Wolverine #77 - Marvel

I have to say, honestly . . I thought I was going to become bored with this whole Dark Wolverine thing. I mean, Daken's an ok character, but . . he's no Logan. Well, he is kind of. But only on a DNA level. Anyways, I really liked this issue. I like this whole devious, manipulating side of this character. Plus I guess I never really realized how much he uses his other power, his pheromone thing, to get people worked up and easier to manipulate. Last issue he went to talk to the Fantastic Four. Specifically, Reed. But, right from the start it just seemed like he was up to something. I thought for sure he was going to double-cross them and sell 'em out to Norman. The ending even further proved that hypothesis as the Thing punches Daken out of the building, in a cacophony of glass and steel. He says it was to make it look like he wasn't conspiring with the enemy, but . . Bullseye and Norman just happen to be waiting on a nearby roof-top with a camera. This seemed to be the perfect piece of leverage that Norman would need. So this issue, we find that Norman is indeed going to use that video bite as leverage over the FF. "I want full access to your facility. All your files, plans . . whatever I want. And you will not interfere, in any way, with anything I do. Ever!" He threatens their public images, their security clearances, even their children. But Reed and Daken planned for this whole thing. Reed wants all of Norman's information and files, but in order to get it he has to be near his own personal computer, as Norman doesn't trust his network to be linked to anything off-site. The footage plays right into thier hands as Norman calls them to him. Meanwhile, before that exchange, Daken has been in the building working Ares and Gargon into a frenzy. By the time Reed and Norman have their confrontation, which is really all just a stalling tactic so Reed's device can download everything on Norman's computer, Ares and Venom come into the mix, and things really escalate. Norman figures out what Reed's up to with the computer, but by this time he has no other recourse than to delete everything. Including the digital footage of the FF he's transferred here. But that's not quite the end of it. Daken has also used Bullseye's hatred of him in this whole scheme. He doesn't know what Bullseye will do, but . . he knows that he can use it. Bullseye shoots him with an arrow loaded with a bomb, and then explodes it. Thereby creating an egress for the FF. But it also provides him cover and an alibi. He's torn up from the bomb, and all Reed has to do to make the plan work is . . leave him be. Don't try to save him, don't try to help, just go. Let his healing factor eventually take care of the rest. Then, even through all of this, it seems that Daken has an even bigger plan in the works. As he's lying in bed later, recuperating, his thinking . ."Here's the thing Osborn doesn't understand. You can reach the top in an instant. You can burn and kill and lie your way there overnight. But to stay, to become something more than a puppet-king . . you have to build a foundation. Deep roots. Allies. Promises. Debts. Not every revolution begins with a bang. Sometimes just a whisper. The first thread of a well-laid plan. Blood doesn't make you a prince, and it won't build you an empire. But knowing the right people sure as hell will." It seems he already has Moonstone on his side. As well as created doubt and confusion in Ares, Venom and Bullseye. But now? Now he's got the Fantastic Four. He receives a text from Reed that says . ."You're not alone . . . . . We owe you." And that . . that is what the whole purpose of all of this was really about. Daniel Way and Marjorie Lie did a fantastic job with this story. Like I said in the beginning, I was really afraid of becoming bored with this character. But after this issue, I'm seeing Daken in a whole new light. I also really enjoyed Giuseppe Camuncoli's take on this character. His unique style fit expertly into the chaos of this issue. Props to all involved here.