The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:43:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga http://www.comicologist.com/x-men-the-dark-phoenix-saga/ http://www.comicologist.com/x-men-the-dark-phoenix-saga/#comments Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:43:12 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=127

The Dark Phoenix Saga is arguably the most recognised and referenced stories in the X-Men catalogue. It has served as the inspiration for much of the original X-Men animated series, as well as the X-Men live action movies. The Dark Phoenix saga is featured in X-Men Vol. 1 #129-138 during 1980, and now collected in trade paper back X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga.

When talking about the Dark Phoenix Saga, it's important to know that originally the Phoenix actually was Jean Grey, at the height of her powers, and was not simply a cosmic entity linked to her, as is the case since the character was retconned by Marvel in later issues.

In an earlier arc, Jean Grey was exposed to radiation from a solar flare, which unlocked her powers so she achieved all her telepathic and telekinetic potential. She turned into a 'being of pure thought', and upon reforming herself once she returned to Earth, took on a new costume, identity and wielded the power of the "Phoenix". After repairing the damaged M'Kraan Crystal, she saw the danger her powers posed on voluntarily kept them under control. These events led into the Dark Phoenix saga...

Recognising her immense power, Jean Grey became the target of Mastermind, as he attempted to gain the favour of the Hellfire Club. With the help of the White Queen, an evil Emma Frost, Mastermind (aka. Jason Wyngarde) projected his illusions directly into Jean Grey's mind, making her believe that she was actually living in period times as Lady Grey, Wyngarde's lover. Through Mastermind's manipulations, Jean Grey joined the Hellfire Club as the Black Queen, a role that lead to the breaking of the barriers she had created to keep the Phoenix under control.

When the X-Men came to her rescue, her love for Cyclops broke the psychic hold Mastermind had over her. At the same time though, the last of the psychic barriers keeping the Phoenix in check was also broken. Jean Grey's mind and body was taken over, and she called herself the "Dark Phoenix".

After a brief battle in which the Dark Phoenix hand the X-Men their asses on a silver platter, Dark Phoenix grew hungry, created a wormhole, and disappeared, transporting herself to another galaxy, devouring the power of a star, which in turn went nova, causing the deals of billions of innocent aliens in the process. A passing Shi'ar space craft spotted the carnage, and attacked the Dark Phoenix, in an effort to stop any further destruction. Before they were destroyed, the Shi'ar were able to transmit a message to their Empress Lilandra, warning her of the threat. Lilandra gathered a posse of intergalactic butt kickers, including the Kree and Skrull empires, who all came to the same conclusion. The Dark Phoenix was bad news, a bigger threat than Galactus, and needed to be stopped immediately.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the X-Men and Beast (who was a member of the Avengers at the time), devised a plan that would nullify the powers of the Dark Phoenix long enough for them to defeat her. Lucky for them, because before they could say 'Magneto's hairy nipple', the Dark Phoenix had returned to earth. Their plan worked and Professor X was able to rebuild some psychic circuit breakers, in order to keep the Dark Phoenix's powers at a more manageable level.

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Bad luck comes in threes, so the Shi'ar arrive, abducting the X-Men, informing them that the Dark Phoenix had killed billions and had been sentenced to death. Professor X, who was tapping Lilandra at the time, challenged the Shi'ar to a duel of honour. If the Shi'ar won, the Dark Phoenix would be killed, if the X-Men won, she would be granted mercy.

The battle took place on the Blue Area of the moon, and the Shi'ar quickly took the upper hand. With Cyclops and Phoenix the only X-Men remaining, Jean Grey went into a state of panic/shock when Cyclops was felled by an energy bolt. The shock caused the Professor X circuit breakers to disappear, and the Dark Phoenix was free once again. With the poo hitting the rotating device, Lilandra hit the panic button, ordering "Plan Omega", which basically involved destroying the solar system, in the hope that the Dark Phoenix would also be destroyed in the process.

