Wolverine - Volume 1 [Hardcover]

I own several Marvel Omnibus collections (Captain America, Miller's Daredevil run, etc) but I have to say I think this one is the biggest in terms of thickness. This has a serious page count, and is definitely worth the money you spend on it for size alone. Those coming off the Wolverine movie and interested in more of his back-story will enjoy most of this.

The stories here are not put together in chronological order of publication, but rather in chronological order of when it supposedly happened in his life. That being said, it's odd that Marvel chose to leave out "Origin", since that six-part story would have made an obvious choice for the beginning of this collection. Instead, we start out with a number of "Weapon X" stories that are supposed to set the stage for his creation into a weapon. The stories are not easy to follow for a casual read, however. You'll have to invest time reading dozens of dialogue balloons over the constantly-resting pose of Logan with wires coming out of him. Not the best start they could have hoped for, but I can see the logic of it.

The Wolverine/Kitty Pryde miniseries is also here for some reason. I guess its inclusion into the collection is for completist purposes, but it's not that great.

Eventually, you reach the Frank Miller Wolverine mini-series that started it all and paved the way for his solo series later on. If you've read that one, you know it's a classic as we get more back story into his Samurai/Ninja training past (and it's also rumored to be the basis for the second Wolverine solo film if it gets made). This leads into the first 10 issues of his solo series as we meet Logan's "Patch" identity, his weird black "facepaint mask" costume, and the dark dealings of Madripor.

The colors here are rich and vibrant. Those who were disappointed with the washed-out look of the "Essentials" collection of Wolverine stuff will find nothing but happiness here. The price is reasonable for what you're getting here. Let me say again though that this is a MONSTER of a book, so you won't be carrying this around for a casual read at the coffee shop. This is more along the lines of a serious collector book than those Essential volumes.

It's difficult to imagine a more comprehensive Wolverine collection than this. It collects pretty much every solo appearance from the '70s and '80s into what is one of Marvel's largest Omnibus hardcovers to date. It includes two of the very best Wolverine stories ever written - the Claremont/Miller mini-series and Barry Windsor Smith's Weapon X. Both of these stories really deserve to be experienced in the larger format this Omnibus offers. The rest of the book holds up well too, with plenty of classic storylines that easily qualify as essential reads for Wolverine fans. This hardcover doesn't feature improved coloring like a lot of Marvel's Omnibuses, but in most cases it doesn't really need it (it would be nice to see Jim Lee's X-Men art redone with modern coloring).

The only question you have to ask yourself is how much you value a comfortable reading experience. There comes a point where a book is too thick and heavy for its own good. I think this Omnibus crosses that threshold. Mind you, the spine is durable and curved in such a way that the interiors of the pages aren't obscured, but it's still a bit of a chore actually sitting down and flipping through the book. You really need a flat and stable surface.

This drawback is especially worth noting because there's a similar hardcover out there called The Best Of Wolverine Volume 1 HC. It's nowhere near as comprehensive, but it does include the best and most essential stories from this Omnibus, including the Claremont/Miller mini and Weapon X. And it's less of a hassle to pull that volume off the shelf and read it. Basically, if you want a cheap but still high quality Wolverine collection, go with The Best Of. If you prefer to pay more and get the most bang for your buck, go with this Omnibus instead. Just don't drop it on anyone.

I have changed my diet and exercise regularly so I can slowly turn my body into wolverine's. Buying the omnibus was an obvios step in my obsession.