Wolverine #183 is another double-sized issue, this time for no discernible reason other than to include a back-up strip.

Let's start with the lead story, though.  The general idea of doing crime stories with Wolverine is perfectly sensible.  On the other hand, this story does wear its influences on its sleeve.  If the cover wasn't obvious enough, the story's named after a lyric from the theme tune to the Sopranos.

Incidentally, I've never been able to take that song seriously.  For christ's sake, it's by Alabama 3.  They were a frigging novelty act, for god's sake.  They used to wander around London claiming to represent the Church of Elvis Presley.  They had a song called "Hypo Full of Love."  Their biggest hit was "Ain't Goin' to Goa", which featured a Londoner affecting a Deep South accent and lecturing listeners about the evils of marijuana.  I just can't associate this bunch with mob violence, no matter how much I try.

Anyhow, what we have in this issue is a jarring clash of tone.  On the one hand, the story seems to have designs on being a straight crime story.  On the other hand, the Roman turns up this month, and appears to be on loan from an Adam West episode of Batman.  The idea of a criminal dressed as an ancient Roman, and feigning insanity in order to distract public attention, is not inherently a bad one.  But it really doesn't fit with the rest of the story.  It's rather too silly.  I suppose it's possible that the main plot is supposed to be funny, but it reads more like it's just derivative, rather than an intentional (and unfunny) pastiche.

It's not bad, but it strains credibility to the limit, for no real reward.

The back-up strip sees the return of Matt Nixon.  It's a vehicle for Ryan Bodenheim, the winner of the 2002 Wizard World art contest.  As you might expect, Bodenheim's work is rough around the edges, but his layouts are pretty effective, and he does do a rather good Wolverine.  The quieter scenes are a little bland, but there's certainly potential here.

Unusually, this story actually tries to tie up a stray plot thread, namely the feud with Lady Deathstrike.  Nixon flags up the internal contradiction in the character (that she's supposed to hate Wolverine and yet has undergone extensive body modification in order to make herself more like him) and argues that she can't actually bring herself to kill him when the chance presents itself.  It's not an unpersuasive approach to the character, all told.  The plotting is ropey - am I seriously expected to believe that she outran a motorcycle, on foot, for three miles? - but the basic idea is okay.

Overall, a mixed issue, but still with some promise.

Rating: B

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