QUICK FIX SPECIAL FEATURE: Enemy of the State!
WHAT IF? ENEMY OF THE STATE ROUND-UP
What if Wolverine was never Deprogrammed?: Bite the hand that feeds (Marvel)
Where: What if? Wolverine Enemy of the State #1 When: January 2007 Why: Jimmie Robinson How: Carmine Di Giandomenico

Well, it's Infinite Wars by the numbers today, folks.
We're going to attempt to dive into some of 2007, focusing on issues significant, and not so much, from the early parts of the year. We're going to start with a variation on the quick fix which, for the latter part of the year, has become a fun new version of the Infinite Wars.

War mongers [that's you, the regular readers] will remember back to April when our What if Wednesdays turned to this very issue, and the battle between Hydra super-soldier Wolverine, and a motley crew of surviving heroes including Magneto and Invisible Woman.

This time around the quick fix model allows us to take a look at some of the smaller battles featured as part of Wolverine's rampage through the Marvel Universe. Those not in the know should familiarize themselves with the Mark Millar storyarc from which this what if alternative is derived.

Enemy of the State presented a scheme perpetrated by a young mutant upstart making waves within the Hydra/Hand heirarchy. Gorgon, whose powers boil down to the ability to kill, sets about luring Wolverine to Japan, where his defeat facilitates Hydra's desire to use their magicks and techology to turn Wolverine into a puppet soldier, capable of perpetuating their strategum across the landscape of superheroes and villains.

Wolverine would clash with many considered friend and foe alike [Elektra, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Sub-Mariner], before eventually coming unstuck during an invasion on the X-Mansion, which would see his defeat at the hands of the united efforts of Captain America, the Avengers, X-Men and SHIELD [Wolverine #25]. This defeat would not come before the death of the mutant, Northstar.

In this What if one-shot, we see the results of a world where Wolverine was able to evade defeat, and butchers Captain America in his escape. Hydra's continued persistence proves successful, and leads to a final confrontation led by a limbless Captain America, Magneto, Invisible Woman, and Kitty Pryde.
It is the deaths of many other heroes that leads to this particular selection.

WOLVERINE versus SPIDER-MAN
With the likes of Iron Man, Daredevil, Punisher, Black Panther, and the Fantastic Four having already fallen by implication, it is Spider-man that is the first we see to bare the brunt of Wolverine's Hydra assisted assault.

Wolverine meets the web-slinger on his home turf, the urban sprawl of contemporary Manhattan, where Spider-man has the slim advantage of his bouncing speed, agility, and precognitive senses.

The wall-crawler seems capable of sufficiently out maneuvering the controlled Wolverine, seen flipping him away with an acrobatic kick. The heroic weakness of characters like Spider-man is crucial to Wolverine's unrestrained attack, and Spider-man plays directly into it, webbing Wolverine to a wall with the intent to restrain him until SHIELD squads can arrive.

Unfortunately, along with many other technological upgrades, Wolverine is fitted with a teleportation system that is remotely controlled by Hydra. They teleport him free of the webbing, and not even Spidey's spider-senses can give him warning sufficient to evade defeat. Though he attempts to escape, his web falls limp as Wolverine's claws sink deep.

The Fix: 4 Winner: Wolverine

WOLVERINE & THE HAND versus POWER MAN & IRON FIST
In their global bid for domination, it is little surprise that Hydra revisit their pursuit of assassination of "POTAS"; the President of the United States.

It is on the lawn of the White House that Wolverine and a mob of Hand ninja launch their attack on the head of the free world.

Iron Fist's fighting skills serve him well against the brutal attack of the manipulated Wolverine. His claws slash wildly at the exposed chest of the chi-master, while the bodies of US federal agents and Hand ninja fall indescriminately around them.

Wolverine's adamantium laced claws prove sufficient to penetrate the super-durable hide of the Power Man, Luke Cage. Though bleeding, Cage's strength holds out, allowing him to press the advantage over the runtish mutant.

Ultimately the close quarters battle costs Luke Cage his life, while Iron Fist is preoccupied mowing through the disposable force of the Hand. The Fist is there to hold his friend's hand as he dies there on the lawn -- succesful in their mission to protect the President.

The Fix: 4.5 Winner: Iron Fist (w/ Luke Cage)
NOTE: Wolverine killed Luke Cage

WOLVERINE versus MOON KNIGHT
Despite their many defeats, Hydra remain anything but discouraged.
Wolverine's mutant healing factor maintains him sufficiently for field duty, allowing attacks to continue at a regular rate.

