I am a little incredulous at the very concept of this comic.  Someone at Marvel (It could not have been Jeph Loeb, alone) decided that it would be a good idea to replace the Ultimate Universe’s adult Wolverine with a teenaged version.  Does this mean that we are going to see an under aged (16 year old) Wolverine slicing and dicing villains?  That would take us a long way from the teenaged Peter Parker’s concept of “with great power comes great responsibility.”  I know that Laura in the 616 world (X-23, is her code name, I think) is 16 and chops people up in “X-Force.”  But Laura was raised as an assassin.  This new character comes from a more or less normal background.  At least this development must mean that Disney cannot be micromanaging.

            Loeb’s execution of this “teen Wolverine” concept is reasonably well done.  I like the narration by James’ adopted father, and his use of a hurricane as a metaphor, since the story does take place in Florida.  That James Hudson can cover his claws in some kind of metal (presumably adamantium) does seem overly convenient, and overly coincidental, but this is the comic book world where women turn to living diamond and men into living steel, so I can accept this twist.  I like the parallel of the Ultimate Wolverine saving a lock of Jean Grey’s hair, just as his 616 counterpart did.  I live in liberal New York where public employees are paid top dollar and receive gold plated benefits.  I know all states are not as generous, but I find it difficult to believe that as a Sheriff in Florida, teen Wolverine’s dad is reduced to living in a trailer.  I’ll probably stick with this title for a while to see how it develops.  The teaser for “New Ultimates” does look rather interesting, by the way.

            I liked the art for this issue.  The characters’ faces are not pretty, as they so often are in comic books, but still attractive in their rather stylized angularity.  Arthur Adams does a good job with physiques.  He gives teen Wolverine the body of a teenager.