Review by Ian Keogh

While the mutant society of Krakoa welcomed all mutants with a clean slate, there was a proviso that murder within the community was not tolerated despite the possibility of resurrection. Sabretooth was the first of several mutants found to have killed and punished for it. The Adversary showed him collecting other rebels before selling them out to escape himself. The reward for that has been capture by sinister corporation Orchis, while someone has set loose his fellow detainees to track him down.

Sabretooth has already met the story’s initial menace, human Dr Barrington, lacking any kind of conscience when it comes to scientific experimentation, and delighted to come across Orphan-Maker, recognising a weapon with planetary capacity. Tying in with her being an ethical void, text pages are used to impart outrageous real world occasions of medical experimentation, some of which have generated lasting benefits for humanity.

After the twisting semantics of The Adversary it first seems as Victor LaValle has settled for smart, but straightforward superhero action in this sequel, which isn’t the case. That’s how things start, but a second and far more threatening danger manifests requiring transportation elsewhere, which is just the first time LaValle pulls the rug away.

Leonard Kirk is eventually given a massive cast to illustrate as more and more keep being added, and he takes it all in his stride. His panels may feature multiple characters, but they’re never crowded, and unless deliberately concealed, it’s always clear what’s happening.

It’s rare that a standalone Marvel graphic novel features so many new creations, even if some are based on existing properties, and it’s rare that so much ground shifts from start to finish. LaValle’s thrill ride touches base with something very familiar and twists it for purpose, so for once an ending just setting up another story isn’t disappointing, but something to anticipate. Head for Wolverine by Benjamin Percy Vol. 8.