Joseph Luster
April 17, 2015 
Wolfsmund volume five was all about the siege of the notorious, seemingly impenetrable Sankt Gotthard Pass, home to the vile bailiff Wolfram. It was pretty much non-stop action, with Walter leading the charge and helping his people evade every last attempt at keeping them out of the Wolf’s Maw. It was thrilling, violent, and intense from beginning to end, and anyone who read through it has an idea of what’s in store for volume six.
Without spoiling anything, let’s just say Mitsuhisa Kuji delivers in full.
The first half of the volume deals with the aftermath of taking the Wolf’s Maw, now firmly in control of the rebels from the neighboring forest cantons. There is much-deserved celebration, including libations and eager attempts at procreation. While Walter heals from his nearly-fatal injuries, the story switches focus to characters like Johann, who might have found himself a nice lady to settle down with, before moving on to the next stage of the offensive.
That’s right, Wolfsmund isn’t quite over yet. Though the events of this and the previous volume seemed to be building toward a decisive finale, the rebels have more work to do to fully seize control. Organized uprisings are planned throughout the three cantons, and before we know it we’re neck-deep in action once again.
Mitsuhisa Kuji’s Wolfsmund continues to be a truly gnarly historical yarn, equal parts bleak and encouraging. Okay, maybe more the former than the latter, but it’s not all-consuming. The action on display in the last couple volumes alone has been masterful, with Kuji going the extra mile to make sure every move is both readable and weighty. If you’ve made it this far you’re going to find a massive dose of satisfaction in the events in this volume, especially after the relentless, by-the-skin-of-their-teeth warfare of the preceding chapters. If you haven’t made it this far… get started! Wolfsmund is dark, but is also hands down one of the best series currently running.
Story & Art: Mitsuhisa Kuji
Publisher: Vertical Comics
© 2014 Mitsuhisa Kuji
