Marvel Heroes (UK Magazine) #8 (Story 1)
Background
Marvel Heroes is the third UK Spider-Man/Marvel Magazine title from the Panini stable. The others are Spectacular Spider-Man (UK Magazine) for early teens, and Spider-Man & Friends (UK Magazine) for the pre-school market. Marvel Heroes is a recent replacement for the relatively short-lived Rampage (UK) which was also aimed at the mid-late teen market.
This magazine features 36 glossy pages. As the title indicates, the content is 100% Marvel related, and most of the major Marvel Heroes get a look-in from time to time. The audience is clearly early/mid-teens, with plenty of DVD, movie and video-game link-in.
Wolverine and Iron Man feature on this issue's cover, and duly each appears in their own standard 7-page story, as well as in much of the advertising and filler material.
Story 'Grim & Gritty'
Marvel Heroes (UK Magazine) #8 (Story 1)
| Publisher: | Panini Magazines |
| Editor: | Ed Hammond |
| Writer: | Ferg Handley |
| Pencils: | John Royle |
| Inker: | David Roach |
First up, Wolverine heads back to Canada for some quiet time alone, but runs into Sandman. They fight, neither really being able to hurt the other. Then a petrol tanker gets mixed up in the middle of things and Wolvie deliberately causes an explosion... which leaves him hurt, but Sandman scatted to the winds. Then Wolverine heads back home, grumpier than before he left.
General Comments
To be honest, this is a fairly pointless slug-fest. The ending also suffers from a basic problem. Gasoline poured into a puddle on the ground just doesn't explode. Writer Ferg Handley would be well-advised to watch a few episodes of Myth Busters.
The magazine features a Wolverine "fact file" and a few one-page "posters". Fair enough. But my major gripe is the six pages of Wolvie "content" that are actually really nothing more than advertising. I'm not sure how you draw the line between "Previewing" and "Promoting" the new Wolverine movie, but I'm pretty sure these guys crossed it a while back.
Overall Rating 
For a tale which doesn't achieve anything and with a fundamentally flawed conclusion, this is a relatively fun romp. Artist John Royle adds great visual flair.
My rating of "Three Webs" is possible only because I'm prepared to judge the story alone, and forgive the fact that much of the rest of the Wolverine tie-in "content" is essentially thinly-disguised advertising.