GeekMom: Comic Book Corner — May 29th, 2013

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week. This week, we take a look at how Logan became Wolverine, a horror story by the current writer of Fearless Defenders, and a superhero story inspired by long-ago female aviators.

Dakster Sullivan — Wolverine: Origin
Wolverine is one of my favorite characters in the Marvel universe. As a child, I looked forward to seeing him kick butt in the animated series,  X-Men. As an adult, I enjoyed seeing him fleshed out by Hugh Jackman on the big screen. I was curious about his lack of history. It wasn’t the character’s fault, because he can’t remember it himself. After reading Wolverine: Origin I’m starting to realize why.

Wolverine: Origin Image: Marvel

 The story takes us to Logan’s childhood. Back to the days when he was known as James Howlett, the youngest son in a rich family. His older brother died young, but they never say how. The mother is reclusive and keeps to herself and her housemaid. The father is constantly pushed around by his father, who never lets him forget who made the family fortune to begin with.

Rose, a young girl who’s parents died from a sickness, is James’ companion. We meet the groundskeeper, Logan and his son, who goes by the name of Dog. I can’t help but see the resemblance between Logan and James as an adult. It’s an interesting twist to the story.

The three children become friends, but unfortunately, it doesn’t last. As they get older, each of them starts to find a new path and grow in ways that will define them into adulthood.

Over time, a tragedy occurs and eventually, Rose and James are left on their own. We learn how James takes on the name of Logan and we get to see him grow into the character we know and love today.

I enjoyed reading how Logan became the man he is now and watching him begin to embrace who and what he is. If you are a fan of Wolverine, this is a great book to check out. Wolverine: Origin collects Origin (2006) issues #1 thru 6 and is written by Paul Jenkins, Joe Quesada and Bill Jemas , with art by Andy Kubert. In addition to reading the story, look for it on BluRay and DVD from Marvel Knights Animation this July.

Curious to know what I’m pulling this week? Check out my pull list on Comixology.

Kelly Knox – The Sixth Gun, Book 1: Cold, Dead Hands (Oni Press)

Horror and Western are two genres I almost never read, but after becoming a fan of Cullen Bunn’s Fearless Defenders, I wanted to give his original series The Sixth Gun a try. The fact that I finished it and I’m thinking of reading more is a testament to the compelling, unique story and world he has created. (Seriously, I never read horror anymore, so it’s somewhat amazing that I enjoyed this book.)

The Sixth Gun, Book 1: Cold, Dead Hands tells the tale of six pistols imbued with otherworldly, devastating power. The sixth gun – the most powerful – falls into the hands of an innocent woman, and she is chased by a demonic man who wants to claim the pistol for himself. The mysterious anti-hero Drake Sinclair comes to her aid – but she’s not sure she wants his help.

The Sixth Gun was recently filmed as a pilot for a SyFy mini-series, but unfortunately NBC passed. A petition is currently in progress to help the series find a home. If the television series can capture the dark and macabre atmosphere artist Brian Hurtt imbued the comic book with, it will be an unforgettable show.

Corrina–Captain Marvel Volume 1: In Pursuit of Flight by Kelly Sue DeConnick and art by Emma Rios and Dexter Soy

Years ago, I read and reviewed a book that has stuck with me: Amelia Earhart’s Daughters: The Wild and Glorious Story of American Women Aviators from World War II to the Dawn of the Space Age. It detailed the history of female aviators in the U.S. military, particularly as test pilots and transport pilots for the U.S. Army Air Force, and, later, of the female aviators tested by the fledging U.S. Space program. The Women in Space program was quashed in Congress and probably never had a chance in those times but these women continued to inspire.

This new beginning for Carol Danvers, once Ms. Marvel, seemed like a fictional version of the story of those female flyers in World War II. It’s a love letter from Carol to those who inspired her to fly, and while that would be fascinating to read all by itself, it’s also a fun time travel story in which Carol has to reclaim her own legacy and powers, even overcoming one of her personal heroes. For comic readers, there are dogfights, alien spaceship fights. flights into space, and a terrific re-creation of a flight in an antique plane that’s not all it seems.

Like it’s non-fiction predecessor, this new start for Carol Danvers is going to stick with me for a long time.

Looking for something else, readers? Check out this week’s listed books:

Absolute Top 10 HC Adventures Of Superman #1 Batman Noir Eduardo Risso HC (DE) Batman The Dark Knight Annual #1 Catwoman Annual #1 Earth 2 Annual #1 Injustice Gods Among Us #5 Justice League Of America #4 Lucifer Vol. 1 TP New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 HC Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 A Stranger Among Us TP Red Hood And The Outlaws Annual #1 Smallville Season 11 Special #1 Superboy Vol. 2 Extraction TP Wake #1 Watchmen HC (DE)

Age Of Ultron #5 All-New X-Men Vol. 2 Here To Stay HC (PE) Avengers The Complete Collection By Geoff Johns Vol. 1 TP Avenging Spider-Man #21 Captain America #7 Captain Universe The Hero Who Could Be You #1 Dark Avengers #190 FI Deadpool Vol. 1 Dead Presidents TP Doctor Strange The Oath TP NP Fury MAX #12 Gambit #13 Hawkeye #9 Indestructible Hulk #8 Iron Man #258.4 Marvel Noir Spider-Man Punisher TP Marvel Previews #118 (June 2013 For Products On-Sale August 2013) Marvel Super Heroes #9 (Disney Publishing Worldwide) Monsters Inc Scary Stories Digest TP Morbius The Living Vampire #5 New Avengers #6 Punisher Enter The War Zone TP Savage Wolverine #5 Savage Wolverine #5 Spider-Man 2099 Vol. 1 TP (NP) Superior Spider-Man Vol. 1 My Own Worst Enemy TP Thor God Of Thunder Vol. 1 The God Butcher HC (PE) Ultimate Comics X-Men By Brian Wood Vol. 1 TP Uncanny X-Force #5 Venom #35 Wolverine And The X-Men #30 X-Men #1 Savage Wolverine #5 , $3.99 Spider-Man 2099 Vol. 1 TP (NP), $24.99 Superior Spider-Man Vol. 1 My Own Worst Enemy TP, $17.99 Thor God Of Thunder Vol. 1 The God Butcher HC (PE), $24.99 Ultimate Comics X-Men By Brian Wood Vol. 1 TP, $19.99 Uncanny X-Force #5 , AR Venom #35, $2.99 Wolverine And The X-Men #30, $3.99 X-Men #1 , AR

Acronym Key:  VC = Variant Cover  / HC = Hard Cover / TP = Trade Paperback  / CP = Combo Pack  / PE = Premier Edition / DE = Deluxe Edition

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