Hydra send Wolverine back to the streets, where he seeks out more of the back alley bruisers. Their tactics to eliminate an enemy, and gain an ally, extend this time to the mystically powered Moon Knight, who is at particular strength given the eves distinction as being a full moon.

Despite his brutal determined brand of combative skill, and Khonshu enhanced strength, Moon Knight is little opposition for the clawed mutant.

Bouncing back from a bloody kick, Wolverine attacks with his own hard style.
Expressing admiration for Moon Knight's true grit, Wolverine describes Hydra's methods of resurrection, and assures the hero that though he would experience great pain to begin with, the results would be finite.

With that, Wolverine guts Moon Knight then and there.

The Fix: 4.5 Winner: Wolverine

The Hammer...
And that's all she wrote for this particular alternate universe.
If you're interested in learning more about the final conclusion to this particular story, you can refer back to our previous review. The results of this grim universe may yet hold some surprises, but as we close the book on this one, Wolverine walks into the home stretch with a string of wins under his belt.

I have to admit to some labour in the previous review, which really doesn't service the quality of this one-shot, at all. Unfortunately my ailing technology fails to capture the rendered glory of Di Giandomencio's presumably CG colours, which round out his own pencils and Robert Campanella's confident black inks.

Walking a minimalist line between hyper-realism and cartooning, the Moon Knight pages show particular flair. I don't know if I could narrow it down to a particularly character, but I would delight at seeing this kind of work on a monthly basis. To bog it down in motly dark colours would be a disservice, yet at the same time it's the kind of style that really compliments the gritty urban environment, with an interesting juxtaposition of the bright characters.

One could almost imagine a Daredevil special or annual done in this style, presenting the scarlet character in a style I don't doubt would compliment, whilst still respecting the established look of the solo title.
With work like this, it's hard not to think about the possibilities presented by the return of Marvel Comics Presents, which in days past featured tangential tales of Hells Kitchen's guardian devil.

I was a big fan of Enemy of the State. I think it goes without saying that Millar's wanton disregard for the stoic "cool" of popular comics is tailor made for a website like this. The Scot tosses combat and big screen action around with a swagger typically lacking in this overly self-conscious genre. It's a confidence that instantly endears the action to any willing reader, pushing quality of fun, rather than obsessive details and realism.

This What If special sufficiently tackles the theoretical it promises.
Though Millar deserves the credit of instilling his original story with some assemblance of superhero logic, this story perhaps bogs itself down a little too much in one concept, and one stern target. It's perhaps this that made the climactic conclusion more laborious a review than these, more familiar and frivilous encounters.

Enemy of the State is essentially an excuse to pit Wolverine against other elements in the Marvel Universe. Granted, it did so through the veil of a PG action rating, but ultimately the success weighed on A battling B.

The combat choices made here are delightful, and in some respects, one almost wishes the vaguely optimistic ending could've been put aside for more of the same. Never the less, an admirable effort, and one of the more interesting prospects to come out of the modern What If initiative.

Fix Average: 4.3 The Issue: 5

If you think you might enjoy this story, it's now available in collection along with other fifth-week What If specials detailing events surrounding the Age of Apocalypse, Spider-man: The Other, Avengers Disassembled, and X-Men: Deadly Genesis! You can also find Enemy of the State collected, and with Christmas coming up, why not treat yourself or a friend?

WOLVERINE versus SHIELD
What If Wolverine Was Never Deprogrammed?: Bite The Hand That Feeds (Marvel comics)
Where: What If? Wolverine Enemy Of The State #1 When: January 2007
Why: Jimmie Robinson How: Carmine Di Giandomenico

The story so far...
Wolverine became enemy of the state when he was attacked by a mysterious warrior called Gorgon, killed, and resurrected by the mysterious group called The Hand.

Brainwashed into being an agent of Hydra, Wolverine went on a spree to kill and thus recruit other powered heroes into Hydra's control.

Eventually Captain America and the X-Men were able to intervene, and put a stop to Wolverine's rampage long enough to deprogram him once more, but in other realities this was not the case. Here we bare witness to a world where Wolverine savaged Captain America, and escaped to fight another day...

