Three big releases this week - two of which are LITERALLY big, since they’re oversized hardcovers. Let’s start with Return of Wolverine #2, though. Art by Declan Shalvey, colors from Laura Martin, letters by VC’s Joe Sabino and cover by Steve McNiven.

As you might notice when you read this issue, the interior art has changed a bit from #1. That’s because my friend Declan Shalvey is taking over from Steve McNiven for issues 2-4 - Steve will be back for the big 30-page finale in #5. So, when all is said and done they’ll split the series evenly, 60 pages each. Why did this happen? Well, Steve’s style is gorgeous and intricate, and it takes a while to produce. It was decided that it would be better to get the story’s installments out on time rather than wait, so you could see how Logan returns in something like real time across the Marvel U.

And of course, Declan is awesome, so it’s all good. This issue was about deepening the mystery around Logan’s return a bit, and creating a fantastic action sequence to show off the world-famous #hotclaws. We learn here that the claws heating up might have something to do with Logan’s healing factor, or his resurrection… but no specifics yet. We’ll learn a bit more in #3, but I will say this - I never come right out and specifically explain it in Return of Wolverine. I know how it works, the “science” behind it, but I think it’s more fun to let you guys think it through.

Issue 3 will be out at the end of the month, and man, are you guys ever going to yell at me - it’s Wolverine vs. the X-Men!

Next up - the first hardcover collection of my Darth Vader series with Giuseppe Camuncoli, David Curiel, Joe Caramagna, Elia Bonetti, Daniele Orlandini and more - the volume collects the whole first half of the series, issues 1-12, and a lot of awesome folks worked on it.

I got a copy of this in the mail, and it was so cool to hold - these hardcovers are awesome because they are LARGE. Not enormous, maybe like 15% bigger, but you can really feel it. The art pops, the paper stock is nice… it’s a prestige item, and Marvel doesn’t do them for every book. So, it’s always nice when a series I work on has enough oomph to merit a hardcover. If you haven’t had a chance to read Vader yet, you could do worse than this. You can pick it up in the store here (it’s in the column on the left.)

Speaking of huge hardcovers, another one came out this week - the Hunt for Wolverine HC, which collected stories by me and a bunch of amazing collaborators as we told the tale of the Marvel U’s epic search for Logan’s missing body. It’s the middle chapter of the story that began with 2014’s Death of Wolverine, and that gets capped off with Return of Wolverine.

If you’re a fan of the old Canucklehead, it’s not to be missed - you can also get it in the store at the link above.

OUT NEXT WEEK: DAREDEVIL #610

October 24, 2018 - RETURN OF WOLVERINE #2, DARTH VADER VOL 1 HARD COVER