Wolverine: Paradise #1 -Mister Works Just Fine

Needing a break from the X-Men, Wolverine: Paradise takes Logan on a trip about as far away from the superhero game as he can get: beautiful, sunny Miami. Trading the life of a superhero for the lights and bright tones of Miami doesn’t erase the seedy underbelly of the city. Can a man trying to escape the life of a hero make it in a city full of vice?

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer, Artist, Color Artist: Dan Panosian
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Dan Panosian

Writing

I can say enough about what Dan Panosian does with this issue right out of the gate. Beyond handling everything but lettering, Panosian crafts a compelling Logan story that requires no background knowledge of the character to enjoy. The story is fun, quirky, and still decidedly a Wolverine story. Panosian brilliantly weaves Dazzler into the story, creating a unique team-up between her and Logan that we haven’t seen as often. With the way Panosian writes this issue, it’s a team-up I definitely want to see more of.

On top of the team-up, Panosian utilizes a unique villain in Wolverine: Paradise #1 that was surprising to see on the pages. I can’t say much about it without encouraging you to read it for yourself, but the villain was an interesting choice that really just works, even if you wouldn’t expect them to. It all results in a climactic last few pages of this issue that draw you in, ready to see what happens next.

Art

I love reading comic books, but creators that pull multiple duties on comics have a special place in my heart. While it is more work, when you’re soloing a comic with writing and art assignments, it really lets you ensure the story gets told exactly the way you want it to. Panosian capitalizes on that truth perfectly with each scene, each panel, each world feeling like it is perfectly set. Panosian’s line work perfectly captures Logan’s gruff exterior.

That’s not the only exterior perfectly captured, though. Panosian does a beautiful job with Miami as his backdrop. He perfectly captures the colors and the overall general vibe of Miami. The neon tones shine perfectly against the dark black outfit of Logan. Cory Petit does a beautiful job guiding readers through the story. This issue includes a bit of self narration from Logan, and Petit does a spectacular job not only helping that part of the story flow, but using key indicators in the word bubbles to ensure readers can distinguish internal monologue from regular conversations.

Final Thoughts

Wolverine: Paradise #1 marks a strong first issue from Dan Panosian and Cory Petit. The issue feels like a story that respects the lore of the character but doesn’t bog down the reader with knowing it all. Panosian expertly guides you through the story using the work of Petit to catch you up along the way.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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