Exiles #85

Background

With no immediate threats on the horizon, the Exiles attempted to enjoy some down-time on their home worlds much against the wishes of the Timebreakers. However, that peace is short-lived when a threat grips Heather Hudson's reality and calls both the Exiles and Alpha Flight to deal with it. The threat, however, seems minimal when it's over until the Exiles learn the true scheme: the Timebreakers have just fired them and stranded them in that reality! To face a new threat

CURRENT EXILES:

SABRETOOTH (Victor Creed): Enhanced senses and healing.

BLINK (Clarice Ferguson): Teleportation.

MORPH: Shape-shifting.

DR. HEATHER HUDSON: Scientist.

LONGSHOT: Agility and luck powers.

SPIDER-MAN 2099 (Miguel O'Hara): Spider-like powers and talons.

POWER PRINCESS (Zarda): Super strength and flight.

Story Details

The Crystal Palace receives a new collection of visitors: 6 different versions of Wolverines! Featuring the older one from the Days of Future Past, the feral one from the Weapon X Program, Patch from the Madripoor days, young James Howlett from Origin, the robotic Albert and Elsie-Dee and the zombie from Marvel Zombies. They have little time to process their confusion when the Timebroker, resembling a Wolverine himself a little, appears. The Timebroker makes their introductions, and explains to them they've just been recruited to the New Exiles.

With the promise of incentives, the Wolverines are teleported to an Earth that needs them. Future Logan takes point with the Tallus on his wrist, with Zombie and Patch doubting the sincerity of the Timebroker. Entering the ruins of Phoenix, Arizona, the Wolverines wonder what the deal is until the Tallus projects the answer into their minds. Apparently on this world, the Brotherhood schemed to give Magneto even more power than she already had. Using the Scarlet Warlock, Wolverine's adamantium skeleton was transferred into her body. But something went wrong, and instead all the Brotherhood, including Quicksilver and Mesmero, were combined into one being known as Brother Mutant. He was ever meant to exist and swore to kill every human on Earth.

Before they can fully process the information, the Wolverines are greeted by a legion of other Wolverines in a trance-like state. Future Logan theorizes that they were not the first team of Wolverines sent in to the job, and that the rest have failed. With claws popped, Weapon X leads the battle charge with the others right behind. Patch and Logan realize it's a bust, and Patch covers their back while Logan and James head off to try and reason with the Timebreakers to let them come up with a better plan. However, despite the logic in Logan's words, the Timebreakers are hesitant to bring him back while wondering why the obvious solution, which is Wolverine, has continued to fail. Logan and James prepare to take their final stand, when at the last instant they're taken into the Crystal Palace. There, Logan gets the bugs to admit what the hell is going on.

Back on Heather's Earth, Alpha Flight has just welcomed the Exiles to join their ranks, but none of them are too happy about the prospect. They don't have long to consider their fate when Logan and James show up and attract their attention. Logan fills the Exiles in on the pooch-screw the Timebreakers have made of things, and enlists their help to save himself a hundred times over. While back on the other Earth, Brother Mutant welcomes his new brothers into the fold, and feels his power grow even more!

General Comments

Watching Wolverine interact with himself offers many funny moments, especially with the way they all ragged on James in his nightshirt. This was an inventive story, playing up to the overexposure Wolverine is accused of having with no apologies for it. It was cool to see all the different Wolverines that have been in comics over the decades, with some new ones thrown in. Also, Brother Mutant was truly an innovative new villain for them to face. Any Wolverine fan could appreciate this issue, because it's the best he's been written in comics in a VERY long time. I'd dare compare it to the days of Larry Hama, which was arguably the best run on the title. And as a fan of the ol' Canucklehead, I couldn't have been more thrilled. And with Paul Pelletier on pencils, everything looked great.

Overall Rating

5 Webs. Wolverine goodness galore chock full of superb artwork and some funny dialogue.

Footnote

In every issue, Morph takes on some familiar and unusual forms. Here, we'll try to chronicle as many as we can in a section we'll call: MORPH'S MORPHS!

Morph's morphs: Three Stooges, James' Nightshirt