With the X-Men now fighting the Dark Phoenix in order to prevent the destruction of the solar system. Temporarily taking control, Jean Grey, said her emotional good-bye to Cyclops before turning a Kree weapon on herself, ending in her disintegration.

The Dark Phoenix story ends with Uatu the Watcher, a character I've never really liked nor understood, waxing lyrical, “Jean Grey could have lived to become a god, but it was more important to her that she died as a human.”

When you read the Dark Phoenix saga, you can get an understanding of why Marvel decided to retcon the Phoenix. In creating the Phoenix as a separate entity, Marvel, allowed Jean Grey to resurface, without the baggage that comes with killing billions of innocent beings. Jean didn't do it, it was the Dark Phoenix. Still, I think that baggage may have made her character more interesting.

The Dark Phoenix saga is also memorable as it is features the first appearance of Kitty Pride, Shadowcat, and lesser known character, Dazzler.

Picking up the Dark Phoenix saga trade paper back, the first thing I noticed was the art. Yes, it's dated, but it gives it a classic feel, and the story itself, is definitely a classic. The other thing I noticed was that the characters, particularly Wolverine, are fallible. In the last decade or so, Wolverine has become almost unstoppable. I couldn't help but think had the Wolverine featured in the Dark Phoenix saga, been written in the same way as he is today, he would have kicked the Dark Phoenix's butt before lunch time, and then had the Shi'ar for a snack. Personally, I think he's a more interesting character when he has something to lose, and is capable of failing.

The Dark Phoenix saga is core reading for any X-Men fan. If X-Men were a college/university subject, the Dark Phoenix saga would be the first book listed on the syllabus. Overall, I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10, I'm deducting a point or two because I don't really like it when the X-Men get sci-fi and go into space.
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]]> http://www.comicologist.com/x-men-the-dark-phoenix-saga/feed/ Wolverine: Get Mystique http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-get-mystique/ http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-get-mystique/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:29:53 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=120 Wolverine and Mystique are two of the X-Men universe characters that I find most interesting, although much of Wolverine's mystery is quickly being eroded (see Origins). The Wolverine: Get Mystique trade paper back collects Wolverine issues #62-65, and follows on from the events seen in the X-Men event, Messiah Complex.

The story begins with a flash back. Wolverine is beaten, dragged outside and tied to a post to be shot by a firing squad, a voice next to him asks if he's a murderer. The voice turns out to be Mystique.

In the present, and following the events of Messiah Complex, Cyclops asks Wolverine to go after Mystique, as she managed to slip away. Angry at her betrayal, Cyclops makes sure that Wolverine understands he is not being asked to bring Mystique back alive.

Mystiques trail leads Wolverine to Afghanistan. However Mystique is able to elude him, using all the tricks she has at her disposal.

In a flash back we learn that, having survived the firing squad, Mystique and Wolverine have travelled together to Kansas City, where Mystique runs a small group of scammers and con artists. It's sometime in the early 1920's. There's some sexual tension between Mystique and Wolverine, and it's implied that they are 'intimate'. Mystique is planning a bank robbery, and she wants Wolverine to be a part of it.

Back in the present, Wolverine is going through all sorts of hell in order to track down his prey. Mystique, now impersonating a high ranking army official, now has an army watching her back. Wolverine calls in a favour. Wolverines plan to get close to Mystique involves blowing himself up, so things get messy.

In a flash back we learn that the bank robbery didn't go quite to plan, and that Mystique cut and ran, leaving her crew to take the fall.

In the final chapter, Wolverine and Mystique square up for the fight of her life. Saying too much more will just spoil the ending, so I'll stop here.

Wolverine: Get Mystique was written by Jason Aaron and drawn by Ron Garney. I really enjoyed this collection. It was fast paced, well written, and the flash backs were excellent. This story did something that would have taken ten issues had it been done in the Wolverine: Origins series. In short, it's the best Wolverine story I've read in recent times. I'd recommend picking this up. It's cheap (just over $8US on Amazon at the moment) and a cracking good read.

