Mages, scribes, and chroniclers

It was all the Thing’s fault that I started reading every comic book I could starring Wolverine. Less than a year earlier, I’d jumped into comic books heavily when I found Star Wars back issues at Golden Eagle Comics. The shop at my local mall, which no longer exists (the mall, the shop is still kicking), had wall racks bursting with potential doorways to adventure. At first, I stuck to Star Wars and Star Trek, but the enticing array of covers soon pulled me into The Amazing Spider-Man and more.

I recognized the Fantastic Four from an old TV cartoon, but all I remembered was a man, a woman, a man transformed into rock, and that one of them was named Reed. Fantastic Four #310 hit the wall and the spinny rack at Waldenbooks too. I found its “Things to Come” cover irresistible. The story inside hooked my interest, and I began learning about Ben Grimm. The former test pilot and best friend of scientist Reed Richards had flown the experimental rocket ship into a cosmic ray storm and been mutated into a rocky-skinned being of immense strength. “Ben has been changed into some sort of… thing!” Sue Storm exclaimed. The name stuck. After nearly thirty years of adventuring, the Fantastic Four was still finding ways to get in trouble even if a couple of their members had changed. Ben strives to fit in with the rest of humanity, but many people fear his unique appearance.

A month or two later, the Thing appeared in a corner box on the cover to Marvel Comics Presents #3. This comic book was from an anthology series that featured four different stories an issue. I read the Ben Grimm story. It was interesting. There were three other stories to try. The guy in the main cover art looked promising, worth a try anyway. This Wolverine guy looked tough.

I soon realized why Wolverine was the book’s main feature. This man wasn’t even dressed like a superhero, but he exuded danger. He gave off strong pulp magazine vibes reminiscent of Sam Spade, Doc Savage, or The Shadow. He would need to be as good as those characters to survive in a place such as Madripoor, the island nation with its capital city of the same name.

Madripoor: Lose your inhibitions, lose your shirt, lose your life….

Located south of Singapore, Madripoor was a similar setting in its clash of classes and cultures. Founded as a pirate stronghold centuries before, it became an important port in the Pacific Rim trade route. The highlands had a selection of the richest of the rich and an ultra modern city. Lowtown seemed to be from a past century. Illegal activities including drugs, slavery, and weapons trading could be found easily. And the local police force was easily paid off to turn a blind eye to the suffering of victims. The island was ruled by Prince Baran, who left its criminal element to its own devices as long as the money kept flowing.

Now, what about this Wolverine character? I knew from the cover that he had some kind of metal claws. Part three of “Save the Tiger” reveals that the mystery woman he chased from the Princess Bar is someone from his past. He and the mutant team of adventurers known as the X-Men met Jessan Hoan during a traumatic episode in her life. Cybernetic criminals called the Reavers carried out an extremely violent robbery of the bank where Ms. Hoan worked as a Harvard-trained financial analyst. The Reavers killed the other bank employees and took her hostage. The X-Men arrived on the scene and fought and defeated the band of criminals.

Wolverine asks Hoan what she’s doing there, surprised to find her in such a place dressed as a peasant. She reacts fearfully but quickly, employing fighting techniques she hadn’t known when they’d met the last time. She manages to put some distance between herself and the mutant. Wolverine is a bit shocked and impressed at the same time. He knows he can track Hoan anywhere on the island though due to his extremely keen, animal-like senses.

The rest of the chapter in this episodic story goes totally nuts. A redhead in a dress wanders up and propositions Wolverine. He turns her down, but she embraces him and begins kissing him. That’s when he realizes she’s a vampire-like mutant who can suck his lifeforce away. He barely breaks loose from her. Then, an enforcer named Razorfist attacks before Wolverine even has a chance to catch his breath!

This obviously wasn’t Shakespeare, but I didn’t care. It had the action and adventure I liked, and it had a rogues gallery of bizarre characters keeping things very interesting. Speaking with my knowledge of the character gained from years of reading his adventures, the Wolverine that appeared in Lowtown Madripoor wasn’t the flashy, brash agent who fought the Hulk and the Wendigo in his first comic appearance. He wasn’t the heroic X-Man known for mentoring younger heroes either.

This Wolverine was portrayed as a lone warrior who was adept at blending in with his surroundings, although Madripoor’s very nature made it hard for anyone to stick out. Logan wore nondescript clothing, sometimes a fedora, and he kept as low a profile as he could manage. In fact, he usually only drew attention when interceding on someone’s behalf.