X-Men Legends #7
- WRITER
- Larry Hama
- Artist
- Billy Tan
- Letterer
- VC's Joe Caramagna
- Cover Artist
- Billy Tan
- Publisher
- Marvel
- Price
- 3.99
- Release Date
- 2021-09-22
- Colorist
- Chris Sotomayor
Between his iconic work on GI Joe -- especially in regards to creating Snake Eyes -- and countless thrilling Marvel stories, legendary writer and artist Larry Hama has contributed a tremendous amount to the world of comic books throughout his decades-long career. Now, Hama teams up with artist Billy Tan to return to the world of his '90s run on Wolverine in X-Men Legends #7 -- a non-stop adventure starring fan favorites Wolverine and Jubilee.
X-Men Legends #7 finds the two X-Men in Japan investigating a yakuza-led mutant trafficking ring. They successfully take down a group of smugglers but unfortunately aren't able to rescue any young mutants. Luckily, Wolverine and Jubilee are joined by their old friend Yukio, who has been hired by an orphanage to find two missing children. The three journey into the seedy underbelly of Osaka, where they run into Lady Deathstrike and realize that the mutant trafficking operation is even more nefarious than they thought.
In Hama's hands, Wolverine still feels like the loveable rebel with a heart of gold that readers have come to love. As always, Jubilee's plucky attitude is the perfect foil for Logan's gruff demeanor, and the two play off each other in a way that makes the grim subject matter of this issue far more approachable. It would be easy for the X-Men Legends series to devolve into a series of pandering cliches that cash in on fan's nostalgia, but Hama crafts a well-plotted, well-written story designed to stand on its own merits.
That being said, there are one or two moments where the dialogue veers towards the ham-fisted nostalgia of early comics. At one point Wolverine remarks, "This joint is locked tighter than a clam with lockjaw" -- a line cartoonish enough to take even the most generous reader out of the story. Regardless, Hama's work is a joy to read.
Tan's work perfectly captures the spirit and style of the '90s X-Men comics. Both in and out of costume, Logan and his companions evoke fond memories of the classic heroes, while continuing to feel fresh and dynamic. Tan has plenty of opportunities to draw thrilling action sequences, and he makes the most of them. The last fight of this issue features Wolverine, Lady Deathstrike, a horde of fighters for the Hand, and a ton of sharks -- all of whom collide in endlessly inventive ways. Audiences have seen Wolverine clash with these adversaries before, but not like this.
X-Men Legends #7 is both a fun look back at the Marvel Universe of the '90s and an exciting new chapter for Wolverine and Jubilee. While the story certainly scratches a nostalgic itch, it works to provide something new and entertaining for X-Men fans. Hama's writing sets the stage for an intriguing story and leaves plenty of room for thrilling action sequences which are beautifully illustrated. This issue certainly earns its legendary moniker.