Warning: SPOILERS for Dead Man Logan #12
The story of Old Man Logan was tragic from the start, and as promised, Marvel's 12-part Dead Man Logan series has come to an end... depicting the last fight, and the last breaths of the iconic version of the Wolverine. It's a heartbreaking loss, but one executed beautifully, putting the old X-Man to rest exactly where he should be.
Knowing for some time that his healing factor was failing, the return of Wolverine to the Marvel Universe was taken as a sign by Old Man Logan. A sign to tie up loose ends, like murdering the evil Hulk who followed him from his own parallel world, and even telling Wolverine not to become him. So with his accounts balanced in the 616, the Dead Man Logan series brought the elderly mutant back to his own timeline and universe. Back to the world where his wife and children were murdered, shattering his life completely. And knowing full well he has come back for one thing: to die. As always, a mission he makes sure not to fail.
His arrival proved to be anything but restful, discovering how much has gone wrong since he left. Believing that he had finally killed Sabretooth "like a dog" and scattered his body parts, the villain had reassembled like Frankenstein's monster. Not to mention taking Bruce Banner Jr., the last living descendant of Hulk, and tortured him for his own purposes. And so began Logan's last mission, joining forces with Dani Cage, daughter of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, to rescue Bruce. Along the way, discovering Dani was worthy of Mjolnir to become the new Thor of the Wasteland. Just in time to take him to his final destination.
After dismembering Sabretooth (again), and watching as Dani obliterates Mr. Sinister's head from his shoulders, the dust settles... confirming Old Man Logan's healing factor has finally and completely failed. Bleeding out with hardly any time left, Logan is taken back to his original farmhouse by Dani and Bruce, requiring to be carried out to the three graves of his wife and children. It was their murder that launched the Old Man Logan series into action, after he refused to become a 'hero' in the Wasteland ruled over by the corrupted Hulk and his offspring (the same Hulk Gang who killed his family when he wasn't there to protect them).
The tragedy almost destroyed Logan, leaving him with nothing left to lose, and nothing left to cling to but anger, guilt, and the knowledge he might never join them in the afterlife. So get the Kleenex ready, Wolverine fans, as Old Man Logan says his last goodbye. A fitting end, which can be read below:
You know, I thought about this a long time. Thought that maybe when I left here, I could move on. But... every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was the three of you. I wasn't sure I was ever going to be able to make it back here. Almost gave up on the idea. But any time I thought that way, any time I was ready to give up, I thought about this farm. No matter how tough life got here for us. No matter how little we had. Least we had each other. I'd... I'd never been happier in my life. I love you so much. I'm sorry I didn't fight for you sooner. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me most. I'm sorry I let you down. I just hope... that when I see you... you can forgive me... please...
And with that, Logan collapses backwards, flat out on the desert. And that's exactly where he finally succumbs to his own mortality.
The story concludes with Logan's final moments: flat on his back, staring up at a white light growing brighter and brighter, tears streaming from his eye. The addition of a fourth cross to those of his family confirms Dani and Bruce have laid him to rest beside them, and the issue itself closes on an obituary, published in The Daily Bugle. With a photo showing Logan departing on horseback in classic Western fashion, it's Dani who has written the testimony "in memory of Old Man Logan." It's yet another touching moment for the series and story to end on, and readers can find the transcription here:
When Logan was suffering, toward the end, he told me that he'd been waiting a long time for this. Waiting to die. That's when I realized that this, for Logan, wasn't life. Not anymore. This was duty... obligation. Logan's 'life' ended the moment his family was killed in cold blood. But now, finally, he gets to see them again. You ask me, that's nothing to get upset over. Am I gonna miss him? Of course I am, a lot of people are. He was the freaking Wolverine! He was Logan... the best there ever was.
The final pages end with Dani comforting Bruce, and reminding him that "He'd want us to keep fighting... and to stop running. Time for us to find somewhere to call home." Thankfully fans reading the issue know Dani and Bruce will do just that, as their versions of Thor, Hulk, and a brand new Ant-Man will all soon be returning in their own series as the new Avengers of The Wastelands. Now fans know exactly whose legacy they'll be honoring as they fight to make a better future. Readers wishing to see this final chapter of Logan's life can pick up their own issue now, and find the full credits and plot synopsis below:
- DEAD MAN LOGAN #12 (OF 12)
- Release Date: October 30th, 2019
- Written by: Ed Brisson
- Art by: Mike Henderson
- Cover by: Declan Shalvey
- LEGENDS NEVER DIE
Dead Man Logan #12 will be available at your local comic book shop on October 30th, 2019, or direct from Marvel Comics.