him, as does Teri, who found herself in a similar position to Wolverine before, tracking him down to return him to Weapon X. The trio are all people who have done wrong by each other and others, and now have the chance to do the right thing for Tyler. But before any action can be taken, Nuke arrives, and the issue ends with a deadly cliffhanger.
Strong Story and Competent Art
Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon #2 is a well-paced, well-written, but subdued issue. There are no flash or major revelations to it, but it serves as an effective reminder of the scars these super soldiers and government weapons carry with them, and the lingering guilt that afflicts them for their dark actions. Tyler remains a mystery, and Zdarsky seems to be using him as a chance for the heroes to break the cycle of torment that has engulfed their own lives. Whether they succeed is another matter.
Luca Maresca draws this issue, with Jesus Aburtov as the colorist. The duo offers art for this issue that is competently put together and effective, but unextraordinary and very much in the Marvel Comics “house style.” Certainly not bad, but nothing noteworthy either. The action sequences seem to be where Maresca shines and hopefully issues #3 and #4 will allow him to showcase his talents there more.
Verdict: Should you buy Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon #2?
Ultimately, Zdarsky pens an effective issue that reminds readers of the stakes and tragedies inherent in the lives of the central characters. Both heroes and villains have done wrong, and the battle for Tyler is one that has consequences on the conscience of every character.