Overall I'd give it 8 out of 10.
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]]> http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-get-mystique/feed/ Batman: War Games http://www.comicologist.com/batman-war-games/ http://www.comicologist.com/batman-war-games/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:49:53 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=124 War Games was a Batman cross-over/event that ran in DC Comics between October 2004 and January 2005. The War Games story arc appeared in all the Gotham related titles running at the time, Detective Comics, Legends of the Dark Knight, Nightwing, Batman: Gotham Knights, Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, Batman, and Gotham Central. The War Games story arc has since been collected in three trade paper backs, Batman: War Games, Act One - Outbreak, Batman: War Games, Act Two - Tides and Batman: War Games, Act Three - Endgame.

The story begins with Stephanie Brown (aka. Spoiler), trying to redeem herself in the eyes of Batman, after recently been fired as Robin. In an effort to regain Batman's confidence, and hoping to take back her Robin mantle, Spoiler sets into motion an elaborate contingency plan Batman had developed in the event of widespread gang violence. In essence the plan involved gathering all of Gotham's crime figures together and to unite them under a single crime boss, Matches Malone, and alias used by Batman to infiltrate Gotham's organised crime. In effect this plan would have given Batman control of Gotham's organised crime, if it were to go to plan. Unfortunately, Spoiler was not aware that Batman and Matches Malone were the same person.

When Spoiler gathers the crime figures without Batman's knowledge, and with Matches Malone an obvious no show, things turn pear shaped, and the gangs go to war with one another. Batman and friends are immediately drawn into the action, trying to put an end to the war before Gotham is destroyed.

In the chaos, The Black Mask appears, a villain that shares a history with both Batman and Bruce Wayne. An opportunist, the Black Mask decides to step into the role Matches Malone was intended to play. With Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Oracle, Batgirl and Catwoman stretched to breaking point, Spoiler is captured and tortured by the Black Mask. When Black Mask learns the truth behind the War Games scenario being played out in Gotham, he has all the information he needs in order to take control, and rule Gotham City's underworld.
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Set amongst the over arching story are various sub plots, dealing with individual characters and how they respond to the situation and there personal circumstances. For example, Tim Drake is dealing with his parents learning that he is Robin. At the start of the story he has stood down as Robin, however as the story unfolds, he's drawn back into the role due to the escalating violence. Batman is becoming increasingly withdrawn, Nightwing is dealing with his own demons, which seem to have followed him home, and Oracle is increasingly frustrated by her role in the whole scenario.

As the story winds up, it is the Black Mask that finishes on top, successfully seizing control over Gotham's gangland. As the violence draws to a close and Gotham appears to return to 'normal', Batman is left to pick up a whole heap of pieces.

War Games has a number of repercussions on Batman, and many of the other characters that inhabit his world. Due to events in the story, Commissioner Akins declares that all masked vigilantes are now regarded as criminals, and should be treated as such. Distance grows between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Leslie Thompkins, the doctor who had been an ally of Batman for many years. An already withdrawn Batman is further wracked with guilt due to the death of Spoiler, although apparently the Spoiler character is retconned back to the land of the living later on. The Black Mask becomes the most prominent crime figure in Gotham.

I really enjoyed War Games Parts 1, 2 and 3, and ripped through them very quickly. For me, it was an introduction to a couple of characters I'd not previously seen, Nightwing, the Burtonesque Batgirl, Onyx, The Black Mask and Oracle. Even thought the story was written by a number of different authors, it all flows like one epic yarn.

War Games is essential reading for the Batman fan, so if that's you, hurry up and pick up the trades. Overall I'd give the story arc an 8 out of 10.
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]]> http://www.comicologist.com/batman-war-games/feed/ News just in: Joe Johnston to direct “The First Avenger: Captain America” movie http://www.comicologist.com/news-just-in-joe-johnston-to-direct-the-first-avenger-captain-america-movie/ http://www.comicologist.com/news-just-in-joe-johnston-to-direct-the-first-avenger-captain-america-movie/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:29:52 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=117 I just read on the Marvel website that Joe Johnston has signed on to direct the Captain America movie. This is pretty big news, actually I hadn't even heard that a Captain America movie had been confirmed.

