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Recommended?
"Huh?" This was my main reaction after reading the book over for the first two times. Okay, so I understood that Logan was recruited by Aria to free the prisoners there. That's fine. But what's the deal with this "energy creature" who poses a threat to the Collector's security? And why does Corsair and his followers, (remember, these are *known* allies of the X-Men) choose to help the Collector? Although it's very certain that these issues will probably be cleared up in the next issue, I was certainly left mind-boggled as to what exactly was going on in this issue for about 50% of the time. What I missed seeing, though, in this issue is the lack of preparation to set up a different scene. Usually, most issues will have a word or phrase that says "meanwhile ..." or "On another part of the compound ...": basically, a word or phrase that prepares us for a switch in the scene. To make most story flow, this tactic is very common. This issue, though, didn't use it at all, so it felt as if right when you're getting used to one scene in the story, BAM another scene suddenly pops up without warning. It's a minor thing, but it's the small things that sticks out like a sore thumb at times with comic books.
Overall, like last time, I had a relatively neutral view to this book. Sure, this book sets you up for the next issue, but there just wasn't anything in this issue which struck me as saying "Wow, I can't wait to see the next issue!" And although I believe Jeff Matsuda to be a highly talented artist, after four issues of him on this title, I just still haven't gotten used to this type of "cartoony" artwork in Wolverine, which is a title that traditionally has more detailed rendering of characters. This particular story arc, up to now, to me seems to be geared more towards a younger crowd. More mature comic book readers might think that this current story arc doesn't have enough depth and is often choppy in terms of how the story flows, but for younger readers? The appearance of so many characters and the easy-to-predict storyline fits their agenda better.
Rating (from 1 dot (not recommended) to 5 dot (highly recommended)
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"Trust: The Great Escape Pt. 4 of 6"
IN THIS ISSUE:
Inside a prison cell, Corsair and his followers are worried about the length of time that one of their own members, Raza, had been gone for a long time. Soon, prison guards return Raza back into the cell after concluding the tests that The Collector's followers had conducted on him. Raza informs Corsair that he had learned nothing new of why they were being helped captives, but did notice that The Collector's elite patrols were patrolling the corridors as if they were seeking something or someone.
Back to the launch docks, where Logan and Torgo were still poised for a showdown while exchanging a war of words. Aria, still in posession of one of The Collector's soldier's body, tells Logan to step down. After a promise from Torgo to make no further trouble, Logan retracts his claws. Torgo exchanges some heated words with Aria, asking her why she continued to struggle against unsurmountable circumstances to free the prisoners, while she accuses him of being ignorant to let the prisoners be reprogrammed. Torgo knocks out Aria with a concussion blast. Logan is taken by Torgo to visit the prisoners of the compound: to let him see the prisoner's point of view of their own situation, rather than just hearing the one-sided view from Aria.
Elsewhere in the prison planet compound, the slave to the Collector and a satellite operator discovers that an energy being had landed on their planet, something bad which confirmed their greatest fears.
As Logan is led to the prison cells so that he can interact with the prisoners, Torgo tells Logan about his origins: how he was a slave on the planet Kral by the Skrulls, and during a gladiatorial game, was unable to kill the Fantastic Four member, Thing, due to the Thing's nobility. He teamed up with the Thing and the rest of the Fantastic Four to rebel against the Skrulls and the five eventually defeated the Skrulls. Torgo tells Logan the reason he told Logan this story was because of his respect for human beings. Torgo is summoned by the Collector, and leaves Logan behind in the prison cell. Logan attempts to talk with the prisoners until the prisoners begin fighting against Logan since "his kind" was not welcome there ("his kind" referring to the prisoner's belief that Logan had allied himself with Torgo).
Elsewhere, a Ovoid being uses a contraption which would prevent Aria from transmitting her conscious from one body to another. Aria's body, inside a holding chamber, is reunited with her conscious. Aria believes she has failed in her mission, and that only Logan now would be able to free them.
Logan is held at the mercy of an alien who accuses Logan and the rest of the X-Men for creating the Dark Phoenix which had destroyed his world. The other aliens immediately cease in their fight against Logan, now realizing that Logan was of the fabled X-Men, whom they had heard heroic stories about. After making clear that he was one of the good guys, Logan was able to inspire the other prisoners to join him in their attempt to break free of the compound.
Back in the main central room where The Collector was, the Collector is being informed about the arrival of the energy creature, whom they had been preparing their protective shields for. He is also informed that the Zennan woman, Aria, had been caught, and Logan was left in the holding pen to fend for himself.
Returning back to where Corsair and his followers were being held, Corsair exclaims how he couldn't believe that Wolverine was involved in "this whole affair", but they knew, though, that Wolverine was recruited by Aria to challenge the Collector. But with what they now know, Corsair realizes that Logan must not be allowed to succeed since the Collector's cause was just and they had no choice but to help the Collector and prevent Wolverine from accomplishing what he came to the planet to do.
