GeekMom: Comic Book Corner — August 21st, 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 I take a look at a kid-friendly Wolverine story and Corrina gives a glimpse of a comic exploring what Star Wars could have been.

Dakster Sullivan — Wolverine: First Class #1 by Fred Van Lente and Andrea Di Vito 

Written by Fred Van Lente, Wolverine: First Class #1 takes place during Wolverine’s early days at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. After Professor X receives a signal from a young mutant in trouble, he sends Wolverine to retrieve her,  but he must bring along Xavier’s newest student,  Kitty Pryde (AKA Shadowcat). Reluctantly, Wolverine and his new teammate head off on what Wolverine is already expecting to be a brutal assignment. (It is interesting to note this is adding in yet another adventure featuring Wolverine with a female teenage mutant. See Jubilee and other previously chronicled adventures with Shadowcat.)

Wolverine is right to worry about the kid coming along, because she’s greener than grass. However, it is her quick thinking and ability to overcome her fears that saves them both, as well as their new mutant friend.

The ending makes me hope that this isn’t going to be the last time these two work together. (Corrina’s note: For a history of their long-working relationship, check out the six issue miniseries Kitty Pryde and Wolverine from 1984-1985. Sometimes it pays having read comics since, like, forever.)

Looking back at some of the other Wolverine stories I’ve read, I don’t think there is another Wolverine-centered story out there I’ve enjoyed more than Wolverine: First Class issue #1. For a story revolving around a “no holds barred” character, the artist, Andrea Di Vito, did a great job giving us the Wolverine we know and love while still making his actions family-friendly.

Why do I love the more family-friendly Wolverine? Well, it comes down to three simple reasons:

• My 7-year-old son – Having a nice variety of kid-friendly comics with popular characters for us to read together is important. It keeps him from turning into a child-version of Daredevil and performing acrobatics to grab more adult content comic books that I keep on high shelves.
• Anxiety – I suffer from high anxiety, so reading something that has a lot of violence is rough on me mentally and takes away the relaxed feeling I want when reading comic books. I do read some series with violence, but I keep them to a minimum and I’ll drop a book quick if it becomes too much for me.
• Character depth and understanding – We learn a lot more about the characters when they’re not going after someone’s throat all the time. I like to see all the sides of my favorite characters, both good and bad. In Wolverine: First Class issue #1, we see more depth to Wolverine’s character as he has to bring himself under control to accomplish his goal as well as keep from killing his teammate.

You can pick up Wolverine: First Class #1 as a single issue on Comixology for free, as part of Wolverine: Tales of Weapon X on Amazon, or in the Wolverine: First Class (Volume #1): The Rookie collection.

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

Corrina–The Star Wars #1 by J.W. Rinzler and Mike Mayhew

The Star Wars that could have been? On September 4th, Dark Horse Comics will begin publishing The Star  Wars #1, an authorized adaptation of George Lucas’ rough draft screenplay, which morphed into the movie and, eventually, the series we all know and love.

The Knights (!) of the Sith are still the bad guys but other elements are nearly unrecognizable. Luke Skywalker is an older general (shades of Obi-Wan, perhaps?) and Han Solo is a big green alien. Well, so it seems from this preview. Also, C-3PO appears decidedly feminine. The interior art looks fantastic, especially the detail and the colors.

It’ll be fun to compare the two version when this story is fully told.

Looking for something else, readers?

Check out this week’s newest titles. Something new we’re doing this week is highlighting our suggestions, so if you see GM next to a title, consider it GeekMom recommended! KF10 specifies titles that are friendly for kids ten-years old and younger. 

100 Bullets Brother Lono #3 (Of 8) Animal Man #23 Arrow #10 Batman ’66 #2 Batman And Nightwing #23 Batman Beyond Universe #1 – NEW SERIES Batwoman #23 Birds Of Prey #23 Captain Atom Vol. 2 Genesis TP DC Universe Presents Vol. 2 Vandal Savage TP Fables #132 Green Lantern New Guardians #23 Green Lantern Sector 2814 Vol. 2 TP He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe #5 Justice League Dark #23 GM Justice League Of America’s Vibe #7 Legion Of Super-Heroes #23 (Final Issue) Red Hood And The Outlaws #23 Supergirl #23 Superman Unchained #3 Wonder Woman #23 World Of Warcraft Bloodsworn HC

Avengers #18 Avengers Assemble #18 Avengers The Complete Collection By Geoff Johns Vol. 2 TP Cable And X-Force #13 Daredevil #30 Deadpool Vol. 2 Soul Hunter TP Dexter #2 (Of 5) Disney Pixar Presents Planes Magazine #16 KF10 Fantastic Four Vol. 2 Road Trip TP Indestructible Hulk #12 Marvel 1602 HC Mighty Thor Omnibus Vol.  2 HC Morbius The Living Vampire #8 New Avengers By Brian Michael Bendis Vol. 5 TP Nova #7 GM Spider-Man Dying Wish TP Superior Spider-Man #16 Superior Spider-Man Vol. 2 A Troubled Mind TP Thunderbolts #14 Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #29 Venom #39 X-Factor #261 X-Men #4 GM X-Men Legacy #15

Acronym Key: VC = Variant Cover / HC = Hard Cover / TP = Trade Paperback / GM = GeekMom Approved / KF10 = Kid-Friendly for 10 and under

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