Any way, here's what Marvel have to say on their website:

Joe Johnston has signed on to direct Marvel Studios' "The First Avenger: Captain America" based on characters developed by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon. The film will be produced by Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige. Executive Producers on the project are Louis D'Esposito, Stan Lee and Marvel Studios' Chairman David Maisel. Paramount Pictures will distribute "The First Avenger: Captain America" worldwide. The film will come to theaters domestically on May 6, 2011.

It what some people might view as a concern, Johnston's track recorded is not exactly golden. He has previously directed "October Sky," "Jumanji," "Jurassic Park III," "The Rocketeer" and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids."

]]> http://www.comicologist.com/news-just-in-joe-johnston-to-direct-the-first-avenger-captain-america-movie/feed/ Wolverine: Origins Volume 5 http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-origins-volume-5/ http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-origins-volume-5/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:13:34 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=112 I have to admit, I had been very close to dropping Wolverine Origins up until volume 4 (collecting Wolverine: Origins #16-20 and Annual #1), in which did just enough to maintain my interest, largely due to the appearance of Captain America, Bucky and Nick Fury in the World War II flashbacks. The appearance of Deadpool on the last page of issue #20 had me eagerly anticipating the release of volume 4.

I pre-ordered Wolverine: Origins Volume 5 - Deadpool Premiere HC (Wolverine) from Amazon, fortunately before the value of the Aussie dollar took a nosedive. Wolverine: Origins Volume 5 collected issues #21-27 (even though Amazon only list it as containing #21-25) and begins with Deadpool having been hired by a mysterious third party to catch and kill Wolverine. The action takes place in San Francisco, and basically follows Deadpool doing what he does, running around, wise cracking and blowing stuff up. The running battle spans three plus issues, as you'd expect of two guys that can pretty much heal from any wound. In the end though, it's Deadpool that gets the upper hand, managing to bring Wolverine down.

As Deadpool has Wolverine restrained and strung up over a swimming pool, with the intention of drowning him, Wolverine's son Daken arrives and proceeds to cut off poor Deadpool's hand. Daken flicks the switch that would drop his old man into the water, however an explosion throws Wolverine against a wall and he remains on land. A single handed Deadpool then goes toe to toe with Daken. In the mean time Wolverine is able to free himself.

Once Wolverine regains his composure, he's able to distract Daken long enough, drawing him out into the open, where the Winter Soldier is waiting with rifle and scope at the ready. The Winter Soldier fires a carbonadium bullet, striking Daken in the back of the head. You have to go back to volume 2 or 3 to recall that Wolverine sourced a couple of carbonadium bullets, carbonadium being a substance that dramatically slows the mutants healing factor.

As Wolverine picks up Daken, ready to take him away for 'de-programming', Wolverine turns to a recovering Deadpool to reveal that the whole thing had been a set up. Wolverine had hired Deadpool, through the Winter Soldier, in the hope that the threat of someone else killing Wolverine, and therefore spoiling his chance of revenge, would draw Daken out into the open. This marked the end of issue #25 and the end of Steve Dillion's run as illustrator for the Origins series.

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Stephen Segovia picked up illustrating duties for issues #26-27, and personally I saw an instant improvement in the series. These issues focused largely on Wolverine taking Daken to a place where he believes they will not be disturbed. A place from Wolverines past that still has a few surprises in store for him. It turns out that in the 1940's, during World War II, and the Japanese internment camps, Wolverine was responsible for recruiting 'volunteers' to participate in experiments for what could have been the beginnings of the Weapon X program. As Wolverine and Daken arrive at what are supposed to be abandoned labs, we find out that not all of the experiments have been destroyed. At the same time we are treated to flashbacks of Daken's past. We learn that he showed signs of cruelty toward others from a relatively early age, and like his father, his mutant powers manifest during a family crisis. Following the deaths of his adoptive parents, Romulus appears, to guide him, and then induct him into a secret society of killers. The key to these two issues is the ending. Daken awakes, but with no apparent recollection of who he is, or what's gone on before. De ja vu?