Previous Form:
Wolverine (#3): Wolverine has suffered defeats against Captain America and Magneto.
Captain America (#7): Captain America has victories over Wolverine and more importantly, MODOK.
Invisible Woman (#28): The Fantastic Four defeated the Frightful Four previously.
Kitty Pryde (#95): Wolverine decapitated Kitty Pryde in another issue of What If...
Magneto (#244): Magneto has yet to attain victory.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Captain America 3 (Trained Athlete)
Intelligence: Magneto 5 (Professor)
Speed: Wolverine 3 (Trained Athlete)
Stamina: Wolverine 6 (Generator)
Agility: Captain America 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Wolverine 6 (Warrior)
Energy Powers: Magneto 6 (Mass Destruction)


Across the given areas of the tape you've got a pretty good spread of capabilities and talents, and with that, let us delve right in, totally overlooking my rampant lateness.

The SHIELD team is comprised of the awesome foursome of Captain America, who's missing half an arm and leg, but has a neato hover chair; Invisible Woman, who is possibly the last survivor of the FF; long-time rival of Wolvie - Magneto; and rounding out the team is Kitty Pryde aka Shadowcat.

Wolverine's a well known scrapper, but against a grouping like this, it's a pretty big ask. On the site alone you can find our world's version of the Wolverine/Captain America scenario [Wolverine #25]; and the famous encounter with Wolverine where he loses his adamantium [X-Men #25].
So, I guess you could get two things out of that; A) Wolverine's on the back foot to begin with, and B) Wolverine should probably try to avoid issue twenty-five of books for a while...

In the situaton of a What If... issue you can open your mind to Wolverine's true potential. I don't think the title has ever traditionally been a mature readers title, but without the constraints of maintaining a franchise, death is on the menu for anyone and everyone. And Wolverine is the best there is at serving menus. And those menus are ugly, bub.

So, yeah, Wolverine is actually in with a chance here.
He's got the healing factor, and he's even got Hydra in his ear teleporting him around the city. Without any kind of restraint there, Wolvie could take it.

That said, Magneto and Invisible Woman are big asks. Particularly Magneto, given the nature of Wolverine's adamantium.
And Kitty Pryde has the emotional tug, which is always the defense against a brainwashed hero. Hey, don't try to deny! There's precedent!

The Math: Team Cap (Total) Wolverine (Average)
The Pick: Team Cap

What went down...
Bunkered down in a SHIELD base that Hydra do not have information on, the foursome prepare themselves for their plans. SHIELD have begun leaking dummy information about their whereabouts, to lure Wolverine and Hydra in with the scent of Captain America.

Their plans are to have Kitty Pryde close blast doors, sealing the place up; Invisible Woman is to snare Wolverine with her forcefield powers; Magneto will disrupt Hydra's teleportation and communication systems by powering an electromagnetic machine; and then they'll contain him.

When the proximity alert hits, their problems begin.
Magneto readies the jamming device, while Kitty Pryde phases through the wall to look around for Wolverine, who hasn't emerged yet. Sue Storm warns her to keep her eyes peeled, but doesn't notice the shadow moving below the grate in the floor.

The Invisible Woman should've taken her own advice!
Wolverine's claws burst through the floor and her feet, spraying blood onto the steel.

Invisible Woman goes down as Wolverine pushes the floor panel up, her feet still pinned to the floor via his claws. Desperate and tough enough to act, she creates a forcefield bubble around Wolverine's head, cutting off his air supply.

This cold, controlled Wolverine doesn't even hesitate to pop his own claw through his throat, performing a tracheotomy on himself, rendering Invisible Woman's attack moot. With that, he leaps on top of the heroine, and pops his claws through her skull.

Captain America's attempts to bait Wolverine finally pay off. Wolvie lays murderous eyes on the maimed Captain, and makes a wisecrack about murderball. Geez Wolverine, you'll date yourself!

You don't want to bet on a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest, but if ever you were going to do it, it'd be if it was Captain America. Despite the handicap he fends off Wolverine's savage attack, using his good leg to spring the mutant across the room.

Wolverine is snatched in the air - the work of the one and only master of magnetism; Magneto!

Disappointed by the turn of events, Magneto springs into action, confidently lamenting on the weaknesses of an adamantium skeleton as the reason why Hydra so certainly avoids him.

However, with the field broken, Hydra is able to resume contact with Wolverine and teleport him behind the distracted mutant. "Always been your problem, bub..."

Magneto pays for his deviation, taking all six claws through the chest. The adamantium slices through flesh with little or no resistance, bursting out the front. Magneto will bend metals, no more.

