Return of the Native

• Writer - Greg Rucka
• Penciler - Darick Robertson
• Inker - Jimmy Palmiotti
• Colorist - Studio F
• Lettering - Virtual Calligraphy
• Lettering - Rus Wooton
• Ass't Editor - Axel Alonso
• Editor - Warren Simons
• Editor in Chief - Joe Quesada

Summary

  Wolverine reaches part 4 of "Return of the Native", another storyline with a somewhat leisurely pace. According to the solicitations, this is a seven-parter, making it a bit of an epic even by today's standards.

  The Weapon X Project (or some guys vaguely associated with it, anyway) have kicked Sabretooth aside and set out to recapture the Native themselves. Meanwhile, Wolverine and the Native sit around in a log cabin, allowing Wolverine to wonder why he can't remember living there.

  I know it's a Marvel Knights book, but I do find the continuity glitches annoying me slightly. Given that the Weapon X Project has its own book, it's hard to avoid noticing that the villains in this storyline don't seem to bear much resemblance to it. And another log cabin? I suppose that isn't strictly a continuity problem - maybe he likes log cabins so much that he had more than one - but I can't help feeling that the log cabin as metaphor of a simpler life has been done to death by now.

  Fortunately, just when I'm starting to become restless, the book decides to embark on an action sequence. Greg Rucka and Darick Robertson produce great, physical action scenes for the character. This time it's Wolverine against three helicopters, the sort of thing that tends to be a bit of a throwaway in more conventional superhero books. In this one, though, it really benefits from getting half a book's breathing space.

  My interest in the plot is faltering, to be honest. But the second half of the book keeps me entertained, for now.

  Rating: B

Summary

  McChord AFB, Washington: as Murray and Willoughby board a private jet they plan the capture and reprogramming of the Native. The rerouted a Glasseye satellite over Creed's last known position and have a fix on the Native and Logan. They want the female alive, but Logan and Creed dead.

  Creed climbs the mountain, planning payback. He sees black helicopters approaching and curses.

  Logan asks the Native if he's been here before; she says yes, Logan's home. He doesn't remember and, frustrated, smashes a table. Soldiers surround the cabin and toss in gas grenades. Logan tosses them out again and then attacks, pulling the gas mask off one and marching through the fumes, asking, "Who's next?" A soldier shoots at him; he guts him and checks on the Native. Helicopters approach, and Logan is given five seconds to surrender the Native. He smiles, tells her to run, and jumps out of the way as the helicopters shoot rockets at him. He lunges at the lead helicopter, smashing through the windshield, and it crashes. He emerges from the flames, asking, "Who's next?" He dodges machine-gun fire from another helicopter and jumps on its tail, slashing the rotor and making it crash.

  He sees the Native being loaded into the third helicopter and yells for them to put her down. They shoot him with power cables and electrocute him. Creed finds him and nudges him with his boot to wake him. They defer killing each other till they get the Native back.