Origin II explores more of the tortured past of the young man who would grow up to be the X-Man known as Wolverine. On the heels of Marvel’s surprise announcement at SDCC, writer Kieron Gillen (Uncanny X-Men, Iron Man, Young Avengers) talks about where his story will pick up 10 years after the events of Origin.
“The last we saw of James was disappearing into the woods with wolves at the end of Origin,” Gillen tells Marvel.com. “That’s where he’s been ever since. He runs with a family pack, and has completely removed himself from human civilization. He’s found a kind of peace. He’s found a kind of family. The first scene is him, with the pack, hunting. The opening is really raw; I talk about the period novel feel a lot, but I have a sort of ‘Jack London with modern research’ approach to the wolves. Hell, the whole structure does owe a little to ‘White Fang.’
“The first issue is sort of an Overture for the whole grander piece. Logan in the woods with the wolves, and what disturbs that pastoral idyll. But I dare say the most important thing is the origin of the hatred between him and his greatest enemy.”
Origin revealed Wolverine’s childhood. Gillen explains the time, setting and how this story builds on James Howlett’s journey to becoming the man he is now.
“The animal versus the man is always a Wolverine theme, and that’s right towards the forefront,” he notes. “But the book—set just into this century, with [World War I] looming on the horizon—doesn’t exactly let our civilized virtues off. You’ve never seen wolves mustard gas their enemies, y’know? In ORIGIN, we’ve seen James deal with anger. He’s killed accidentally. But he’s never had to deal with a berserker rage, the true extend of his capacity for monstrosity.
“That’d be interesting. And I hope you find our answer interesting too.”
Origin II by Kieron Gillen and Adam Kubert arrives in November.
By Editor