He drops to the ground, his helmet popping off and bouncing on the ground above his head.
It echoes eerily as Captain America watches from his chair, fully aware that it's just he and the murderous mutant, now.

Wolverine leaps onto Cap's hoverchair, and raises his arms back.
Hands reach out of the wall behind, and Captain America finds himself intangible just at the right moment, as Wolverine brings his weapons hailing down at Cap's star-spangled chest.

The Captain orders Shadowcat to let him go, whipping his shield forward, allowing it to become solid as it wooshes past Wolverine's ducking head.

Cap pushes Kitty away, and tells her to let go, as his shield hooks around in the air in a boomerang style U-turn. Wolverine spots it, but can't avoid feeling the crunch from both sides, making the meat in a shield/fist sandwich!

While Wolverine collects himself on the ground, the Captain reminds his soldier of her mission. "You know what to do now."
Wolverine certainly does. An uppercut finishes with Cap's jaw, and several gushing pints of blood. Hydra doesn't like loose ends. Wolverine ties it up.

All alone, Wolverine stalks the last of his prey.
Shadowcat makes an emotional plee, trying to reach the man she once regarded as a mentor and dear friend. She revisits the events of the past [Enemy of the State], and considers all those that died in this world, while Wolverine slashes his arms through her phasing form.

Kitty throws a punch, slipping out of her phased form for just a moment.
Wolverine detects her inreasing heartrate and sweat and challenges her to make her one move, or put an end to it all by surrendering. She makes her move.

With blood gushing from her wrist, Kitty apologises to Wolverine as he stumbles away from the reader, dropping to his knees. She clutches at her wound, revealing a blood stump, the cut-off of where she left her hand phased in Wolverine's skull.

SHIELD chose wisely.

The hammer...
Well, that was cheery, wasn't it? The winner, if you can call her that, is Kitty Pryde. Pretty grim, but hey, Cap lost a hand and an arm, plus he ended up dead. Well, yeah, I guess he ended up dead in our universe too, didn't he? What a moot point...

... Anyway, yes! I am drifting further and further behind.
I'm only an hour away at this point from being a full week behind, so thankfully I'm on the case and trying to maintain justification for your readership!
A lot of things have been keeping me sufficiently distracted, including work on my own comics projects, which you've probably heard about by now.

Though it took me a while to get to it, I really like these fifth week What If events. I think over time the void that was left by the title healed over, but these extras on the months with a fifth Wednesday have been a delicious application of the concept, and a welcome treat. Even if some of them have been on the mediocre side...

This one, thankfully, was not that bad. I was a big fan of Enemy of the State, as you might know if you've been with us long enough. It's one of those storylines that was really made for a blogsite like this, and one of these days we'll get all the relevant parts up and reviewed, I'm sure.

The original Wolverine run was notable for the feature roles of writer Mark Millar, and more to my point, penciller John Romita Jr.
I can never really decide whether I love or hate JRjr's pencils, but it isn't even a factor with Carmine Di Giandomenico taking the role of both penciller and colorist, with inker Robert Campanella rounding things out nice and smooth.
The finished product has a rendered sheen of a flat-coloured cartoon, boasting cool colour palettes and smooth, clean lines everywhere. It's really a great looking comic. I'd love to see more from this team!

The artwork aside, which really IS a huge highlight, the story plods on along well. As you would expect from the scenario, there's a grim overtone of Wolverine hacking his way through the superhero community, and we even get a one-page fight with Moon Knight that I might like to get in the Quick Fix sometime in the future!

Like the original storyline it isn't heavy on over-thought plotlines, but it contains enough to be less of a beat 'em up comic than the original, and has the obligatory twist ending that makes you rethink what you've read.
Due to the nature of the flat summary style used here, you've actually had part of the twist (Kitty Pryde's role on the team) spoiled, so if you haven't read it... Sorry.

Still, it's a pretty decent read, and is hopefully a shot of Wolverine into the site that will keep up our average hitcount. I know guys, but it was a good issue, and the hits are just a bonus. Stop buying if you have that big a problem!

Jokes aside, I'm trying to wrap this up so I can get on with the next feature!
I'll be trying to catch my way back up before the 100th fight next Monday, but I won't make any promises about that. I will, however, promise one of the biggest weaks of Secret Earths history whenever I do get around to it. And if you're wondering -- nope. We don't break the themes. Cheers!

The Fight: 4 The Issue: 5