Hellverine #1 Review

Written by: Benjamin Percy
Art by: Raffaele Ienco
Colors by: Bryan Valenza
Letters by: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover art by: Kendrick Lim
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: December 18, 2024

Hellverine #1, by Marvel Comics on 12/18/24, catches up with Daken, infused with a demon, as he looks for a cure to his condition.

Is Hellverine #1 Good?

First Impressions

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz… Huh? Wha…? Oh, yes. Right, right.

You want a review of Hellverine by writer Benjamin Percy. Well, I’d almost be offended by the lack of originality and excitement if I wasn’t so bored by whatever the Hell (heh) this is. I’ll at least extend some leniency and grace to Benjamin Percy because this first issue indicates he’s just as bored with inventing a story for a derivative of a derivative of a derivative as I was.

Plot Synopsis

The first 20 pages of the debut issue are all montage-format flashbacks to bits and pieces of Hellverine’s origin and journey through to the present.

We learn that Akihiro, aka Daken, is the biological child of Wolverine and Itsu, who was born at the same time as his mother’s death in 1946. Raised by abusive parents and surrounded by bullies, Akihiro had a tough life. He eventually sought revenge on Wolverine, who he blamed for his cursed existence. Their meeting ended in Akihiro’s death.

Meanwhile, the Mephisto-enthralled demon, Bagra-Ghul, made its way to Earth to create art through pain and destruction. At one point, Bagra-Ghul possessed Wolverine to become the first and original Hellverine. After Logan exorcised the demon, it took possession of Akihiro’s dead body to rise and become the new Hellverine.

Now, Hellverine wanders the land as the suppressed demon within him leads him to evil like a demonic compass so that it can reap death against those who deserve it. The issue ends with Akihiro arriving at the Sanctum Sanctorum for Dr. Strange’s help, and the famous sorcerer uses his power to reveal that Hellverine’s path of destruction may be part of a larger plan.

What’s great about Hellverine #1?

If you know nothing about Akihiro/Daken, Bagra-Ghul, or Hellverine, this issue-long exposition dump will give you everything you need to know in a tidy summary format. Benjamin Percy gives you the highlights of Hellverine’s existence, which is a suitable read for the casually curious.

What’s not great about Hellverine #1?

If you are familiar with Akihiro/Daken, Bagra-Ghul, or Hellverine, there’s almost nothing here for you except for the last 4 or 5 pages. The vast majority of this issue is a scrapbook of snippets explaining how the main character came to be.

Yes, there are brief bits of action when Hellverine takes out an armed robber, a serial killer, and a truck driven by a human trafficker, but those scenes don’t play out in full, so even the new material is a truncated montage.

How’s the Art?

Raffaele Ienco’s figure work is good to very good, but his movement and gestures are stiff as a board. Generally, the art looks fine, but the lack of dynamism will leave you feeling flat.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Hellverine #1 is a bland, forgettable start to a series about a character who’s a derivative of a derivative of a derivative. Benjamin Percy spends two-thirds of the issue on a montage of Hellverine’s origin and the last third in conversation with Dr. Strange. Readers looking for bang for their buck should look elsewhere.

5/10

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