The Long and The Short of It: Claws 3 (The Always Supposed to be Monday Review)

Reviews


Claws 3
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti
Art: Joseph Michael Linsner
Colourist: Jason Keith
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry

The Long of It


“Ah”¦ yeah”¦but they both have claws. So that’s what we’ll call it. Claws.” “Brilliant Jimmy. You’ve done it again.”


Considering all the great titles that get cancelled every year (like Dan Slott’s “Thing”), it’s kind of frustrating when you get a series like this published. Because it’s pointless. Really. Why it even exists, I have no idea. I mean who pitches an idea like this? “Hey Joe, I’ve got this great idea for a mini-series. Black Cat gets captured by Arcade and taken to a secret island from where she has to escape, avoiding countless death-traps.” “But Jimmy, what kind of connection does Arcade even have with the Black Cat? None, right? And who the hell would buy this?” “Ummm”¦. Well, if we have Wolverine in it as well, then he has history with Arcade. And he would help it sell.” “But Black Cat doesn’t have any connection with Wolverine either.” “Ah”¦ yeah”¦but they both have claws. So that’s what we’ll call it. Claws.” “Brilliant Jimmy. You’ve done it again.”

It makes no sense. And like with any other Arcade story, it doesn’t have much of a plot beyond the aforementioned secret-island-death-trap-escape scenario. But these stories can be kind of fun (once again, like Dan Slott’s “Thing”). So is it any good?


In two years time, someone will mention this mini to me and I won’t even have a clue it ever existed.


Well yeah, kinda. The dialogue is fun, and really readable. Black Cat and Wolverine have a great chemistry; as do Arcade and White Rabbit. It’s fast paced, and even has the temerity to take the piss out of itself to a certain extent. Logan and Felicia’s reactions to the endless barrage of bullets, bombs and giant killer robots are actually pretty funny. Palmiotti can do light-hearted humour really well, and because of that it’s enjoyable. It’s not genius stuff, but it doesn’t pretend to be. But the real problem with it is that it is completely forgettable. In two years time, someone will mention this mini to me and I won’t even have a clue it ever existed. “But you even reviewed it, Beasley you moron.” “No I didn’t. I can’t have. I never even read it. Are you sure you didn’t dream this? Wolvie, Black Cat and Arcade? Really?”

The art is all sorts of fun as well. I have to confess I’m not familiar with Mr Linsne’s work (unless his art’s had the same effect on me as the book will in the future), but I like his style. It’s cartoony, but in a way that translates really well to superhero comics. I can really see him working on a book like Cable & Deadpool (and trust me, that’s a compliment). The bright colouring also adds to the fun of the book, and together they add up to a highly enjoyable read.

I just get irritated that something like this is being published instead of something that has more intrinsic value to the Marvel Universe. But I’ll forget that irritation sometime before I forget the book. Which is probably sometime this afternoon.

The Short of It

It’s pointless. It makes no sense. It means that other books (Have I mentioned Dan Slott’s “Thing”?) aren’t being published. But I enjoyed it, forgettable though it is. And that’s better than Civil War: X-Men, which should have been important, but wasn’t. I’m sorry – what was I talking about?

Grade: B- Fun book, but since it serves no discernible purpose, it isn’t getting a higher grade.