Review: Wolverine & The X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1 by Brian Wood, Mark Brooks and Roland Boschi

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What to think of an Indy/Vertigo style writer who decides to return to the world of mutant super-hero comics? I’m really not sure what to make of it.

Okay, you have Brian Wood, recently off of a gig as the writer of the Vertigo series, DMZ. DMZ is a hard-hitting realistic story about journalism, war, and politics, and is set in a (not too) futuristic world where a second American Civil War erupts and New York City becomes a demilitarized zone.1 It is very gritty and very realistic.

After finishing this series up, he heads over to Marvel where he starts a gig writing a limited series about Wolverine and Quentin Quire (also known as Kid Omega). It is a curious decision to say the least. I mean I understand wanting to go away from creator-owned materials and needing some light super-hero fantasy after writing such a heavy series. Even given all of that, this decision seems strange. Maybe in 18 months, when we see that this was simply the prologue to a project that touched our very souls, made us laugh, or cheer on our favorite superheroes, I will look upon this comic book review and laugh at my naiveté. Until then, let’s just say that the move is rather odd.

But, maybe that’s because I don’t really see the appeal in Kid Omega. He’s a rebellious mutant with incredible telepathic powers and a huge ego that hates Wolverine. Okay… What else is there? I get that a true rebel 2 in the world of the X-Men is an interesting idea, but does that interesting idea make for a good comic book character? I’ve only read him in the recent X-Men Schism and Wolverine and the X-Men series, and it didn’t do anything for me.

So it’s creator I like versus property I’m barely interested in. Sounds like a fun review.

Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1 (of 5)

Published By: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Wood
Art: Mark Brooks and Roland Boschi
Release Date: 01/04/2012
Cover Price: $3.99
Review: Digital Copy (from Comixology)

Basically, all you need to know is that Quentin Quire caused an international incident that kicked off the events in X-Men Schism. After the dust settled, Wolverine forcibly recruited him to join his team at the new Jean Grey School for Higher Learning at the original Xavier Institute in West Chester, New York. During the initial story arc in Wolverine and the X-Men, Quentin helped saved the day by mentally communicating with a living island. All of these actions have made Quentin vow revenge on Wolverine, who he already hates with a passion.

Synopsis

  • Quentin is avoiding class, and notices Wolverine and Armor sparring on the front lawn, and he uses his mental abilities to send them to a mental construct.
  • In the construct, Wolverine and Armor are running for their lives from an unknown force. During the melee, both rediscover their powers.
  • In the real world, Quentin hides the inactive bodies of Wolverine and Armor. Armor is placed in the basement, and Wolverine is placed in the barn.
  • Wolverine is shot in the head in the construct, and as he recovers, the Wolverine in the real world is animalistically trying to leave the barn.

Analysis

Let’s start with the basics. This is a decently crafted comic book story. The writing is pretty good and the art is crisp and precise. In fact, the art is far superior to that of the flagship title: Wolverine and the X-Men. The idea of using two different art teams, one for the real world and the other for the construct is very clever. The artwork is not distinct enough to really paint the differences between the two worlds, but it is effective.

The story is told totally from Quentin’s perspective, and I learned a great deal about his character. He is a person who is vain, but has the ability to back up that vanity. He’s got a superiority complex, where he sees the truth, and is confident that no one else does. He does have a strong moral code 3 , where he only feels the need to go after those who have wronged him. He has a strong perchance for revenge, and does not care about the collateral damage.

Quentin is an interesting character. He is one of the good guys, as he has no desire to hurt the helpless or wrong those who have not wronged him first. And the bratty, entitled, over-powerful, telepathic mutant is a nice modern take on a rebellious character.

I also did like the use of the character Armor. Or more specifically I liked the idea of using a lesser known X-Men character and bringing her to the forefront. But, after Kitty Pride, Jubilee, and now Armor, you have to wonder why Wolverine likes hanging around with young girls so much; I’m just saying.

Those are the positives of this comic book. The negatives are not that numerous, just one giant glaring problem.

If this was an issue of a comic book with a significant life span 4, then this issue would simply be a slow-down issue. Ongoing series can often take a single issue to spend time delving into a character’s psyche in a low-key, low-action episode. This could even be a filler issue that prepared us for future events.

But this is not an ongoing series; this is a limited series with only 5 issues. After reading this issue, I have no clue what the purpose of this title. When you read a limited series, you need to establish the purpose right away. There is nothing about this story that makes me want to come back and read issue #2. There is nothing that separates this title from the main Wolverine and the X-Men Title, and I see no purpose to the existence of this limited series 5.

After a single issue, there is no actual conflict in this story, only the potential conflict of what is going to stop Logan from gutting Quentin like a fish once he gets free. The main character is not particularly likeable. There is no action in this story, just a lot of running around and rediscovering powers. And there is little to nothing at stake for the readers.

Now, I’m not saying that this story is going to be bad. But there is nothing here. Nothing. No reason for me to take 4 bucks out of my pocket next month when there are probably at least 10 other titles competing for my hard earned money. As I said, an ongoing series can get away with an issue like this. I’m not going to break up a run of a comic book series, or stop it after one bad issue. But, for all I know, this story is going to have zero impact on the X-Men universe. For all I know, the sales of this comic are going to be so low, that Quentin is pushed away to creative limbo. Not that I’m pushing the Avengers X-Sanction mini-series as being great 6, but if I want to read the stories leading up to the Avengers vs. X-Men event, then I need to stay with that series, even if it has a bad issue.

And yet again, we have ANOTHER alternate/parallel/pocket/imaginary universe. These should be used sparingly in the first place. Not only does it seem like the X-Men are creating new worlds every other month, but also the recent issue of Astonishing X-Men had Scott travelling to an alternate universe. I mean it is getting over-used. The list of alternate X-Men universes must be astounding. Talk about event fatigue, I have alternate universe fatigue. I had no clue what the rules were of this alternate universe. I wasn’t sure if this was a mutant hunting universe, or whether Wolverine is simply known as an enemy to some. We aren’t given any information in this first issue.

By the way, the costume that Logan is wearing in the construct is very cool. But it reminds me of another costume (for Wolverine I think), and it’s bugging me that I cannot remember. It is very reminiscent of Grimjack, but other than that, I’m drawing a blank. If anyone knows a time that Wolverine wore a costume like this, please let me know.

It really seems like Marvel signed Brian Wood to an exclusive contract as soon as they could, and then gave him some mini-series to keep him busy, because they didn’t have a series for him to take over yet.

Verdict

I really was expecting great things from this issue, and it just didn’t deliver. I’m not that interested in Quentin Quire. I like Wolverine, but not enough just to buy every comic he appears in. And the construct universe did not provide anything clever or new that would make me want to continue.

3.5 (Well-executed but poorly designed)

Footnotes:

  1. I’ve only read the first two volumes, but I highly recommend the series.
  2. Rather than a rebel with a heart of gold, or a heroic rebel.
  3. Even if you don’t agree with his morality.
  4. In other words, an ongoing super-hero title.
  5. Except as either a cash grab or to keep Brian Wood busy, as they’re already paying him.
  6. Issue #2 had problems of its own.
RJ Schwabe is a man who just cracked his fourth decade, and has yet to put his toys away. He is a life-long comic book fan, who is enjoying digital comics more than he ever thought he would. Big fan of nerdy television and comic books, and is a recovering pro-wrestling addict. His review blog can be found at http://looksat40.wordpress.com