****SPOILER ALERT-REVIEWS INCLUDE SPOILERS ABOUT THE EVENTS IN THESE ISSUES****

 

Wolverine and the X-men Issue #31

written by Jason Aaron and art by Nick Bradshaw

Published by Marvel Comics

 

The Hellfire Saga part 1 of 5

 

       In issue #30, Quentin Quire, the massive egomaniac and telepath, left the Jean Grey School to join Kade Kilgore’s Hellfire Academy.  Having been teleported there by Kilgore’s henchman, the Philistine, Quire and another new recruit by the name Snot (not the most creative nickname since his mutant ability that manifested a week before essentially involves the ability to shoot projectile slime from his nose) approach the grounds of the academy for the first time.  This horrific new place of “learning” has been created as a dark mirror image of the Jean Grey School.  The teaching staff that we are introduced to are truly inspired choices from writer Jason Aaron.  If you thought that Wolverine was a poor choice for a headmaster, Kilgore trumps his competing school by naming Sabretooth as headmaster.  Classes begin with headmistress Mystique giving a lecture entitled “An Introduction to Evil”.  Second period is science class with Dr. Karl Lykos, codenamed Sauron.  At one point, the walking, talking dinosaur punishes Snot by taking two “demerits” of lifeforce for being late to class.  Third period’s xenobiology class is hosted by Dr. Xanto Starblood.  You may remember this character came to Earth earlier in Aaron’s run to kill the character Broo for being an abomination.  Fourth period is P.E. with Coach Dog Logan, Wolverine’s older brother from Wolverine: Origin.  Husk betrayed the staff of the Jean Grey School and is now the lunchlady and the librarian of the Hellfire Academy.  Sixth period is Hell Literature by Master Pandemonium, a D-list villian from the old West Coast Avengers.  Seventh period is Public Relations for Psychopaths with Madame Mondo, an exile from the Mojoverse.  But without a doubt, my favorite teacher is Danger Room training from Professor Wendigo.

 

     Star crossed lovers Husk and Toad lead the betrayal of the Jean Grey School according to the last issue.  With Husk working as lunch lady and librarian, Toad is relegated to janitorial duties AGAIN.  I have to call bullshit on his betrayal.  If Toad is truly still a bad guy, then pulling a Benedict Arnold only makes sense if he is working in his own self interest.  More likely, Toad has been sent here on the orders of Logan to be his inside man later on in the story.  The final panel of this issue reveals the source of power behind the academy, one of my favorite magical artifacts in the history of the 616 that has not made an appearance in over a decade.  This story has promise, but Nick Bradshaw’s pencil is a bit cartoonish for my taste.  Colorist Laura Martin brings a strange paradox to dark subject matter with such bright color palette choices.  This issue is a “taste it”; mainly because a new Hellion team cannot be too far ahead.

       Check out the Hellfire Saga in Wolverine and the X-men.  Maybe they will actually succeed in ending the tenure of one of the worst possible headmasters in the history of fiction.  And no, I am not talking about Sabretooth.  Go Team Hellion!!!!

 

Review by David Griffin

 

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