Sigh... did we really need another Wolverine mini-series featuring him in Japan or some other exotic Eastern culture, fighting ninjas and visiting with old friends we've never heard of before. Of course not. So, it was with some reluctance that I opened the pages of this latest effort to capitalize on the feral mutant whose code name at this point should really be Cash Cow. Imagine my surprise about a Wolverine story set in Japan that actually shares some real information about the culture, as opposed to long speeches about honor, warrior clan histories and fancy names for edged weapons. There's nothing particularly inventive about the plot here, per se, but the writer's strong sense of place helped set this book apart from other Wolverine series.
Logan travels to Japan to surprise his adopted daughter on Girls Day, but like a typical teen, she's not interested in hanging out with the old man. Instead, Logan meets up with expert thief, trickster and friend Yukio, who desperately needs his help. She's stolen an artifact, and ever since the heist, she's heard a disturbing voice inside her head. Logan has another pal who might know something about the piece, but when they seek him out, they discover there's much more to the ancient piece of jewelry than meets the eye.
Nagasawa's art captures a genuine feel in the Japanese backdrop. His male characters have a tendency to have a squat, thick build. The artist's eye for anatomy could be stronger when it comes to the men. Female characters, such as Yukio, fare far better. Nagasawa's most important contribution here, though, is how he brings the characters down to earht by softening them. Logan's face carries real emotion, not the teeth-clenched intensity we usually expect from him. I also enjoyed the kindness and happiness that we see in Kenichiro's face. It also helps to drive home the serious nature of the plot when that warm, welcoming attitude disappears when his moood turns.
The plot here is rather familiar and terribly transparent. That the title character has the least bit of skepticism about Yukio's claims of the supernatural is ludicrous, given what he has witnessed over his lifetime. Furthermore, making a sacrificial lamb of one of Wolverine's oldest friends in order to get him personally involved in a mission has been done to death, pardon the pun.
Girls Day. Women dropping a letter from their names so they sound more masculine. Sake recommendations. These are the small touches in the script that really caught my attention. I'm a stranger in a strange land when it comes to this setting, but Yoshida lifts some of the mystery and brings credibility to the story as a result. The visions of the entities connected to the amulet boasts a strong sense of myth as well that taps into the cultural appeal of the book. 7/10
