Today on Comic Book Herald, I’ll be offering a guided tour through Wolverine Origins #11-20. Before we begin, I should note that this tour is off-limits to those who grow squeamish at the mere sight of a disemboweling, as well as those who have not read Wolverine Origins #1-10. For a look at where these comics fit into the grand scheme of Marvel continuity, check out my Marvel reading order list!
Comic Book Run: Wolverine Origins (#11-20) – Vol 3 Swift and Terrible and Vol 4 Our War
Publication Dates: Feb 2007– Dec 2007
Writer: Daniel Way Artist: Steve Dillon
CBH Score: 6.5
Continuity Relevance?: Yes.
Who Needs It?: Everybody who needs the full mysterious history of Wolverine. Fans of German 90’s punk rockers reincarnated as evil sons with claws. People who hate Clark Kent and everything farms stand for.
Wolverine’s Origins Continue, Vary in Originality
As you’ll all remember from your history books, Wolverine Origins follows the after-effects of Marvel’s major EVENT!!! House of M, as Wolverine has regained all of his memories. Previously everyone’s favorite homicidal amnesiac (and supposedly the inspiration for at least one Radiohead record), Wolverine is now just homicidal and on a hunt for the truth. A truth hunt, if you will. Like Helen Hunt, but more appealing to the eye.
In short, Wolverine Origins is about Logan following these newly acquired memories towards those who have conspired to manipulate him over the years. It’s a great concept, and one that allows writer Daniel Way to explore the history of one of the most beloved characters in Marvel Comics history.
In the first arc here, issues 11-15, this means Way is going to roll with his “major” set up from the first two volumes of Origins. It’s a tried and true method, one we all know and love… ladies and gentlemen, Wolverine has a son!!!
This plotline is kind of inevitable with any tough-as-nails character (did someone say Hulk?), but I can’t blame Way for trying. That said, I can blame both Way and Dillon for drawing Wolverine’s son as a a former lead singer of all-female punk band Dangerously Moist. They were huge in Germany.
Like I said, though, Wolverine has been alive here for over a hundred years, probably maybe. Plus, the guy walks around at least contemplating balls-out shagging with most warm, breathing women. He has a son? Not shocking. He used protection even once? Now that would be shocking.
In fact, it would be my suspicion that Wolverine has populated entire cities with his kin. Somewhere in Japan there is a town of illegitimate children walking around with huge daddy issues and an inexplicable ability to grow hair into 2 huge peaks without the use of hair gel.
Throughout this first arc, called Swift and Terrible in purchasable TPB form, Way and Dillon are clearly trying to position Wolverine’s Son – whose name is Daken – as Wolverine without the heroic streak. He’s one bad dude. Let us count the ways:
1) He cuts open his father’s stomach the first time they meet.
2) He kisses a man one time only to kill him later (see: plastic asphyxiation kinky-pants above)
3) His name is an anagram for naked
4) He breaks up with a girl by poisoning her drink
Despite the heavy-handedness of it all, Daken as an immoral killer works. Wolverine wants to help him of course, or at least be the one to put him out of the misery only he can relate to. I have more of a problem the arc’s addition of Cyber (a Wolverine villain we all know oh so well?) who takes control of a mentally handicapped Clark Kent’s body.
The whole thing spirals into a brouhaha in which Wolverine is soundly beaten by everyone he fights. Without spoiling, the details the arc essentially ends with Wolverine back on the hunt for more answers from the people now manipulating his son.
Issues #16-20 are slightly more appealing, diving back into Wolverine’s WWII history and his first time meeting Captain America. This all follows in the immediate aftermath of The Death of Captain America, and it’s actually a very nice tribute to Steve Rogers from Wolverine’s perspective.
While I would say Fallen Son is a worthier purchase, Our War includes a mild continuation of Wolverine’s hunt through his origins and quest finally get the answers he’s always wanted.
Alright, that does it for today’s Herald Guided Tour through Wolverine Origins. If you have any questions or comments, please share below and be sure to return for the next tour soon.
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