Writer: Fred Van Lente
Art & Cover: Salvador Espin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
When I heard the announcement about ‘Wolverine: First Class’ coming out I thought “Nice! Another attempt to exploit fans’ fondness of these particular characters“. Thankfully I was mistaken. “Wolverine: First Class” honors the Wolverine and Kitty Pryde of the 1980s, their blossoming partnership and the qualities we came to love of these characters.
If you’re undecided on ‘Wolverine: First Class,’ I heartily recommend you take a look at this issue. The X-Men have to say goodbye to Banshee and Moira MacTaggert who are returning to the Muir Island. Wolverine stays behind and has the unenviable task of keeping his mind on Siryn, Kitty and, of course, Michelle – a mutant girl that Kitty and Wolverine tracked down in an earlier issue. Oh! And there is also an Illyana -pre Magik- guest appearance. As anyone would expect, all hell does break loose as Siryn and Kitty get into a no-holds-barred throwdown of a catfight over Colossus’s affections with Wolverine caught in the middle!
I love the way Van Lente writes these characters. This is the Wolverine that everyone loved to read back in the day. And Kitty is so fresh again. Even the new kid on the mutant block, Michelle is written well. Van Lente is so strong on character development and humour. The way this title is written illustrates what has been absent from the mutant books the last decade (Maybe Van Lente should write the new Young X-Men title?) I especially loved the scene when Siryn and Kitty fall from the ceiling on the tv that Logan is watching his game on. Haha! Hilarious!
Espin’s art is so appropriate for this title. I remember hearing his name somewhere but unsure where. It isn’t so much cartoony as classic comic art with a modern spin. It is fresh, energizing, and clean-cut. His characters are also clearly distinguishable from each other.
It would be totally wrong to label this a ‘children’s comic’, because it is intelligent and gripping. I hope the sales won’t be as abysmal as I have heard, so it can continue. This is an excellent series that everyone should read, and I hope the creative team stays on for the long run.
Rating: 8.5/10