Volume 5 really was a book in two halves. Although I'm a big Deadpool fan, I felt that the five issues he featured in were a little unnecessary in the context of everything else that's been happening in Origins. The five issues revealed very little about the history the two characters may have shared, so we never really learnt anything new. All up the five issues could have comfortably been condensed into two, although I suppose the same could be said for volumes 1-4 as well. To me issues #21-25 felt like a struggling sitcom that calls in the A List special guest star to lift flagging ratings. Issues #26-27 on the other hand were quite good, and I'd go so far as saying they were the best two issues I've read of Origins to date.

My gripe with this volume as with volumes 1-4 is that the plot can be described as 'plodding'. This seven issue collection could most definitely been condensed into four. Dillion's artwork is really not to my taste so I'm glad he's moved on to other things.

Overall, Wolverine: Origins Volume 5 will not be the worst collection you'll read this year, but by the same token, it probably won't be the best either. I'd give it 6 out of 10.
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]]> http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-origins-volume-5/feed/ Batman: Face the Face http://www.comicologist.com/batman-face-the-face/ http://www.comicologist.com/batman-face-the-face/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:57:50 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=109 Before I begin, I need to say up-front that when it comes to the big DC Infinite Crisis event, I'm relatively clueless. From what little I do know, Infinite Crisis was a big deal, that concluded with the big name DC drawcards, including Batman, jump forward a year in their continuity. Batman: Face the Face was written by James Robinson with art by Leonard Kirk and Don Kramer. The trade paperback collects a total of eight issues, taken from Batman #651-654 and Detective Comics #817-820, which were originally released May - August 2006. This story-line is sometimes referred to as "One Year Later", and basically serves as the relaunch of the Batman titles.

Batman: Face the Face marks the return of Batman, and Robin, following their one year sabbatical. Prior to taking the year off, Batman left a reformed, and no longer deformed, Harvey Dent to fill the role of protector of Gotham City. From all reports, the twelve months without Batman passed relatively smoothly, and Dent appeared to have handled the challenge well. When Batman and Robin return to Gotham, and take up their crime fighting responsibilities, things start to turn pear shaped. A 'mysterious vigilante' begins dispatching some of the lower level (read crap and unpopular) super villains, such as KGBeast and Orca. When all the evidence points toward Dent, and "Two-Face", as the mastermind behind the murders. All of this is set on the backdrop of an unseen player attempting to take control of the Penguin's empire, as well as Dent growing increasingly resentful of the Dark Knight's return.

So Batman has some tough questions that need answers. Has Dent returned to the Two-Face persona? Is Dent being framed? Who is trying to take over the Penguin's operation? Well if I answered those questions for you, you would need to read the book!
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Face the Face is important if for no other reason than it re-establishes James Gordon as Gotham's police commissioner and reveals that Detective Harvey Bullock is once again a member of the G.C.P.D. The collection also end with Bruce Wayne offering to adopt Tim Drake (the current Robin) as his son.

There is a real effort in this collection to reposition Batman as the detective. He is less a "super hero" in this story and more a "super detective". The whole feel of the book is one of "back to basics". Which is good and bad. It's good because it restores the character of Batman back to the ball park of where he is at his best, but bad because at the same time, there's nothing new going on that hasn't already been done before.

Overall, while the artwork in this book is solid, the story-line is more than a little disappointing. The twist in the tail is telegraphed from very early on, and from then on in it's more a case of going through the motions. For what is essentially a 'relaunch' I found Batman: Face the Face to be a let down.

