Dead Man Logan #3 // Review
It's Logan versus the Avengers in Dead Man Logan #3, by writer Ed Brisson, artist Mike Henderson, colorist Nolan Woodard, and letterer Cory Petit. So far, this book has been an action packed blast and this issue is no exception, giving readers a very cool fight and developing the story even more.
Logan faces off against the Avengers, thinking they are the Sinister Six thanks to Mysterio. Sin, Crossbones, and Miss Sinister look on, watching the whole thing. Miss Sinister thinks this whole test is foolish, but Sin and Crossbones just enjoy seeing the heroes pitted against each other. Logan is able to acquit himself rather well against the Avengers even in his weakened state. Miss Sinister and Sin talk tactics, but things aren't what they seem. The X-Men show up and are able to break Mysterio's control over Logan. The Avengers allow them to take him away and the the villains make a discovery that changes everything.
Ed Brisson is just firing on all cylinders with this book. This book could easily be a dark, violent slog and for all intents and purposes probably should be; Logan out for revenge against man who made him kill his friends is the perfect place to get pitch black and bloody. However, Brisson knows that readers have gotten that type of story many, many times and it doesn't really serve the characters very well. Brisson has a knack for characterization and he deploys it perfectly throughout this book. Even in a tense situation like this, there's still going to be jokes. The Avengers aren't going to try to kill Logan. It's not a joke a minute kind of book, but each character definitely feels and speaks exactly like they should.
Brisson has an immense amount of respect for Logan and it shows in how well he's able to deal with the Avengers. It's not the full team, just Cap, Iron Man, She-Hulk, and Ghost Rider, but Logan is able to put them through their paces like a champ. At no point does it feel like Brisson is giving Logan the advantage because his name is on the cover. As much respect as Brisson has for Logan, he extends the same to the Avengers. Even this team should be able to make short work of a weakened Old Man Logan, but they try and do their best to restrain him without going to hard on him and in no way does Logan make any of them look weak. He also introduces some nice squabbling between the villains that will complicate matters for everyone down the road. Sin just wants to lash out and hurt the heroes; she's not the tactician her father was. Miss Sinister is much more interested in following the blueprint of events she found in Logan's mind and Mysterio just wants to be somebody and not always get beat on. It's three different dynamics, each of them in opposition to each other and it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
Mike Henderson's pencils are perfect for this issue. His fight scenes are well choreographed and perfectly laid out. The scenes don't get too cluttered and everything that happens in the battle is clear and detailed. It feels like every issue, his pencils get a little better.
Dead Man Logan #3 has it all- great art, perfect characterization, and an engaging story that keeps getting better. Ed Brisson is making Old Man Logan's swan song something for the ages and Mike Henderson's art is the perfect accompaniment. This could easily be a grim, joyless book that would still be entertaining, but instead Brisson and company deliver something that subverts those expectations expertly.
