Month 1 - Wolverine:Origin

Howdy guys!  Tonight is the second meeting of Graphic Content! and thus, the first actual discussion!  Yippee!  Yes, I really am always this cheerful, why do you ask?

So, here's what we read:

Title - Wolverine: Origin

Writers- Bills Jemas, Joe Quesada, and Paul Jenkins

Art- Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove

Released- 2002

A book about one of America's most famous superheroes...with no superheroics in it at all.  Weird, huh?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

The book opens with young Rose, an orphan, disembarking a carriage at the manor of "Soft" John Howlett.  The setting is Alberta, Canada, at the turn of the 18th century.  The reader quickly learns that the Howlett's have a dark past.  They have evidently lost their older son, and the Mrs. Howlett has done some time at a mental asylum.  Throughout the book, we uncover, through Rose's eyes, the layers of mysteries enshrouding the Howlett's and their strange connection to their groundskeeper and his son, Thomas and "Dog" Logan.  Eventually, through a series of tragic occurrences, Rose and young James Howlett end up on the run.  But can they escape the terrors of their past?

QUESTIONS

1. The Howlett's deceased son, John, lived from 1885-1897, making him 12 at the time of his death.  What do you think he died of?  How did his death effect his family?
2. Elizabeth Howlett, James' mother, seems to have past ties to Thomas Logan.  It is revealed that she has deep scars across her rib cage.  What is the connection, if any?  
3. James' grandfather is a very gruff and severe man.  He seems to have control issues.  How do you think he was involved in the family's past tragedies?  Does he help or hurt the family, overall?
4. In the Marvel universe, the mutant gene did not begin to manifest itself in a large part of the human population until the 1940s.  Is it possible that Wolverine is the world's first mutant?  Does anyone else in the story have the mutant gene?
5. Eventually, the character "Dog" begins to resemble Sabertooth, Wolverine's arch enemy in his modern day incarnation.  Does this seem likely to you?
6. Do you think that if Wolverine had listened to Rose, or been able to read the diary she left for him, that things would have turned out differently for him as a character?  Would things have turned out differently for Rose?
7. Wolverine states that he "loves" Rose, several times near the end of the book, once they are both adults.  Do you think he is in love with her, or that he is simply protective?  If he was in love with her, what kept him from expressing his feelings?
8. The setting for the story, Victorian era Alberta Canada, has more in common with a Brontë novel than a typical Marvel comic book.  Did you find it interesting?
9. The art in the book is softer than most super hero comics, and colored in a sepia tone meant to evoke older times.  What did you think about the art?
10. Having read about Wolverine's childhood and transformation, do you feel that his representation in the media is accurate to the character?  Do the films reflect his depth?

October's Book:

Tonight, after discussion, we will be distributing the book Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned by Judd Winick. It is an account of the life and death of AIDs educator and activist Pedro Zemora.  October is LGBTQ History Month.  LGBTQ stands for: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer.  It is a very heartfelt and touching book that explores prejudice, friendship, death, and even sexual education in America's school systems.  We will discuss the book in one month, on Monday, November 14th.  Look forward to seeing you there!