Overall I'd give Batman: Face the Face 4 out of 10.
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]]> http://www.comicologist.com/batman-face-the-face/feed/ Spider-Man: Reign http://www.comicologist.com/spider-man-reign/ http://www.comicologist.com/spider-man-reign/#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:57:15 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=104 What would Spider-Man be like if you were to fast forward thirty five years into his future? That’s the question Spider-Man: Reign attempts to answer. Spider-Man: Reign was written and illustrated by Kaare Andrews, and was a four issue limited series published by Marvel between December 2006 and March 2007. Whether it exists within the accepted Spider-Man continuity or not is probably open to debate, and even more so if you’ve kept up with the “Brand New Day” story line.

Reign begins in New York, which has all the hallmarks of being a police state. It’s people are subject to extreme governmental controls, and Spider-Man has not been seen or heard from for some time. “Super crime” no longer exists, and the city is policed by a group known as the Reign.

Peter Parker is now a frail looking lonely old bearded man. When we first meet him, he is getting fired from his job at a florist. Peter Parker is a broken man, the kind of guy to get depressed just looking at.
Meanwhile the city’s Mayor is preparing to launch his grand plan to protect New York from terrorist attacks. The WEBB will keep the bad people out, and the ‘good’ people in. There’s no way that plan could back fire is there?

When J. Jonah Jameson appears, encouraging Peter to take on the role of Spider-Man again in order to put a stop to the oppression faced by the people of New York, you just know that it’s all going to end in tears. The Mayor assembles a squad of former super villains to track down and remove the Spider-Man threat, while the people of New York see Spider-Man as a symbol of freedom. It’s all very stirring stuff. I can’t really say much more about the plot without giving away a few major ‘surprises’ so I’ll stop right about now.
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Spider-Man: Reign is a decent story. It shares a lot in common with Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, which is both good and bad. Good, because if you are going to borrow plot points from a story, you may as well borrow from one of the best. Bad, because if you can’t top the source material, you should probably look elsewhere.

What did I learn?

One disturbing revelation is that Mary-Jane has died of cancer, which was apparently the result of long term exposure to… wait for it… Peter’s “radioactive bodily fluids”… ewwww!!!

Overall, Spider-Man: Reign was an interesting read. It was much darker than any of the other Spider-Man stuff I’ve read, and definitely owes a lot to the Dark Knight Returns. The artwork wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I guess it was solid. The plot kept on moving, although anything longer than four issues would have been stretching the friendship a little. I’d recommend this for the Spider-Man completists. Casual fans should look elsewhere. I’ll give it 6 out of 10.
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]]> http://www.comicologist.com/spider-man-reign/feed/ Wolverine Origin http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-origin/ http://www.comicologist.com/wolverine-origin/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:42:43 +0000 The Comicologist http://www.comicologist.com/?p=89 Wolverine Origin is a six-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel and released between November 2001 and July 2002. It was jointly written by Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada and Paul Jenkins, and illustrated by Andy Kubert (pencils) and Richard Isanove (colour).

Origin is the first Wolverine story to reveal his childhood and early background in any real detail. The six issue series has been collected in trade paper back as well as hardcover form. Origin reveals a lot of new information about Wolverine, as well as raising a few new questions.

** Be warned: The following section contains spoilers. **

Wolverine was born James Howlett in Canada in the late 19th century. In his early childhood he is depicted as a sickly child, who suffers from a number of allergies and illnesses. His father, John Howlett, Jr., is a rich plantation owner, 'adopts' an orphaned girl named Rose so that James has a companion. Both James and Rose grow up on the plantation along with another child called Dog Logan, who is the son of the Howlett's groundskeeper, Thomas Logan. Thomas Logan is no Groundskeeper Willy. He is a cruel and abusive drunk that often takes out his rage on his son. As the children grown older, Dog becomes increasingly like his father, and tension between Dog and James builds, mirroring the friction between the boys' fathers, as a triangle between the two men and James' mother Elizabeth begins to emerge.

