Classic Comic Compendium: WOLVERINE – THE JUNGLE ADVENTURE

cnnradionews staff

July 15, 2024

There are a number of great stories out there that expand on Wolverine’s backstory. Tales that lay out different puzzle pieces in his Swiss cheese memory. One that even finally gave his origin. Compelling works that add to the mystery. Building up a complex and layered character that goes far beyond just a cantankerous little Canadian government agent.

But sometimes you just want to see him fight a dinosaur.

“What’s happening, bub?”

Jungle Adventure

Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure by Walter Simonson, Mike Mignola, Bob Wiacek, Mark Chiarello, and Ken Bruzenak sends Logan to the Savage Land investigating a mystery, only to become embroiled in a normal life there versus the nefarious plot that brought him there in the first place. With dinosaurs (honkers), robots, and large red-headed women.

Part of the joy is in how Walter Simonson and Mike Mignola structure the story. It’s a nested narrative, with an elder of the Savage Land tribe that Logan comes to live with telling the story of Wolverine’s adventure there, with further flashbacks into how he got there. It plays with narrative tropes of a number of pulp adventures, including both the Tarzan-like nature and Lost World elements of the Savage Land, some noir overtones in America, and robots just for fun.

The art from Mike Mignola, Bob Wiacek, and Mark Chiarello is wonderful. Mignola had recently just done Darkseid in Cosmic Odyssey before this, so it was nice to see his take on Apocalypse too. Gorgeous layouts and character designs, there’s also a different fine-lined quality to it through Wiacek’s inks. The heavy shadows are there, but the lines are a bit more delicate. Coupled with a limited colour palette from Chiarello, this is a great looking story.

Ken Bruzenak’s lettering is interesting here too. I’m used to it being a bit larger in size than other letterers, but it seems a bit restrained, and with placements on page, including narration boxes across the gutter between panels. It reminds me a bit of John Workman’s approach, especially when Workman works with Simonson, which may well have been intentional from the creative team. I love when the letters feel like a design element, adding to the flow of the story.

“The Honker of Doom has returned, The Wolverine. And this time, he has taken Falke’s son.”

Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure from Simonson, Mignola, Wiacek, Chiarello, and Bruzenak is the kind of story that reminds you that—yes, deep introspection and character development are great, especially of enigmatic heroes with shady pasts—sometimes all you need is a straight-forward, well-told action yarn by a group of masters.

And, well, maybe leaves a little bundle of joy that I don’t believe has ever been followed up on.