It is revealed that Elizabeth is no longer playing with a full deck, having apparently gone mad following the death of her first son, John Howlett III, in mysterious circumstances a few years prior to the beginning of the story. The story also alludes to the fact that John Howlett III may have displayed some mutant abilities, similar to those that Wolverine would develop, and that scars on Elizabeth's chest may have been caused by John Howlett III's claws.

Entering their early teenage years, Dog has become more like his father, displaying violent tendencies, with this ultimately ending in both Dog and his father Thomas being expelled from the plantation. Thomas and Dog return to the Howlett estate soon after, with the intention of robbing the place, and with Thomas intending to convince Elizabeth to leave with him. It is implied that Thomas and Elizabeth have had an ongoing affair and that Thomas may be the biological father of both of Elizabeth's sons. John Howlett Jr. enters Elizabeth's room to find Thomas, Dog, James and Rose there as well. In front of the three children and Elizabeth, Thomas kills John Howlett Jr. The shock of this event causes James' powers to come to the surface, with bone claws shooting from his hands (see image to the left). Using his claws, James kills Thomas and wounds Dog before collapsing in shock. Elizabeth is grief stricken, but seems more upset at the death of Thomas Logan than she does her husband. She picks up the shotgun and shoots herself.

After being rejected by various relatives, Rose and James flee to British Columbia where they go into hiding, working at a stone quarry and pretending to be cousins so as not to arouse suspicion. Rose calls James, Logan, in order to conceal his identity, though why she chose the name of the man that destroyed James' family is a bit of a mystery. Meanwhile, Dog, being the only person remaining alive at the scene of the crime, convinces police that Rose was responsible for the murders.

In British Columbia, James/Logan begins to grow physically stronger, showing no signs of the allergies or illnesses that had previously plagued him. Curiously, James/Logan has no memory of this life prior to British Columbia. From his point of view he is 'Logan'. He spends a lot of time hunting in the woods among a pack of wolves, using only his claws. While Rose repeatedly offers to fill in the gaps in Logan's memory, he consistently declines, preferring not to know what came before. Just in case he changes his mind, Rose keeps a detailed diary of events.

Life in the quarry seems to be going along alright. Logan befriends the foreman, Smitty, who goes on to develop an attachment toward Rose. Smitty and Rose go through a 'courting' process, with Smitty giving her a number of books, including some on the history of the Samurai. Logan becomes withdrawn, as he too is in love with Rose, but unable to show it publically due to their 'cousin' cover story. Logan works out his frustrations in local cage fights, with him quickly earning a fierce reputation as well as the nickname, Wolverine.

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Meanwhile, back at the plantation, James Howlett Sr. is on his deathbed. He summons Dog, and asks him to track down James/Logan, who'll be heir to the Howlett fortune, and bring him back to the plantation. Dog agrees, however he has no intention of returning James/Logan to the plantation alive.

Just as Smitty and Rose are about to marry, Dog arrives at the quarry. Dog attacks Logan and in the battle that follows Rose is accidentally impaled on Logan's claws. As Rose dies, Logan goes crazy and runs into the woods, where he disappears to live with the wolves.

The series finishes with one of the quarry employees scrounging through Rose's belongings, and throwing Rose's diary, that contains the truth of James'/Logan's childhood, into the fire.

Many people have a love/hate relationship with Wolverine Origin. The mystery surrounding Wolverine's origin is a large part of what makes the character popular, in removing that mystery Marvel also risked damaging much of Wolverine's appeal. On the other hand, I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that were more than a little curious to see where the character came from. Besides that, I have read somewhere that part of the reason that Marvel decided to tell the story of Wolverine's origins in comics was that with the popularity of the X-Men film franchise there was a fear that if they didn't get in first, the characters origins would be establish in film rather than in comics.

Wolverine Origin provides qui